| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Hancock, North Hancock, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No problem crossing |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Tons of blow downs and "Bent over's" (trees laden with heavy snow). Snowy had her trusty knife so we cleared quite a few on the Hancock Notch and Cedar Brook trails but several were too large for the saw. The ridge between the 2 peaks has several really difficult blowdowns that are difficult to negotiate (twice, I had to throw my pack forward and crawl through). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I found a white baseball hat on the ridge. Email me. |
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 | Comments: |
Only 3 people on the trail on this cold & windy day (1 solo & the 2 of us). The trails were mostly well packed, with trace to a few inches of fresh, crusty snow. Yesterday's rains and today's freezing temps caused heavy snow to freeze on the trees, many of which then bent or broke under the weight. We used light traction from the TH to the Hancock Loop Trail junction. We then switched to snowshoes and kept them on until reaching the Hancock Notch trail junction on our return. The Hancock Notch and Cedar Brook trails are well packed, with trace, crusty snow at lower levels. The Hancock Loop trails are well packed from each of the summits to the junction but not along the ridge. The snow was deeper and softer at higher elevation and the guy without the snowshoes was post holing at times. We went counter-clockwise as Snowy only needed South. As usual, the trial to South H was steep & tough. We were grateful for snowshoes. Snowy then headed back while I continued to Hancock. The ridge was quite difficult at times due to massive blowdowns that obliterated the trail. Twice, I had to remove my pack and throw it forward and then crawl under, through the mass of greenery. I was wishing that I had protective glasses. The descent from Hancock was relatively easy (except for a few blowdowns/bent overs). The trail was well packed down (? butt sledders) but I was grateful for the few inches of crusty snow because yesterday's rain combined with today's sub-freezing temps would have turned the trail into a luge track. |
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 | Name: |
Elizabeth |
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 | E-Mail: |
ewberry1@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-12-04 |
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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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