| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Huntington - West Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 3, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Hancock Overlook is plowed |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We donned snowshoes at the trailhead (spikes or bareboots would have sufficed, though) and then headed down Hancock Notch for about a half a mile before ducking into the woods to begin our bushwhack. Intention was to head to the north side of the summit and then swing south towards it to avoid the cliff bands near the summit cone. Slope angle layer on GaiaGPS was clutch. Woods were fairly open all day (a little pokey some places, but no swimming through young spruce) so we decided to head back down by taking the southwest ridge. That worked well, and at the end of the southwest bump, we opted to cut straight downhill rather than continue along the ridge because the woods looked better. We popped out on Hancock Notch about 0.35 miles from the trailhead. Overall, a nice, short bushwhack through pleasant woods. Canister was frozen shut. The snow under the crusty layer was unpacked powder (like beach sand) and tough climbing in the steep areas that had drifts. |
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 | Name: |
WanderingSoules |
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 | E-Mail: |
soules@writeme.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-03 |
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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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