| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Hancock, Northwest Hancock, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 11, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
First car in the lot, last to leave. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Thanks for the new bypass on the Cedar Brook Trail, avoiding four water crossings, all other crossings were easily rock hopped. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A couple of small blowdowns on the Cedar Brook Tr. after the Loop trail breaks off. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
An excellent day for dogs, says Rueben. |
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 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Gordon lost a bandanna. |
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|
 | Comments: |
We decided to approach Northwest Hancock via the ridge from Hancock. Started on what looks to be a good herd path just East of the Hancock summit through open woods, The key was staying on our bearing and trying to be on the ridge at the beginning as it's wider here at the beginning. After about 1/3 mile it becomes a matter of keeping on the high point of ridge and avoiding fir bands without straying too much. The final 1/4 mile is pretty easy due to the drop-offs on either side. On our return we set a bearing for the top of the slide created by Irene just West of the ridge and hit to top after about a tenth of a mile. Slide was very steep and loose gravel, great care was needed to descend. We figured it to be 1/3 mile long and over 700' elevation loss. Once at the bottom we followed the brook to Cedar Brook Trail and then out via established trails. We were amazed at how long the whack portion took, 2 hours to get there and about 1.5 hours to get back to CBT, constantly detouring to avoid blowdowns, fir bands and some cliff bands as well. |
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 | Name: |
FranM |
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 | E-Mail: |
maineri at metrocast dot net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-12-13 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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