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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Northwest Hancock, North Hancock, South Hancock, NH
Trails
Trails: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, bushwhack, Hancock Loop Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 1, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: fee area 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: not bad for this time of year 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: One significant bd on Hancock Loop 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I found a dry window to hike this from 7:00-1:30.

Hancock notch/c. brook to Cedar Brook/Hancock loop was a mix of mud, water, dry trail, and very minor ice. Turning onto Cedar brook north at the loop junction things started as more of the same, with gradual increase in snow/ice. I walked to the drainage just below the NW peak and began to bushwhack up towards the gut just below the peak. The woods are not too bad, but there is some thick going and blowdown; this section is also quite steep. This part of the bushwhack had next to no snow/ice.

After a fair amount of effort, I hit the ridge just south of the recognized high point. Following the ridge towards Hancock was mainly very nice walking with herd paths. There is significant snow on this north facing slope of hancock, however it is well consolidated. I put on light traction for this climb, which stayed on through the decent of s. hancock. I hit Hancock loop very close to the summit, before any rain started: still a good view at this point before the clouds took over.

The loop trail is blue ice and monorail with some bare ground. Going down s. Hancock was slow due to the steep blue ice.

I was glad I did this hike, despite rain in the forecast. I really enjoyed the bushwhack along the ridge between Hancock and NW. This is a wild peak which I had looked at for a long time. Good to get up to it today.  
Name
Name: zporterColdRiverCampCook 
E-Mail
E-Mail: zap88@tds.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-05-01 
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.

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