| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Hancock, South Hancock, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop, Arrow Slide, bushwhacks |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, April 1, 2010 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
On Hancock Notch Trail, first crossing (minor in summer) was hoppable on wet rocks. Second crossing (just prior to Cedar Brook Trail) was more tricky - stepping stones somewhat under water, big snowbanks on either side...crossed on downed tree. Cedar Brook Trail crossings looked crossable with wet boots, however we opted to bushwhack along the east side of the brook past the first set, then angled toward Hancock Loop, avoiding the two Hancock Loop crossings before the split. Low point on north branch was filled with water, went uphill to get around it. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some blowdowns on Hancock Notch Trail - one will take a chainsaw or ax |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Arrow slide would not be a good place for dogs right now. Dogs may also be hesitant on water crossings at the moment. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Other than 50 feet of wet trail next to the Kanc, there was snow all the way up to and around the loop. We opted to snowshoe the entire hike, as the snow was soft - booters were postholing in places, but snowshoeing was ideal. We opted to skip the Cedar Brook crossings by bushwacking along the eastern side of the brook - generally good going with snowshoes. Reaching the loop, we cut along the pond at the north branch low point and went up the slide. We went up the right finger, staying on spring snow on the southeast side - northeast side is bare and has running weather - but very dangerous - we saw a large rock bounce all the way down that side from the top of the slide, when we were about halfway up. We snowshoed, but crampons would have been better for the upper half. Ice axe very handy to anchor as climbing. Just below the top of the right finger, we opted for dry ground, as the last 50 vertical or so feet of snow seemed like it would slide very easily. We then bushwhacked from there up to the trail - both routes (up and contour) go to the trail. Trail between the peaks was a bit vague in places, but our snowshoe tracks are generally on the trail kosher. There is a territorial spruce grouse near North Hancock - beware! Dropping down near the end of the south branch, faint tracks drop directly into the gully - our tracks stay on the trail kosher. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21 at franklinwebpublishing dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2010-04-01 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/mthancocknorth-2010-0401.php |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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