BIGEarl
Well-known member
April 14, 2011: The Hancocks - CW
Trails: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Summits: N. Hancock, S. Hancock
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
The day’s plan included two hikes. Mainly due to the hiking conditions, the Hancocks portion of the day went longer than expected and we were forced to cancel the second hike.
We had a terrific day for hiking with a mild temperature, light breeze for most of the day, and generally lots of sun. My night before ended later than I wanted and I was dragging a little to start the day. Some extra Gatorade and snacks before the hike generally took care of things. We were on-trail a little later than planned, but still early enough to allow both hikes. Ours was the only vehicle at the trailhead lot for the Hancock Notch Trail.
We started bare booting the day. The trail surface was solid and there was no postholing problem, unless we drifted off the monorail. We had no problem in following the monorail and managed to hike to the Hancock Notch – Cedar Brook trails junction with no trail damage. We made the turn and headed out the Cedar Brook Trail.
Conditions started to get more difficult. The day was warming, the sun was hitting the trail surface, we came to open crossings with more water than usual, and the monorail seemed to get much narrower (in reality, the edges were getting less supportive). We made it through the first crossings before actually reaching Cedar Brook with no real problems but it seemed clear what was coming up. Just before reaching the first main crossing, both Sue and I managed to posthole a couple times. Immediately, out came the snowshoes and we kept them on for the remainder of the hike.
At the first crossing we continued along the left bank of the stream bushwhacking past the early crossings. We passed the first two crossings and then decided to find a way to the actual trail. A log was used to help get across the stream and back on-trail. From there to the Cedar Brook – Hancock Loop junction was a short, easy walk in the woods.
We made the turn onto Hancock Loop Trail. Very soon we were faced with another crossing, but this one still has a solid bridge. We’re having fun now! The trail has a generally well defined monorail, and we’re able to stay on it. The short section leading to the loop split went quick. Along the way we came to a place where there was some very loud noise. At first I thought it was wind noise and looked up, but the trees weren’t really moving much at all. I asked Sue about the noise and she said it was noise from a river flowing underneath the trail. There is some major spring runoff going on right now. A short distance further along the trail and everything was again quiet.
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t…. We came to the loop split and decided to go clockwise this time. The trail goes through a short section where some elevation is lost as it approaches the small brook at the start of the steep climb to N. Hancock. In summer the area is a gravel bed. The stream flows into the area and disappears into the gravel bed. Today, the area is a small pond completely flooded. We took a short bypass upstream and through a couple spruce traps and managed to get to the other side without going for a swim.
We were still working with a pretty good trail surface. The traction was adequate for our snowshoes. We lifted the Televators and just climbed. Slowly we made our way along the trail to the area of blowdowns above the top of Arrow Slide without any problems at all. There were no blowdowns to get past all of the way up. The Televators went back down and we completed the climb to N. Hancock.
The snow depth is still significant and we were treated to terrific views at the summit signpost. We didn’t have 360 degree views, but it was close. The temperature seemed to drop a little and the wind was up. Both Sue and I made the adjustments and we set off for South Hancock.
The trail between the summits is tight because of the snow depth but there are very few blowdowns along the way. The high trail surface had us plowing through branches that are normally well above the trail. Hold onto your hats! The really nice part about hiking this area right now is the mud pits – they’re frozen, or at least covered by a solid trail. It won’t last much longer.
A short distance before S. Hancock we were treated to more views that don’t exist without deep snow. One place showed a view back to N. Hancock and on to Zealand Notch, Owl’s Head and Franconia Ridge. A little further along and we enjoyed a nice view to Carrigain, Kearsarge North, Chocorua, Passaconaway, Whiteface, and The Tripyramids. Nice! Soon we were on S. Hancock and it was snowman time. Sue went to work.
After the snowman distraction we started the steep descent. I think we both expected to spend some time on our butts. The traction was great and we had no real problem in just walking down from S. Hancock. We hit the loop split and just kept going.
Our exit walk was a little different than the hike in. We made the bridged crossing a short distance before reaching the junction with Cedar Brook Trail. After the junction and just before the next crossing, we took a left off the trail and bushwhacked around the other non-bridged crossings. The snow is deep and soft but it wasn’t really an unpleasant bypass. Soon, we managed to pick-up our tracks from the morning and stay with them until we were back on-trail at the left bank of the first crossing.
From there to the trailhead was an easy cruise. We stayed with the snowshoes and managed a few annoying postholes along the way when we drifted a little left or right of the monorail. We reached the short pitch back to the highway, removed our snowshoes, and walked across the road to the still empty trailhead lot.
By now, the hiking conditions had cost us quite a bit of extra time and it was too late to continue to Moosilauke. We packed our things, stopped on our way through Lincoln for a quick change into dry things, and hit the highway south.
Thanks Sue – I really enjoyed opening day of your April vacation. Day #2 in the mountains should be even more fun.
