| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Hitchcock - East Peak, Mt. Hitchcock - North Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, bushwhacks, Pemi East Side Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, February 16, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
One car at Hancock Notch (Plowed, icy, no fee) Another at Lincoln Woods (plowed and sanded, fee) |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All minor on trail crossings were fine. We found an easy spot to cross the Cedar Brook, on good snow bridges and easy rock-hopping. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are some blowdowns along Cedar Brook between Hancock Notch and Pemi E. side. Evidence of some recent cutting. The trail is easy to follow under snow cover. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Snow: snow on bushwhacks was wet and sticky, but consolidated well, except around spruce traps. We sunk in anywhere from just a couple inches to knee depth, to more in places with traps. Hancock Notch/Cedar Brook to Hancock Loop was hard packed. Cedar Brook from Hancock loop to height of land had deep postholes. Height of land to Pemi East Side was unbroken. Pemi East side from the Cedar Brook junction started out soft but well packed and got harder as we neared Lincoln Woods.
Bushwhack woods: Woods were much more open than I remembered. The east peak was mainly open with slight tighter sections and spruce traps. North peak was open with slight tighter sections near the top.
Route: From the Hancock Loop junction we followed postholes to near the Cedar Brook height of land. We followed the tracks off trail a very short distance to a game camera. We then bushwhacked up to the ridge and then turned north towards the highpoint. We avoided all the cliffs. We followed our tracks out. We continued down Cedar Brook to about 2,000 feet, crossed the river and went straight at the north peak. From the recognized highpoint, we visited the heli-pad. We followed our tracks out. We walked out Cedar Brook and Pemi east side to Lincoln woods. About 16 mi., RT.
Other Trails: Good tracks headed down Hancock Notch going east from the Cedar Brook Junction. We met three backpackers on the Pemi East side who spoke of intentions to hike to Still Water junction and up the Desolation trail.
Thank Bill for a good day out. |
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 | Name: |
zporterColdRiverCampCook, Bill Cronin |
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 | E-Mail: |
zap88@tds.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-02-16 |
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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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