Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
North Hancock, South Hancock, NH |
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| Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 3, 2021 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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| 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 |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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| 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! |
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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: |
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! |
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| Name: |
Protean Wanderer |
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| E-Mail: |
hiker@proteanwanderer.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-12-04 |
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| Link: |
https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2021/12/03/trip-report-how-horribly-howling-on-the-hancocks/ |
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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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