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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Hancock, Northwest Hancock, NH
Trails
Trails: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail, bushwhack, Cedar Brook Slide
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 21, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Easy enough although care was required to keep footwear dry. “Waterproof” footwear & poles help. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Lots of partially frozen mud pits on the way up to North Hancock. 7 or 8 blowdowns on Cedar Brook Trail between Cedar Brook Slide and height of land which will make skiing this trail a PITA unless they are cleared. Big enough that a handsaw won’t cut it. (Haha) 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Okay for hardened mountain dogs - Percy did great! - but the bushwhacking would probably be too much for most dogs. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Lost a microspike on the ‘whack halfway over to NW, but partially retraced our steps (snow made this easy peasy) on the way to Cedar Brook Slide and found it. Yay! Found, and carried out, a Black Diamond headlamp near the bottom of CB Slide. 
 
Comments
Comments: Fun day w/ Cruddytoes and Percy, the mountain dog.

Ascended North Hancock via the regular route, then headed NNW just past NH summit towards NWH, mostly staying on the ridge top but dropping off to either side when the going became thicker and/or more blowdown-y. It was never really bad, however. We saw fresh tracks of bear and moose up there! As the ridge becomes narrower and more defined, a herd path brings you the final .1 or .2 to the summit. I measured about 1.32 miles between N & NWH.

We retraced our steps to pick up the wayward microspike before heading down to the top of Cedar Brook Slide. This was my second time down this slide, and it is as loose & precarious as before although perhaps not quite as tricky as I’d remembered & anticipated. We spread out a bit and were careful not to dislodge any rocks. With deep erosion, the slide is like a halfpipe in long sections.

Last time I did this slide I cut left toward CBT near the bottom trying to shortcut the corner and went through some thick & slow woods. This time we followed the drainage all the way down to CBT which proved to be much easier and faster although a bit longer. Next, it was a 500’ climb in maybe 1.25 mile to the height of land. This section was very wet & mushy with quite a few bothersome, waist-level blowdowns. Then a bit of downhill to the Hancock Loop Trail jct. and the quick 2.5 mile hike out.

We made it out just before needing lights, at 4:45. Start time was about 8:15. It was about 12 miles total. Hancock is such an interesting mountain mass and definitely invites continued exploration, even after 46 ascents. :)  
Name
Name: Snowflea & Cruddytoes & Percy 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-11-22 
Link
Link: https:// 
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