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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks The Captain, NH
Trails
Trails: Sawyer River Trail, Hancock Notch Trail, herd paths, woods road, bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, September 3, 2012
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked roadside on Kanc (little pulloff was full). 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Sawyer River Trail crossing, as well as crossing on herd path off Hancock Notch Trail (to connect to forest road) were rock hoppable at current low levels. Probably rather tricky otherwise. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Probably not a good hike for most dogs, due to bushwhack and a few scrambles. 
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Sawyer River Trail was generally dry, except for a flooded section (could get by just barely by balancing on some sticks and mud, otherwise it'd be a few inches deep at least).


Short section of Hancock Notch Trail had some minor Irene damage in way of rocks and sand. As soon as Sawyer River neared, we hopped onto a herdpath, crossed, and continued on the herd path to the forest road.


Continued on the forest road and to subsequent herd paths, reaching multiple clearings (a few good looks at The Captain), with it eventually coinciding with a seasonal brook drainage (dry right now) and ending at a clearing with a fire ring and a rock seat.


Followed the brook for a little while, then took a branch of it up the slope, eventually leaving it and slabbing across toward the Captain for a few minutes, then finding a way up a cliff band, then past the infamous tent remains. Soon thereafter, reached the col.


Some steep stuff above the col and occasional thickness, but nothing as bad as I had imagined. Found the recongized highpoint very easily and the boulder shortly thereafter. Attempted to find some ledges to sit on, but only found cliffs (probably could have searched farther southwest, but found a view and wanted to descend).


Found the tent remains again, sort of by accident, and descended direct from there into a smaller drainage, which joined the brook bed we had followed near a very old small bootleg campsite with evidence of brushing in the brook bed just before the two split.


The dry conditions helped a lot, as did the lack of bugs. By no means a cakewalk, but not nearly as bad as I had thought it would be.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2012-09-03 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/captain-2012-0903.php 
Bookmark and Share 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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