Mt. Nancy - Nancy Pond Trail, herd path - 5-11-2022

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Mt. Nancy, NH

	Trails:	Nancy Pond Trail, herd path

	Date of Hike:	Wednesday, May 11, 2022

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Gravel parking area on shoulder of US 302 at trailhead. Minimum of six cars, maybe more if strategically parked.

	Surface Conditions:	Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Small Patches

	Recommended Equipment:	Light Traction, Traction

	Water Crossing Notes:	First few minor crossings were rock hop-able, but some require using submerged rocks. First major crossing at approx 1.5 mi, high water and flowing at decent rate. After scouting possible routes for 20 minutes, I could not find a path within my abilities to cross with dry feet, so I went downstream to a flat area where flow was slower and depth was shoe tops to mid-calf, donned water shoes and waded across. Some athletic types might be able to find a path that works for them. All other crossings beyond this were do-able, some with care and use of submerged rocks,logs for portions, including the crossing just below the cascades, but some were challenging. I did have ankle-high waterproof boots on their maiden hike and they worked like a charm to keep feet dry even with water running over shoe tops. This was my first visit to this area, so don't know if this is typical or not.

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	Many blowdowns on all sections of trail, many have been there for a while. Most easily negotiated, with a few exceptions of those in the snowy/icy sections and on the herd path. Few blazes on the lower section to first major water crossing, and those are faded. Water crossing blazed on both sides. Also switchback section following first major water crossing. These were much brighter, so appear to be fresher. Very few blazes after the crossing at the cascades, and those are also faded. (Mostly in the pond area.) Didn't notice any blazes on the steep switchbacks from cascades pool to top of cascades. No trail junction signs, except for a small arrow pointing to first trail section at junction with old logging road, which was very helpful on return. There was no summit sign or canister and my hand held GPS said I was standing on the true summit.

	Dog-Related Notes:	Many water crossings: good news - plenty of drinking water, bad news - minimum of wet paws and probably more. Right now, many snow and ice patches, but those should be gone in 2-3 weeks. Several steep sections, but nothing that would require scrambling or lifting a good climbing pup.

	Bugs:	A few flying about at summit and at various points on return when temps had risen. Deer fly landed on my hand at summit, but he departed without biting when I suggested he go elsewhere. I imagine that with the ponds, brooks and many wet sections of trail this is a possibly heavy bug zone in season.

	Lost and Found:


	Comments:	There are many areas that I could comment, but since some of them really relate to my lack of preparedness, I will stick to just two for anyone contemplating this hike in the next two weeks. Snow conditions. Random patches of ice at 2000-2500 feet. Most of these had shrunk or disappeared by afternoon, but others remained. The steep switchbacks up from the cascades had many, many patches of ice and snow and some large areas of consolidated snow. Some of this could be avoided by careful rock hopping on the exposed (and mostly dry) tops or rocks and patches of bare trail. Also from the top of the cascades to the top of Norcross Pond there were many areas of patchy snow and ice, consolidated snow from 6in to 2 feet and some snow drifts of 2-3 feet. Snow was fully supportive in morning, so if you stayed on the right portion of the consolidated snow, you could avoid post holing. This was a little more challenging in the afternoon as the snow and ice were softening in the warmer temps. Traction or light traction would have been useful on some of the steeper sections of ice, but it would have taken more time to put on the traction than to negotiate those sections. Snow on the herd path (other than a large patch right at the beginning) began at about 3300 and became more frequent and larger at higher elevations until all snow above 3700 (maybe a bit lower). Ascent could be bare booted, but some patches would benefit from traction. At least light traction would be required for the descent. I put on trail crampons at the summit and kept them on to the pond, even below the snow line as I was too lazy to remove them and there were some random patches even at the lower elevations. There is no doubt I would have lost my footing several times without them. I have no ideas when the snow clears on these trails as apparently several areas receive no direct sunlight or little warming. If the consolidated snow softens, it will be very tedious going until it melts down to just traces. Herd Path notes: One other hiker caught up to me at the pond/herd path junction. Being younger and more athletic, he was ahead of me on the herd path. We both made the same error at the same place, so want to point it out here. First, the path is generally easy to follow after the initial snow patch. It mostly follows a contour with a moderate grade for a bit until you run into a slide. (I don't recall any mention of a slide in prior reports, so maybe there are alternate routes.) You climb the slide for just a short while and the herdpath resumes on the right (following a higher contour for a bit, a switchback if you like) and then climbs to the left. Independently we both climbed to the top of the slide and tried to move right, without success due to thick woods and many blowdowns. (The other hiker also missed the lower path on the return, making an interesting bushwhacking adventure until he got reoriented.) I learned my lesson on the way up and kept checking as I descended the slide and easily found the right path. Even with the snow cover, the path is easy to follow. As many have previously stated, it is very steep in sections, especially above 3300-3400. One final note - My fellow hiker again caught up with me on the descent after his detour. Seeing me struggle with rough footing areas and the water crossings, he hung back a bit, although still ahead of me. I greatly appreciated him looking out for an old man who perhaps isn't quite in the proper physical condition for these hiking conditions. After crossing the major stream crossing on the way out (wading for me again), I told him I could make it down the logging road without any difficulty and my only concern was making the turn off the logging road onto the first .4 mi section of trail from the trailhead. I didn't notice an arrow sign posted on a tree on the way up that marked this turn. I don't know if my new friend saw it or not, but there was a huge arrow etched in the dirt at this junction and I am sure my new friend was responsible, seeing as there were no other humans on this trail today. Unnamed hiker from Portland Maine, thanks for your kindness.

	Name:	SpartyHikerfromME

	E-Mail:

	Date Submitted:	2022-05-11

	Link:	https://
		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.