McRat
New member
Life being what it is, we got off to a late start. As I stood in the parking lot waiting, we wound up talking and the conversation turned to SherpaKroto's recovery. I thought it might be nice to bring a bit of posterboard up and send our best wishes from the summit. The 'Dollar Store' is not well stocked for art supplies, but it was open and convenient. I was able to get a marker... and a towel.
We darted up 93, with Hikerfast pointing out the various peaks. Just so you know, newbies like me LOVE this. Half way through the 48 and I increasingly sort out the geography in my head by places I've been, am going to, and still need to find out what that is. When I first started I was amazed by the views to all those unknown peaks and ridges. Now they are becoming familiar, in the good sense of the word and the experience is enriched by the memories from the journey so far.
We pulled around the hairpin turn, parked, and headed out around 11:30. The Hancock Notch trail was definately in spring conditions. There was a little mud and patches of ice, all easily managed without traction devices. The trail has very little noticable elevation gain to the junction of the Cedar Notch trail, making for a pleasant walk through the woods.
The Cedar Brook trail out to the loop was pretty much the same. There is a bit more ice, but it was level and slushy enough to boot it through. The river crossings were mostly doable with a little thought, though we took a herd path around two of the crossings (somewhere around the 5th crossing).
By the time we reached the Hancock Loop trail we could see North Hancock and the arrow slide through the trees, it dawned on me that all that gentle walking meant a pretty steep trip to the summit. We put on our crampons and decided to ascend the shorter, steeper south peak.
The trail lived up to it's description as relentlessly steep, but I enjoyed it. I'm sure there are some people here who could bareboot this, but I would consider traction absolutely essential for this trail. We took plenty of breaks, and it was nice to be able to get so much elevation gain so quickly. Soon the trail leveled off and we were at the South Hancock summit.
We took a few minutes, a few pictures, and went to the outlook. The weather had made for some interesting views. Fairly good visibility, but with paper white skies - as if someone had painted the early spring mountains with a blueish hue, and planned on filling the sky in later.
The Hancock Loop to the north summit still held a couple feet of snow, though the edges of hardpack were turning to mush. Hikeramiga and I rambled over the hills, while Hikerfast boogied back down the slide and up to the north peak from the junction. He made it to North Hancock before us, meeting us about 2/10ths of a mile away from the summit.
We enjoyed the gorgeous views from the outlook, and headed down. This leg of the Hancock Loop was bizarre. Lots of bare patches. Hikerfast pointed out that there was much more snow and ice at between 2400' and 3400' then there was between 4200' and 3600'. Only spring leaves you in crampons, walking gingerly on top of rocks, eager to get to the next patch of ice.
I hadn't brought enough food, and I started bonking a bit on the way down. Fortunately, the Hikerpeople had some chocolate mints and beef jerky to share - two great tastes that... um... provide calories and hours of repeat flavors. I felt a slightly better, but still had a bit of a tremor to my hands that really messed up a couple of pictures. We wandered out slowly, as HikerAmiga wasn't to far behind me on the bonk-scale. I think we were both tired but pleased at our double peakbag. Either I got my second wind or the chocojerkymints had kicked in - but I started feeling better... about a quarter-mile from the parking lot.
We reached the trailhead at twilight. #26 and 27 for me. HikerAmiga's longest trip so far and I think #8 and 9. This was her first introduction to river crossings, but after a nervous start she was confidently rock hopping on the way out.
I had picked the Hancocks as a fair weather day hike, thinking it would be a moderately easy double peakbag and not much else. I was quite wrong. It was a great walk through varied terrain and conditions. The summit, while having limited views, each have beautiful outlooks nearby, with a view of the Pemi that just may be Owl Head's more photogenic side. Out and back, twenty river crossings that add to the fun and make the trip seem much more remote.
I can't wait to get out to Carrigain.
We darted up 93, with Hikerfast pointing out the various peaks. Just so you know, newbies like me LOVE this. Half way through the 48 and I increasingly sort out the geography in my head by places I've been, am going to, and still need to find out what that is. When I first started I was amazed by the views to all those unknown peaks and ridges. Now they are becoming familiar, in the good sense of the word and the experience is enriched by the memories from the journey so far.
We pulled around the hairpin turn, parked, and headed out around 11:30. The Hancock Notch trail was definately in spring conditions. There was a little mud and patches of ice, all easily managed without traction devices. The trail has very little noticable elevation gain to the junction of the Cedar Notch trail, making for a pleasant walk through the woods.
The Cedar Brook trail out to the loop was pretty much the same. There is a bit more ice, but it was level and slushy enough to boot it through. The river crossings were mostly doable with a little thought, though we took a herd path around two of the crossings (somewhere around the 5th crossing).
By the time we reached the Hancock Loop trail we could see North Hancock and the arrow slide through the trees, it dawned on me that all that gentle walking meant a pretty steep trip to the summit. We put on our crampons and decided to ascend the shorter, steeper south peak.
The trail lived up to it's description as relentlessly steep, but I enjoyed it. I'm sure there are some people here who could bareboot this, but I would consider traction absolutely essential for this trail. We took plenty of breaks, and it was nice to be able to get so much elevation gain so quickly. Soon the trail leveled off and we were at the South Hancock summit.
We took a few minutes, a few pictures, and went to the outlook. The weather had made for some interesting views. Fairly good visibility, but with paper white skies - as if someone had painted the early spring mountains with a blueish hue, and planned on filling the sky in later.
The Hancock Loop to the north summit still held a couple feet of snow, though the edges of hardpack were turning to mush. Hikeramiga and I rambled over the hills, while Hikerfast boogied back down the slide and up to the north peak from the junction. He made it to North Hancock before us, meeting us about 2/10ths of a mile away from the summit.
We enjoyed the gorgeous views from the outlook, and headed down. This leg of the Hancock Loop was bizarre. Lots of bare patches. Hikerfast pointed out that there was much more snow and ice at between 2400' and 3400' then there was between 4200' and 3600'. Only spring leaves you in crampons, walking gingerly on top of rocks, eager to get to the next patch of ice.
I hadn't brought enough food, and I started bonking a bit on the way down. Fortunately, the Hikerpeople had some chocolate mints and beef jerky to share - two great tastes that... um... provide calories and hours of repeat flavors. I felt a slightly better, but still had a bit of a tremor to my hands that really messed up a couple of pictures. We wandered out slowly, as HikerAmiga wasn't to far behind me on the bonk-scale. I think we were both tired but pleased at our double peakbag. Either I got my second wind or the chocojerkymints had kicked in - but I started feeling better... about a quarter-mile from the parking lot.
We reached the trailhead at twilight. #26 and 27 for me. HikerAmiga's longest trip so far and I think #8 and 9. This was her first introduction to river crossings, but after a nervous start she was confidently rock hopping on the way out.
I had picked the Hancocks as a fair weather day hike, thinking it would be a moderately easy double peakbag and not much else. I was quite wrong. It was a great walk through varied terrain and conditions. The summit, while having limited views, each have beautiful outlooks nearby, with a view of the Pemi that just may be Owl Head's more photogenic side. Out and back, twenty river crossings that add to the fun and make the trip seem much more remote.
I can't wait to get out to Carrigain.
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