Crossing Hancock Branch near Big Rock (off the Kanc)

[Papa Bear]

A group of us will be doing Scar Ridge in a week. The plan calls for a bushwhack from the Kanc starting across from Big Rock campground. This involves crossing the Hancock Branch of the Pemigewasset River. A number of trail reports tell of doing this, but one (on May 20th) tells of someone who couldn't get across.

Sooo....

Any helpful hints as to the best place and how to cross? Any recent reports on the state of the water level? Is it usually a rock hop at this time of year or is it a real ford? Anything else we need to know?

Thanks

 

[DougPaul]

NH streamflows can be found at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/rt

East Branch of the Pemi at Lincoln NH: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uv?01074520

A bit above the mean:
231 cfs at the moment (9:30 am, Sat)
min 78, mean 162, max 526

Doug

 

[Papa Bear]

NH streamflows can be found at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/rt

East Branch of the Pemi at Lincoln NH: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uv?01074520
Doug

Thanks Doug

Actually I'm familiar with that site but I don't know how the crossing is when the water is at it's mean.

In other words, is it easy to cross on your average July 10th? Anyone?

 

[DougPaul]

Actually I'm familiar with that site but I don't know how the crossing is when the water is at it's mean.

Can't help you there. But you might be able to look up some trip reports and correlate them with the river data for the same dates.

Please ignore this part if you already know it:
Don't take the gauge readings literally--they are the water height at some (other) point on the river and the zero point is arbitrary. Just use them for relative numbers. The gauge reading is converted to cfs (cubic ft per sec) for use.

Doug

 

[bigmoose]

With any kind of luck, the recent rains/t-storm cloudbursts will have dissipated, and the Hancock Branch won't be all that difficult. I parked at the Discovery Trail trailhead...no parking pass required as I recall...walked down the Kank a little ways to Big Rock campground...crossed the road, headed south (196 magnetic perhaps?) and aimed for a double creek crossing just east of where two branches merge...each individual creek branch was less of a challenge than a wider crossing a little further west would be. You can plainly see the creeks' merge on the topo...you're aiming a little east of this merge. After the second crossing, scramble up the bank and angle up the ridge, never seeing another creek. (stay high on the ridge, don't fall off to the west, or you'll encounter nasty thick stuff)
I went in August and had few issues. I hope the bugs don't bedevil you in July. Give yourself 7 1/2- 8 hrs. Looking forward to another of your entertaining trip reports. Bonne chance!
JT

 

[Raymond]

What bigmoose said.

Mine was probably the May 20 report. I made it across on June 2, with extra equipment.

There's a herd path directly across from Big Rock. (I didn't see any public parking at Big Rock; except at campsites, which I didn't have; so I parked at the Discovery Trail.) The path leads to the river, but it seemed too difficult to cross there in May. There's a real herd path that crosses the path up near the road at a right angle. I followed this west (it's quite muddy, lots of moose tracks) to an open grassy area, then angled down toward Hancock Branch, where I was able to cross to an island. There was no good line of rocks, so I had to switch to some shoes made for wading to cross this half of the river. I also carried a towel to dry off my feet. The water came up to my knee or so. The opposite bank is steep, but climbable.

I suspect that if I'd followed these paint marks, I may have had an easier time of it, but who knows?



I apparently went up the ridge directly to the uncanistered high point (and it was thick going!), and didn't see any obvious herd path leading to the canistered summit, but at the time I didn't realize that that was where I should have been looking.

There was a noisy stream to my left early on, so you may want to keep that on your right as you go up.

I do have some pictures posted here

http://homepage.mac.com/ramerkh/PhotoAlbum5.html

but they may not add much to aid you.

If you should my sunglasses (cheap drop-behind kind for eyeglass-wearers), let me know! I can't find that style anywhere anymore.

 

[Raymond]

Papa and party,

Are you going all the way along the ridge to East Peak, Scar Ridge, also? If so, don't try to descend directly to the height of land. It's too thick. Angle northeast and work your way gradually to the East Pond Trail north of the pass. It's much easier that way. The canister atop East Peak was a Nalgene water bottle, dark gray transparent with a blue cap.

 

[SherpaKroto]

What BigMoose said, though I believe it is due south, magnetic to get to the split (which was no problem at all). Keep west of the second branch as you follow the ridge and take that ridge up to ~3600, then head directly uphill, nearly due west. The canister should be fairly easy to find after that: Spencer walked right up to it on a snowy November day. On return, avoid the lure into the valley. Those who have ventured into it say it is nasty!