I’ve posted some pictures from the day.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
Trails: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Summits: N. Hancock, S. Hancock
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
The day’s plan included two hikes. Mainly due to the hiking conditions, the Hancocks portion of the day went longer than expected and we were forced to cancel the second hike.
We had a terrific day for hiking with a mild temperature, light breeze for most of the day, and generally lots of sun. My night before ended later than I wanted and I was dragging a little to start the day. Some extra Gatorade and snacks before the hike generally took care of things. We were on-trail a little later than planned, but still early enough to allow both hikes. Ours was the only vehicle at the trailhead lot for the Hancock Notch Trail.
We started bare booting the day. The trail surface was solid and there was no postholing problem, unless we drifted off the monorail. We had no problem in following the monorail and managed to hike to the Hancock Notch – Cedar Brook trails junction with no trail damage. We made the turn and headed out the Cedar Brook Trail.
Conditions started to get more difficult. The day was warming, the sun was hitting the trail surface, we came to open crossings with more water than usual, and the monorail seemed to get much narrower (in reality, the edges were getting less supportive). We made it through the first crossings before actually reaching Cedar Brook with no real problems but it seemed clear what was coming up. Just before reaching the first main crossing, both Sue and I managed to posthole a couple times. Immediately, out came the snowshoes and we kept them on for the remainder of the hike.
At the first crossing we continued along the left bank of the stream bushwhacking past the early crossings. We passed the first two crossings and then decided to find a way to the actual trail. A log was used to help get across the stream and back on-trail. From there to the Cedar Brook – Hancock Loop junction was a short, easy walk in the woods.
We made the turn onto Hancock Loop Trail. Very soon we were faced with another crossing, but this one still has a solid bridge. We’re having fun now! The trail has a generally well defined monorail, and we’re able to stay on it. The short section leading to the loop split went quick. Along the way we came to a place where there was some very loud noise. At first I thought it was wind noise and looked up, but the trees weren’t really moving much at all. I asked Sue about the noise and she said it was noise from a river flowing underneath the trail. There is some major spring runoff going on right now. A short distance further along the trail and everything was again quiet.
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t…. We came to the loop split and decided to go clockwise this time. The trail goes through a short section where some elevation is lost as it approaches the small brook at the start of the steep climb to N. Hancock. In summer the area is a gravel bed. The stream flows into the area and disappears into the gravel bed. Today, the area is a small pond completely flooded. We took a short bypass upstream and through a couple spruce traps and managed to get to the other side without going for a swim.
We were still working with a pretty good trail surface. The traction was adequate for our snowshoes. We lifted the Televators and just climbed. Slowly we made our way along the trail to the area of blowdowns above the top of Arrow Slide without any problems at all. There were no blowdowns to get past all of the way up. The Televators went back down and we completed the climb to N. Hancock.
The snow depth is still significant and we were treated to terrific views at the summit signpost. We didn’t have 360 degree views, but it was close. The temperature seemed to drop a little and the wind was up. Both Sue and I made the adjustments and we set off for South Hancock.
The trail between the summits is tight because of the snow depth but there are very few blowdowns along the way. The high trail surface had us plowing through branches that are normally well above the trail. Hold onto your hats! The really nice part about hiking this area right now is the mud pits – they’re frozen, or at least covered by a solid trail. It won’t last much longer.
A short distance before S. Hancock we were treated to more views that don’t exist without deep snow. One place showed a view back to N. Hancock and on to Zealand Notch, Owl’s Head and Franconia Ridge. A little further along and we enjoyed a nice view to Carrigain, Kearsarge North, Chocorua, Passaconaway, Whiteface, and The Tripyramids. Nice! Soon we were on S. Hancock and it was snowman time. Sue went to work.
After the snowman distraction we started the steep descent. I think we both expected to spend some time on our butts. The traction was great and we had no real problem in just walking down from S. Hancock. We hit the loop split and just kept going.
Our exit walk was a little different than the hike in. We made the bridged crossing a short distance before reaching the junction with Cedar Brook Trail. After the junction and just before the next crossing, we took a left off the trail and bushwhacked around the other non-bridged crossings. The snow is deep and soft but it wasn’t really an unpleasant bypass. Soon, we managed to pick-up our tracks from the morning and stay with them until we were back on-trail at the left bank of the first crossing.
From there to the trailhead was an easy cruise. We stayed with the snowshoes and managed a few annoying postholes along the way when we drifted a little left or right of the monorail. We reached the short pitch back to the highway, removed our snowshoes, and walked across the road to the still empty trailhead lot.
By now, the hiking conditions had cost us quite a bit of extra time and it was too late to continue to Moosilauke. We packed our things, stopped on our way through Lincoln for a quick change into dry things, and hit the highway south.
Thanks Sue – I really enjoyed opening day of your April vacation. Day #2 in the mountains should be even more fun.
I’ve posted some pictures from the day.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
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