shamples
New member
My first solo hike EVER so this was very different being out there on my own and I must say, very enjoyable really. These were #'s 25 & 26 for me and even though views weren't aplenty throughout the hike, I still had a great morning exploring these trails on my own.
The time breakdowns:
6:10am - Started on the Hancock Notch Trail
6:45am - Arrived at Cedar Brook Trail junction (1.7 miles in 35 minutes) (5 min break) - EASY WALK
7:10am - Arrived at Hancock Loop Trail junction (.7 mi in 20 minutes) - EASY WALK with low level water crossings NO problem at all!
7:45am - Arrived at North/South Peak junction (1.1 mi in 35 minutes) - Finally start some elevation but STILL pretty EASY WALK.
So these first 3.5 miles are seriously a piece of cake! Double that for the way out to 7 miles and you have yourself 7 easy miles right there.
8:30am - Arrived at North Hancock's Peak! (.7 mi in 45 minutes) - Now THIS was tough... first of all, you start out DROPPING the elevation gain you had achieved as soon as you turn left at the North/South peak junction! So I knew this was going to be real tough. You drop quite a damn bit to what looks like an old dried up riverbed and from there, straight up all the way basically. Relentless, but fun. So 4.3 miles from the car to this peak in 2 hours 20 minutes.
Spent a half hour at the ledge lookout (great views of the Sandwich range and especially the Osceolas) then started making my way to South Hancock at 9am.
9:40am - Arrived at South Hancock (1.4 mi in 40 minutes) - this wooded ridge walk was really pretty easy and pretty cool if you are a fan of MOSS. Moss everywhere! Lining the trail edges which I loved. This was an enjoyable 1.4 except for one particular muddy spot which had a quick bushwack around to make it no trouble.
10:05am - Arrived back at the North/South peak junction (.5 mi in 25 minutes) after down down down - Needed CAREFUL footing here as this was very steep going down. After some analysis, once you get to that junction and are deciding which way? Um, pick your damn poison since BOTH options are steep and similar! Loose rock either way so need to be extra careful of footing. But nothing too dangerous though, just some spots to slow it down and be sure of footing. Luckily for this hike, neither way is long being .7 & .5.
10:40am - Arrived back at Cedar Brook Trail junction (1.1 mi in 35 minutes again)
10:55am - Arrived at Hancock Notch Trail junction (.7 mi in 15 minutes)
11:30am - Back to my car! (1.7 mi in 35 minutes)
Total trip time 5 hours 20 minutes for 9.6 miles and 30 minutes of that spent at the top of North Hancock too. All in all, a VERY easy hike except for that .7 up North and .5 down South (or vice versa if ya go reverse), so 1.2 miles of this 9.6 is tough. Not a bad ratio there! Since I was solo I did go at a quick pace with nothing holding me back and I immensely enjoyed my solo adventure. Did not see one hiker until 10:15 am coming down so I was an early bird. I think the combination of a perfect weather day like today (by the way, NO WIND OR BUGS AT ALL) and being so late in the summer season helping water levels be low at this time made for doing these Hancocks the perfect time. I can see how all those water crossings could be tough during high water. Today, NONE were any issue. Quick rock hops wicked easy all of them! I was thinking about going up that arrow slide but I chickened out since I was alone. Maybe if I had company who wanted to try it, but didn't think it was a smart choice to attempt it alone having never been on these mountains to begin with. But it did look pretty cool! Maybe someday in the future! Overall, great day (morning) and pretty easy hike.
The time breakdowns:
6:10am - Started on the Hancock Notch Trail
6:45am - Arrived at Cedar Brook Trail junction (1.7 miles in 35 minutes) (5 min break) - EASY WALK
7:10am - Arrived at Hancock Loop Trail junction (.7 mi in 20 minutes) - EASY WALK with low level water crossings NO problem at all!
7:45am - Arrived at North/South Peak junction (1.1 mi in 35 minutes) - Finally start some elevation but STILL pretty EASY WALK.
So these first 3.5 miles are seriously a piece of cake! Double that for the way out to 7 miles and you have yourself 7 easy miles right there.
8:30am - Arrived at North Hancock's Peak! (.7 mi in 45 minutes) - Now THIS was tough... first of all, you start out DROPPING the elevation gain you had achieved as soon as you turn left at the North/South peak junction! So I knew this was going to be real tough. You drop quite a damn bit to what looks like an old dried up riverbed and from there, straight up all the way basically. Relentless, but fun. So 4.3 miles from the car to this peak in 2 hours 20 minutes.
Spent a half hour at the ledge lookout (great views of the Sandwich range and especially the Osceolas) then started making my way to South Hancock at 9am.
9:40am - Arrived at South Hancock (1.4 mi in 40 minutes) - this wooded ridge walk was really pretty easy and pretty cool if you are a fan of MOSS. Moss everywhere! Lining the trail edges which I loved. This was an enjoyable 1.4 except for one particular muddy spot which had a quick bushwack around to make it no trouble.
10:05am - Arrived back at the North/South peak junction (.5 mi in 25 minutes) after down down down - Needed CAREFUL footing here as this was very steep going down. After some analysis, once you get to that junction and are deciding which way? Um, pick your damn poison since BOTH options are steep and similar! Loose rock either way so need to be extra careful of footing. But nothing too dangerous though, just some spots to slow it down and be sure of footing. Luckily for this hike, neither way is long being .7 & .5.
10:40am - Arrived back at Cedar Brook Trail junction (1.1 mi in 35 minutes again)
10:55am - Arrived at Hancock Notch Trail junction (.7 mi in 15 minutes)
11:30am - Back to my car! (1.7 mi in 35 minutes)
Total trip time 5 hours 20 minutes for 9.6 miles and 30 minutes of that spent at the top of North Hancock too. All in all, a VERY easy hike except for that .7 up North and .5 down South (or vice versa if ya go reverse), so 1.2 miles of this 9.6 is tough. Not a bad ratio there! Since I was solo I did go at a quick pace with nothing holding me back and I immensely enjoyed my solo adventure. Did not see one hiker until 10:15 am coming down so I was an early bird. I think the combination of a perfect weather day like today (by the way, NO WIND OR BUGS AT ALL) and being so late in the summer season helping water levels be low at this time made for doing these Hancocks the perfect time. I can see how all those water crossings could be tough during high water. Today, NONE were any issue. Quick rock hops wicked easy all of them! I was thinking about going up that arrow slide but I chickened out since I was alone. Maybe if I had company who wanted to try it, but didn't think it was a smart choice to attempt it alone having never been on these mountains to begin with. But it did look pretty cool! Maybe someday in the future! Overall, great day (morning) and pretty easy hike.
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