NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Hancock, South Hancock, NH
Trails
Trails: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, May 10, 2010
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: some broken glass in lot. first i've seen it here. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Mud, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Small Patches, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: crossings up, but not difficult with wet boots. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: some blowdowns along route down low (though many recently cleared). trails could use some drainage work.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: a fresh coating of snow over the whole route (melted off for the most part on lower sections by afternoon). hancock notch trail pretty wet and muddy once things thawed out. cedar brook the same. lots of standing water. north fork crossings up, but not difficult. boots had to get wet. hancock loop has lots of running water on it up to loop junction. some icy rocks before temps warmed up later. to north peak trail a mess of postholes down to gravel wash (currently a seasonal pond) then just the new coating of snow with some stretches of rail up to north peak. most of the ridge had 2-3 ft. of snow with some deeper areas approaching south peak. was good and solid today with the low temps, but the numerous postholes told the story of days past....descent of south peak had a couple feet of snow most of the way. was a tricky descent with new snow over frozen snow pack.
barebooted to north peak. i carried snowshoes, but the frozen postholes on the ridge made them useless. will be highly recommended as temps become more seasonal (everything was rock hard today). instead of shoes used light traction which worked well, but would have liked more aggressive traction for descent of south peak (in todays conditions). if i'd had crampons with me i would have used them. dressed warmer than the last couple of weeks. pretty cold up high.
a nice day. frosty trees, low temps and a new coating of snow made for a wintery feel. clouds blew off and provided some nice views along the way. was impressed by how much snow the ridge is still holding.
great to be out.

bryan  
Name
Name: bryan 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bryancuddihee@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2010-05-10 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved