N
NeoAkela
Guest
Date of Hike: Friday 05/30/2008
Trail Conditions: All trails showed signs of recent cleanup of blowdowns - lots of woodchips and cut branches on all sides of the trail. Hancock Notch/Cedar Brook trails in good shape, stream crossings easily manageable. North Hancock Branch snow-free, lots of loose rock up high and mud/erosion below. Ridge and South Hancock still full of snow, monorail ridge over one foot high in places. South Hancock descent icy, snowy, and somewhat treacherous.
Special Equipment Required: Regular hiking boots were sufficient, though at times going down the south end wished I had packed the stabilicers one last time. Holding on to trees and branches also a must!
Comments: A great hike on a beautiful spring day! Going up North Hancock we thought that we had finally gotten rid of the snow, seeing none all the way to the top. Entire loop was free of blowdowns, but lots of mud in some of the lower areas. Great view from the top. The ridgewalk showed us otherwise regarding the snow! The monorail was easily avoided by walking on the sides, though wet boots were a given by the end of the trip, as the snow was at times over a foot deep. After limited views from the top of S. Hancock, we inched our way down the steep, ice-and-snow covered trail to the loop junction, which was (for at least one half of the way) completely covered, slippery, and dangerous (for us barebooters!) Hanging on to trees and branches and staying to the edge got us down safely. Met some folks coming up about 3 PM and told them to be careful.
All in all a great hike, but due to the limited views not one I would be returning to anytime soon.
Note: we saw a herd path leading down the ridge south from South Hancock - later found out that there is a third peak at the end of the ridge with the remains of an old firetower that can be bushwhacked to...
Your name: NeoAkela
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
Trail Conditions: All trails showed signs of recent cleanup of blowdowns - lots of woodchips and cut branches on all sides of the trail. Hancock Notch/Cedar Brook trails in good shape, stream crossings easily manageable. North Hancock Branch snow-free, lots of loose rock up high and mud/erosion below. Ridge and South Hancock still full of snow, monorail ridge over one foot high in places. South Hancock descent icy, snowy, and somewhat treacherous.
Special Equipment Required: Regular hiking boots were sufficient, though at times going down the south end wished I had packed the stabilicers one last time. Holding on to trees and branches also a must!
Comments: A great hike on a beautiful spring day! Going up North Hancock we thought that we had finally gotten rid of the snow, seeing none all the way to the top. Entire loop was free of blowdowns, but lots of mud in some of the lower areas. Great view from the top. The ridgewalk showed us otherwise regarding the snow! The monorail was easily avoided by walking on the sides, though wet boots were a given by the end of the trip, as the snow was at times over a foot deep. After limited views from the top of S. Hancock, we inched our way down the steep, ice-and-snow covered trail to the loop junction, which was (for at least one half of the way) completely covered, slippery, and dangerous (for us barebooters!) Hanging on to trees and branches and staying to the edge got us down safely. Met some folks coming up about 3 PM and told them to be careful.
All in all a great hike, but due to the limited views not one I would be returning to anytime soon.
Note: we saw a herd path leading down the ridge south from South Hancock - later found out that there is a third peak at the end of the ridge with the remains of an old firetower that can be bushwhacked to...
Your name: NeoAkela
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
