NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Hancock, South Hancock, NH
Trails
Trails: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, December 3, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Water crossings are fairly easy. Beware the ice is nowhere near frozen solid enough to bear human weight, but almost all of it is solid enough to bear the weight of snow. Look before you leap!  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: The snow is pretty light and fluffy, and yesterday was crazy windy out -- Higher Summits called for winds on Washington to top the century mark, and those effects were felt even in the trees, certainly once over about 3,000 feet. The trail is, for the most part, visible, but be ready to trudge through more than a few drifts, especially above 4,000 feet.

Things aren't really deep enough yet to require snowshoes; those drifts are knee deep in places, but overall, you'd be carrying heavy equipment for all of about fifteen minutes use... and if you left them at the car, the snow might have slowed you down the amount of time you'd spend donning and doffing them. I did perfectly well with crampons. Of course, your mileage may vary, as in all things.

Photos and a trip report are on my blog, as always. Enjoy!  
Name
Name: Protean Wanderer 
E-Mail
E-Mail: hiker@proteanwanderer.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-12-04 
Link
Link: https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2021/12/03/trip-report-how-horribly-howling-on-the-hancocks/ 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved