H
HikerBob
Guest
After being rained off two weeks previously Karen and I returned to the Hancocks yesterday to try again. The forecast was more optimistic - partly cloudy with showers late in the afternoon.
After a horrendously foggy drive up we arrived at the Hancock overlook parking lot to cool, cloudy conditions. The Osceolas were mostly hidden in the low clouds and the foliage, although near peak, looked subdued in the grey light.
We were ready and on the trail around 7:30. To say the Hancock Notch trail leads you into the hike gently is an understament. The easy grades meant even Karen and I could make book time!
Even with the sub-optimal light the fall colors were wonderful and varied. The trail also offered up a grand variety of woodland habitats.
Another group of three hikers left a little after we did and we played leap-frog along the lower stretches. We were also overtaken by a couple of speedier women hikers. The big question everyone had was 'Which way around the loop?"
Having read a couple of trail reports and guides I had decided we would be going counter-clockwise. Up south peak and descending from North Peak. Everyone else seemed bent on going the opposite way.
We met a couple of young lads who had overnighted on the ridge. They had descended from North Hancock and described the trail as 'Eleven hundred feet, straight down the mountain on loose rock and boulders.' I wondered if they had come down by way of one of the slides!
My reasoning for going the way we planned was that I'd rather descend loose material. If you slip back going up you have to re-climb that slippage. If you slip on the way down you are a little closer to your goal
The trick is to not get closer to your goal in too rapid a manner
The climbing doesn't really start until after the Hancock Loop split and it doesn't take long to get going. The climb up to South Hancock is steep but manageable. Lots of rock steps but nothing too much of a stretch for our short legs.
We were caught up by a mother, daughter and friend team and their black lab, Bear, soon after the steep stuff started. As we spread out up the climb Bear would trot up and down to make sure everyone was making progress. Not a bark the whole time and considerate in passing, a great trail companion. With all the to-ing and fro-ing Bear must have climbed South Hancock a half dozen times in the same day!
The views back to North Hancock opened up as we gained altitude and the big slide looked fearsome. If the trail down was that steep...
It was cool at the summit but the sun was still trying to break through. We all lunched and chatted together but I was the only one who ventured down the short way to the outlook. The views to Carrigain and the Sawyer River valley were good, but it was a little hazy and other peaks were obscured by cloud.
The ladies left before us and we only caught them up once more when they decided to add layers due to the chill of the breeze. More views of Carrigain were to be had as we dropped down off of the South summit. The ridge trail is a delight although the muddy spots would be a challenge in wet conditions.
We met the two women hikers and the team of three all of whom had gone the other way around. They all said the trail up to North Hancock was loose but not as fearsome as they had imagined. We were encouraged to hear that.
We arrived at North Hancock and found ourselves a little below cloud base. The light was going and the dark grey and black clouds looked angry. I didn't even drop pack but hopped down to the outlook to take a few snaps.
Most of the peaks were in the clouds but the clouds themselves were pretty interesting. Back at the summit we each took a summit picture of the other, #31 for me #10 for Karen (who still isn't counting), and then we started down. If it was going to start raining we wanted to be off the steep stuff.
The trail down starts out easy as it traverses above the big slide then it starts down and it does indeed go straight down. This is not a trail I would want to be on in bad weather. The erosion is bad and every hikers footstep is making things worse. Lots of loose scree, rocks and earth. Poles were a great help and we took it steady and got down without incident. We passed a few folk going up and seeing them backslipping validated my decision to go the way we did. We were also overtaken by a speedy young guy who was almost skiing down. Kids!
The trail slowly moderated and then we were down. We were both disappointed to find the disappearing stream was not even running above the sandy area. The short climb back up to the split junction wasn't so bad knowing that we had an easy trek out.
Even though it was still early afternoon the forest was dark and gloomy. After one of the brook crossings I spotted a couple of white tents, yards from a no-camping sign, and managed to lose the trail for a moment. Turns out the tents were pitched right on the trail!
Back on track we made time and in the increasing gloom wondered if we were in for a soaking. As it turned out it started to spit as we covered the last few hundred yards to the trail head. We made it just in time as the rain set in while we wound down and changed at the car.
