Trails Used
Hancock Notch, Cedar Brook, Hancock Loop
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
Firm trail when in the shade. The sun softened exposed snow. Ice and firm snow in the morning going up North. Shape spikes Worked great. Very narrow monorail between peaks. Good for practice. .Crampons worked great for coming down South
Parking
Lots available
Water Crossings
Your boots will get wet on 2 of the crossings
Also on this trip
Trails Used
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
Awesome, firm, fast conditions. I wore spikes to the steeps then wore crampons around the loop. Obviously, there’s no need for crampons between the peaks, but I kept them on because I’m too lazy to change traction and they worked fine. There is definitely evidence of monorail forming between the peaks, but it’s very stable and quite wide right now. Steeps would be doable but quite tricky in spikes. I was certainly happy to have full crampons, especially going down sour where there’s a lot of butt sledding. As temps warm this week, I think snowshoes will be merited between the peaks. I don’t think they’ll be needed again down low, certainly not on the Hancock Notch Trail, as the snow is really shallow down there now. There’s still a lot up high, though, and I see posthole-a-Rama starting up without snowshoes. Definitely in good shape, great views from both lookouts, obese Gray Jays out in force.
Water Crossings
Most are open. All easy to cross.
Trails Used
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
Barebooted all the way to the loop, as a couple inches had fallen the night before and the fresh snow provided added traction over the slippery ice. Put on Hillsound Pros up North and over to South. Then switched to K-10s on the icy and steep descent down south. Conditions are changing fast, but right now it is really icy. Not advised to butt-slide as that will just make it icier and more treacherous for those who follow.
Parking
Plenty of spots available at Hancock Overlook on this first full day of spring.
Water Crossings
Of the five crossings, the first is the trickiest as the melting and the rock placement make it a little harder to avoid dunking a foot in cold water. Having said that, it's easier on the way back because you don't have to step on the awkward rock first.