| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Hancock, South Hancock, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking area by the Kancamagus hairpin turn has limited spots shared by hikers and tourists. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossings of the North Fork on both the Cedar Brook Trail and the Hancock Loop Trail were easy rock hops today. The crossing can be tricky when the water levels are high. All other crossings were easy. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One large evergreen tree is across the Hancock Notch Trail at the base of a small rock stairway. The tree is at least a foot in diameter and has the trail arrow sign attached. The tree can be straddled over or ducked under. I removed three smaller birch trees that were across the trails.
There is eroded sections of trail. Most notably high up on the North Link section of the Hancock Loop. There is also a significant eroded spot partway down from South Hancock on the South Link section.
That said, the trails into the Hancocks is much better than in the past. There is a re-route on the Cedar Brook Trail that bypasses the old trail which was ravaged by tropical storm Irene in 2011. The North Link has improvements to the footing made many years ago. There has also been secure rocks emplaced on the South Link to improve the footing. I can recall sliding down loose rock on the South Link in years past. There are still some loose rocks but with care there should be no problem. The hike on the Ridge Link has been improved with the placement of bog bridges in spots that were previously difficult mud traverses.
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a couple of dogs on the ridge. The dog must be comfortable on steep slopes. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Nice day to hike the two Hancock peaks. At the summit of South Hancock there is a four way intersection. Two of the paths are the Hancock Loop Trail (signed). The other two paths are short walks to viewpoints. One is a view over the Sawyer River watershed and the surrounding mountains including Mt Carrigain (in the clouds today). The other leads to a viewpoint of the Franconia Range (in the clouds today)and Mt Garfield (visible today). On Hancock (north) there is a short side trails to rock ledges that provide a good outlook to the Sandwich Range.
The moss in the woods on the Ridge Link section of the Hancock Loop Trail seemed to stand out on this cloudy day. |
|
 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
|
 | E-Mail: |
WAUMBEK at Roadrunner dot com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2018-08-21 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