Another great day in the mountains. Pics will be up later tonight.
Bob
After a horrendously foggy drive up we arrived at the Hancock overlook parking lot to cool, cloudy conditions. The Osceolas were mostly hidden in the low clouds and the foliage, although near peak, looked subdued in the grey light.
We were ready and on the trail around 7:30. To say the Hancock Notch trail leads you into the hike gently is an understament. The easy grades meant even Karen and I could make book time!
Even with the sub-optimal light the fall colors were wonderful and varied. The trail also offered up a grand variety of woodland habitats.
Another group of three hikers left a little after we did and we played leap-frog along the lower stretches. We were also overtaken by a couple of speedier women hikers. The big question everyone had was 'Which way around the loop?"
Having read a couple of trail reports and guides I had decided we would be going counter-clockwise. Up south peak and descending from North Peak. Everyone else seemed bent on going the opposite way.
We met a couple of young lads who had overnighted on the ridge. They had descended from North Hancock and described the trail as 'Eleven hundred feet, straight down the mountain on loose rock and boulders.' I wondered if they had come down by way of one of the slides!
My reasoning for going the way we planned was that I'd rather descend loose material. If you slip back going up you have to re-climb that slippage. If you slip on the way down you are a little closer to your goal
The trick is to not get closer to your goal in too rapid a manner The climbing doesn't really start until after the Hancock Loop split and it doesn't take long to get going. The climb up to South Hancock is steep but manageable. Lots of rock steps but nothing too much of a stretch for our short legs.
We were caught up by a mother, daughter and friend team and their black lab, Bear, soon after the steep stuff started. As we spread out up the climb Bear would trot up and down to make sure everyone was making progress. Not a bark the whole time and considerate in passing, a great trail companion. With all the to-ing and fro-ing Bear must have climbed South Hancock a half dozen times in the same day!
The views back to North Hancock opened up as we gained altitude and the big slide looked fearsome. If the trail down was that steep...
It was cool at the summit but the sun was still trying to break through. We all lunched and chatted together but I was the only one who ventured down the short way to the outlook. The views to Carrigain and the Sawyer River valley were good, but it was a little hazy and other peaks were obscured by cloud.
The ladies left before us and we only caught them up once more when they decided to add layers due to the chill of the breeze. More views of Carrigain were to be had as we dropped down off of the South summit. The ridge trail is a delight although the muddy spots would be a challenge in wet conditions.
We met the two women hikers and the team of three all of whom had gone the other way around. They all said the trail up to North Hancock was loose but not as fearsome as they had imagined. We were encouraged to hear that.
We arrived at North Hancock and found ourselves a little below cloud base. The light was going and the dark grey and black clouds looked angry. I didn't even drop pack but hopped down to the outlook to take a few snaps.
Most of the peaks were in the clouds but the clouds themselves were pretty interesting. Back at the summit we each took a summit picture of the other, #31 for me #10 for Karen (who still isn't counting), and then we started down. If it was going to start raining we wanted to be off the steep stuff.
The trail down starts out easy as it traverses above the big slide then it starts down and it does indeed go straight down. This is not a trail I would want to be on in bad weather. The erosion is bad and every hikers footstep is making things worse. Lots of loose scree, rocks and earth. Poles were a great help and we took it steady and got down without incident. We passed a few folk going up and seeing them backslipping validated my decision to go the way we did. We were also overtaken by a speedy young guy who was almost skiing down. Kids!
The trail slowly moderated and then we were down. We were both disappointed to find the disappearing stream was not even running above the sandy area. The short climb back up to the split junction wasn't so bad knowing that we had an easy trek out.
Even though it was still early afternoon the forest was dark and gloomy. After one of the brook crossings I spotted a couple of white tents, yards from a no-camping sign, and managed to lose the trail for a moment. Turns out the tents were pitched right on the trail!
Back on track we made time and in the increasing gloom wondered if we were in for a soaking. As it turned out it started to spit as we covered the last few hundred yards to the trail head. We made it just in time as the rain set in while we wound down and changed at the car.
Another great day in the mountains. Pics will be up later tonight.
Bob
