Continuing the theme of north/south peaks (Tripyramids, Kinsmans, and ...) we come to the Hancocks. Today I got to hike with Whichway and Delilah (again) and with Paradox. Delilah seemed to remember that I was eating salami yesterday, or maybe she just got used to me. A delightful POWDER DAY greeted us, beginning in the parking lot where there was one car (from reports I can now deduce it was Bryan) and we found the trail lightly broken out. We ran into Bryan and Cynthia at the loop split and thanked them for breaking trail.
Hancock Notch Trail, Frozen Hancock Branch and Hitchcock (I think)
Paradox, Arrow Slide on Hancock (North Peak)
The snow went from 3-6" in the overlook parking lot to about 4-8" by the Hancock Loop and then probably 10-14" between the peaks. First time I did them, there was so much snow, I had to crawl between the peaks for 100 feet at a time. There was plenty of snow to justify snowshoes, but not so much that we had to crawl.
View to South Hancock, Delilah and Whichway on North (lookout)
The outlook on North was relatively calm, wind-wise, and fairly sunny. Some blowing snow and up-slope clouds filled the air with fluffy light particles,, making for somewhat reduced visibility, but adding to the winter magic
View from South Hancock Outlook, First crossing (in)/Last crossing (out)
The wind was blowing good when we stopped on South Hancock, so the outlook there offered respite as well as nice views. After a final fueling up, we snowshoe skied our way down from South, and then went into git-r-done mode until we emerged on the Kanc. The snowshoe track is in great shape, and no further traction is required at this time.
All photos
Tim
Hancock Notch Trail, Frozen Hancock Branch and Hitchcock (I think)
Paradox, Arrow Slide on Hancock (North Peak)
The snow went from 3-6" in the overlook parking lot to about 4-8" by the Hancock Loop and then probably 10-14" between the peaks. First time I did them, there was so much snow, I had to crawl between the peaks for 100 feet at a time. There was plenty of snow to justify snowshoes, but not so much that we had to crawl.
View to South Hancock, Delilah and Whichway on North (lookout)
The outlook on North was relatively calm, wind-wise, and fairly sunny. Some blowing snow and up-slope clouds filled the air with fluffy light particles,, making for somewhat reduced visibility, but adding to the winter magic
View from South Hancock Outlook, First crossing (in)/Last crossing (out)
The wind was blowing good when we stopped on South Hancock, so the outlook there offered respite as well as nice views. After a final fueling up, we snowshoe skied our way down from South, and then went into git-r-done mode until we emerged on the Kanc. The snowshoe track is in great shape, and no further traction is required at this time.
All photos
Tim
