Sawyer River Exploration July 7, 2011

[Becca M]

This trip involved my mountain bike as far as I could go. The rest was hiking/bushwhacking.

Started at the Sawyer River Trailhead and immediately got lost taking a left rather than the apparently obvious(?) right? Bushwhacking stinks with a bike!!! But, I was happy that I found an easy river crossing and didn't get wet... (for now)... Then, on to Sawyer River Trail. Nice northern views (that don't show up as well in the photo). Here's the view with my bike in it:

Lots of swampy but wide-open areas looking north along the trail. Looking down into the bog, I saw some kind of RR switching equipment.

End of the line for me on the Sawyer River Trail - here's the obligatory sign picture. I rode left onto the Hancock Notch Trail - easy riding *at first*!!!

After several HORRIFIC river crossings on the Hancock Notch Trail (imagine a wide river crossing, balancing the bike on your shoulder, and trying to keep upright on slippery water-covered rocks... or NOT). Fell in on the way in; fell in on the way out. No dry shoes today!! (I need a solution for that problem!!)

Finally ditched the bike and continued hiking the trail, then, left the trail to find some off-trail adventure via bushwhack (in padded shorts - YECH!!!!). But, there is *always* something new to see!!!!

VERY cool area (different angles). No time to swim today...

And then, a final view of the Hancocks(?) from below:

 

[sierra]

thats a cool looking swimming hole.

 

[audrey]

Did you retrace your steps and ride back the same way? I remember rumors that the Hancock Notch Trail was going to be abandoned. I hope not.

 

[Becca M]

Did you retrace your steps and ride back the same way? I remember rumors that the Hancock Notch Trail was going to be abandoned. I hope not.

I didn't retrace my steps on the bushwhack, but, I wasn't too far off. I entered the woods on the way in maybe 1/10 mi west of where I exited. I did ride back out the same way. I never really considered biking back Hancock Notch Trail west b/c there were so many blowdowns on the way in already. As soon as I reach about a blowdown every couple hundred feet that is too tall to jump, I always ditch my bike - foot travel is just much faster at that point.

 

[cooperhill]

It's a nice area there. I just finished brushing and clearing the last 1.2 miles of the Sawyer River trail. Not so many views of the mountains there but I've cleared out the view a bunch. The forest road to the right of the Sawyer River trail has neat views and always a good place to catch wildlife.