Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Hancock, South Hancock, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, November 27, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Hancock Notch Parking - Plenty of Parking |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Mud - Significant, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water was low, rocking hoping was easy! |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail was all the things. The gravel was packed down, but the trail was also wet, slick, muddy, with areas of thick ice. Blow downs were mostly cleaned up and the water crossings were totally manageable. The Hancock Notch Trail was easy and the gravel was packed down thanks to the rain. There were some small areas of ice on Cedar Brook Trail (easily avoidable) and going up Hancock Loop towards the North peak. But once you hit North Hancock, you definitely want to stick the microspikes ON going from North to South because the trail was an ice skating rink. Then the trail DOWN South Peak was also an ice luge. The dogs went along side the ice between the trees, while the humans slowly slide down the .5 miles until we were back on the Cedar Brook trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Our three active dogs - lab/collie mutt, coonhound/lab mutt, and small westie enjoyed this trail, and caught a summit mouse (whoops). It was very easy for the dogs, and they handled the ice luge well! |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
We were socked in at the summits, but we will definitely do this hike again once the snow covers the ice or next summer! It was a great trail, and one of the easier 4Ks. First 3.5 miles were a walk in the woods, then the .6 mile ascent to North was a stair master, but NOT technical. The trail from North to South was relatively flat, then a .5 mile stair master descent back (made interesting by the ice luge) to the easy Cedar Brook trail! |
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 | Name: |
Js and the Mutt-ain Goats |
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 | E-Mail: |
jmcend@gmail.com |
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 | Date Submitted: |
2020-11-27 |
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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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