Mount Hancock (South Peak)

Trail: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“The low grades on the Hancock Notch and Cedar Brook Trails make for easy hiking with the low water levels on the brooks. The Hancock Loop Trail up to the junction is fairly easy but has lots of roots. The Hancock Loop Trail from the junction up to the ridge is quite steep with loose rocks near the top of the steeps on North Hancock and throughout the slope of South Hancock. On descent from South Hancock, it is advisable to step on the larger rocks anchored into the soil to ensure safe footing. The ridge walk between the two peaks is relatively easy. Nice views at the two summit outlooks. Neither have 360 degree views. Other fine views on the ridge in thinned out wood sections. Lots of hikers out today including one UConn student hiking her first 4K peak. Hiked for a time with Brian from Haverhill. Met an 80 year old experienced hiker on North Hancock as well as a 62 year old hiker just getting in to hiking. No gray jays today.”

Trail: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant

“I tried to start relatively early to beat the heat and did pretty well. The Hancock Notch trail had some areas of wet trail and some pretty impressive mud in the usual spots. There are limbs to keep you out of most of it. It is not currently supportive. Please don't ask how I know. The waterfall area on the Cedar Brook trail was super easy today with only a few wet rocks that I needed to step on. The steep climb up North Hancock wasn't too bad - the dampness of the trail actually helped with footing. The ridge walk was lovely as usual and the steep descent off South Hancock went by quickly today which was nice. I saw a handful of other happy hikers out today enjoying the lovely clear skies.”

Trail: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail

“Another nice OTHH outing. A number of hiking pairs were out there. Around 3pm, on the lower part of the loop trail, we encountered two groups of very young (pre-teen) hikers, most in sneakers, each with an adult leader, planning to do the loop. None of the kids had a pack, and just a liter water bottle. It seemed to us that they would be cutting it close, in terms of daylight remaining, if they did indeed do the whole loop. They weren't equipped to spend the night in the woods, and there already had been a period of very light rain, with localized downpours elsewhere, such as at the parking lot (big puddles there). As we approached the parking lot, we could hear a lot of loud motorbike traffic in the vicinity of the hairpin turn on the Kanc. On arrival at the road, what we saw was a group of bikers, wearing full crash suits, and especially beefy knee pads, tearing around the turn at high speed one at a time, leaning far over into the turn and off to the side of the bike, with those knee pads actually dragging on the pavement. I guess they must have been "training" for some sort of bike event elsewhere. We waited for a break, then hustled across the road.”