Hancock Notch/Cedar Brook Trails 9/19/11

[RoySwkr]

Sign at trailhead said to use caution as trails not yet inspected. FS trail crew fixing washout near road when I went in, done when I went out. As previously mentioned, the bottom step was washed away at the big dip which should be no problem for Hancock hikers but might be a pain to skiers. Where the trail approaches the brook, a view has opened up but if you carelessly walk over to the edge to look at the river you will discover you are standing on an overhang that has been undermined by the brook.

The path to the brook was barred with a couple trees at the first crossing on Cedar Brook Trail, soon met another FS trail crew who said the herd path is now the official route at the first two crossings - trailbaggers take note! Beyond the 3rd crossing which has become more tricky, the brook apparently flowed down the trail for quite a distance causing a lot of erosion and leaving puddles several inches deep which of course hikers are going around instead of wading. The 2nd trail crew was planning to bypass this short section, but were not considering using the 2nd herd path which was also partly taken over by the brook. The 4th and 5th crossings were OK although the stream erosion was obvious.

Stopped to chat with a well-known bookseller on the way home, he is trying to assemble storm info for the AMC WMG being published this year. He had just adopted the Pine Island Trail but so much washed away that it has been closed by the FS and quite possibly will never reopen.

 

[bryan]

thanks for the report, roy. did you note what they were working on at the start of the trail? perhaps fixing the rock box and the washout beyond? had plans to hit that in the next couple of weeks, but if they've tackled it that's great.
thanks.

bryan

 

[RoySwkr]

thanks for the report, roy. did you note what they were working on at the start of the trail? perhaps fixing the rock box and the washout beyond?

They pretty well cured the first 100 feet
* The funny sluice at the beginning is back like it always was
* I think it is called "turnpiking" - place box of timbers like gardener's raised bed but fill it with gravel instead instead of loam presumably eliminating mudhole
* Ditch uphill side of trail and direct to waterbars

I scuffed one small waterbar further along which apparently had become plugged with new leaves since your visit