| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Hancock, 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: |
Thursday, June 10, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Arrived at 7:45 am. Was was the third car. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All water crossings could be rock hopped |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Kudos to the trail maintainer(s) - all blowdowns cut. Many improvements to the trails since last time hiked in summer |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Black flies and mosquitoes were about but didn't bother us much. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Compared to the bushwhack to NW Hancock N&S Hancock were a breeze. First time doing them counterclockwise in summer - the shorter climb to South wasn’t bad nor the hike over to North. Descent of North wasn’t as bad as expected thanks to trail improvements.
NW Hancock: BEWARE Conditions have changed significantly from previous summer travel reports via the ridge. Researched this 1.8 mile rt BW extensively and worked out a track based on that. Navigation with compass and GPS worked as expected. We encountered many more blowdowns than expected from the eastern side as well as the western side. Dense spruce and balsa fir with the blowdowns if you stay in the middle of the ridge. Very few easier open areas. Hint of a herd path is non-existent until the last 700 feet when the ridge narrows and path climbs to the summit. Went back a different way that was slightly easier using just a 160 degree bearing and hanging off the western edge of the ridge where the spruce was shorter. The climb uphill back to North was short but aggressive Also note that if you go this route it drops 240 feet off North rather quickly to a relatively flat ridge before rising later 160 feet to the NW summit. If I were to do it again in summer conditions I would strongly consider going a different way, i.e. from the Cedar Brook trail. Have done many BWs for NEHH and others on TW72 but this was by far the hardest. BW was 2 hours over, a little less coming back. 12 miles total trip distance.
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 | Name: |
Dexhiker |
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 | E-Mail: |
dexpcdoc@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-06-11 |
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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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