| 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: |
Saturday, September 29, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Rest area at the Kancamagus U-turn across from the Hancock Notch trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock Hoppable. Brought along a pair of dive boots in case I needed to wade, but weren't needed. (Also lost between N. Hancock and the Parking lot). |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of mud between the peaks, one washed out spot on Cedar Brook Trail where you are walking on a web of roots looking two feet down to the water, probably from Irene. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost a pair of dive boots between North Hancock and the parking lot. Stayed on through the bushwhack then fell off my pack on the trail - weird. |
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 | Comments: |
The day was damp and the bushwhack wet from the 24 hrs of showers that ended shortly before the hike began. No views due to continuing overcast - the reason I selected the bushwhack. Met the very interesting and accomplished hiker/mountaineer Fred Hunter on North Hancock - the man who has been on all of the 48 NH 4000 footers at midnight in winter, and has completed a plethora of climbing lists.
The old herdpath to NW can be found, blocked by branches, about 150' from the trail sign at the top of N. Hancock in the direction of S. Hancock. Following a bearing of 320 will keep you close to the top of the ridge down to about 3900'. By about 4000', the ridge narrows and flattens enough to be distinguished most of the way without a compass - I used a "general" - not true bearing of 330 from there to keep moving in the right general direction towards NW after moving sideways to avoid obstructions - but always returning to the top of the ridge. These bearings worked out well for me. The old herdpath is very obscure and due to blowdowns, virtually impossible to stay on until last few hundred yards before the peak of NW. Took me close to 2 hours to NW and a little under 1.5 hours out again. |
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 | Name: |
Bernie C. |
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 | E-Mail: |
berncalder@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-09-30 |
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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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