MtnMagic
New member
Date Hiked:
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Trails Hiked:
Hancock Notch, Cedar Brook, Hancock Loop
Total Distance:
9.8 miles with 2650' elevation gain in 6 hours (book time 6 hours 15 minutes)
Difficulty:
Moderate
Conditions:
Clear, sharp, dry, mid 50's in the morning to mid 60's in the afternoon. Perfect!
Special Required Equipment:
The usual layering and bug spray.
Trip Report:
The weather was partly cloudy and the temperature a pleasant 55 degrees when we began, allowing the mountains to remain sharp and clear all day. At 9am, Irene, Jen, MichaelJ, SilentCal, SonicBoom, Carl, Ghostdog and I left the trailhead to begin our journey. Several hours earlier Pepsi hit the trail while unknown to us Marianne and Nathan left after 9am each looping the Hancocks counter clockwise. Several campers pitched tents along the way opposite the HNT which is fairly level being an old railroad bed. We met Pepsi and stopped to trail talk for a while learning he was headed to hike Mt. Carrigain.
Now on the Cedar Brook Trail, all five brook crossings were easy as the grade increases moderately. Reaching the Hancock Loop Trail the elevation gain gradually increases up to the junction of the North Fork of the Loop Trail, which our group took, where it then becomes steep with rough footing.
At the summit of North Hancock (4420’) we took the side path to the great views of the Osceola’s and the Sandwich Range. Here we sat, ate lunch, and enjoyed good fellowship. A couple arrived who asked me if I climbed Cannon this winter. Yes, Sky and I met John and June near the top! Then they asked MichaelJ if he was the one flying a flag on West Bond last September for the flags on the 48 event. It sure was!
From the summit of North Hancock thoughout the Ridge Link the wind picked up as we donned our layers to keep warm. Superb views of The Captain, Carrigain, Signal Ridge and beyond the Presie’s were enjoyed on the way. The summit of South Hancock (4319’) has a path that leads to a wonderful view of the Sandwich Range Mountains, the Sawyer Pond and Bear Mountain areas. Another unexpected surprise occurred when Marianne and Nathan were waiting for us on the summit! We conversed and laughed until it was time to say farewell and continue our journey.
Several of us discussed climbing up the Arrow Slide, the original route to the summit. It certainly looks like a much more steep, difficult and dangerous climb than the North Slide Trail of the Tripyramids. Perhaps we will ascend it.
Returning to the parking lot at 3pm, we thanked each other for the super hike and sat on the wall chatting as we basked in the sun. It took an hour for the last of us to leave. We all agreed, what a perfect day to hike!
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Trails Hiked:
Hancock Notch, Cedar Brook, Hancock Loop
Total Distance:
9.8 miles with 2650' elevation gain in 6 hours (book time 6 hours 15 minutes)
Difficulty:
Moderate
Conditions:
Clear, sharp, dry, mid 50's in the morning to mid 60's in the afternoon. Perfect!
Special Required Equipment:
The usual layering and bug spray.
Trip Report:
The weather was partly cloudy and the temperature a pleasant 55 degrees when we began, allowing the mountains to remain sharp and clear all day. At 9am, Irene, Jen, MichaelJ, SilentCal, SonicBoom, Carl, Ghostdog and I left the trailhead to begin our journey. Several hours earlier Pepsi hit the trail while unknown to us Marianne and Nathan left after 9am each looping the Hancocks counter clockwise. Several campers pitched tents along the way opposite the HNT which is fairly level being an old railroad bed. We met Pepsi and stopped to trail talk for a while learning he was headed to hike Mt. Carrigain.
Now on the Cedar Brook Trail, all five brook crossings were easy as the grade increases moderately. Reaching the Hancock Loop Trail the elevation gain gradually increases up to the junction of the North Fork of the Loop Trail, which our group took, where it then becomes steep with rough footing.
At the summit of North Hancock (4420’) we took the side path to the great views of the Osceola’s and the Sandwich Range. Here we sat, ate lunch, and enjoyed good fellowship. A couple arrived who asked me if I climbed Cannon this winter. Yes, Sky and I met John and June near the top! Then they asked MichaelJ if he was the one flying a flag on West Bond last September for the flags on the 48 event. It sure was!
From the summit of North Hancock thoughout the Ridge Link the wind picked up as we donned our layers to keep warm. Superb views of The Captain, Carrigain, Signal Ridge and beyond the Presie’s were enjoyed on the way. The summit of South Hancock (4319’) has a path that leads to a wonderful view of the Sandwich Range Mountains, the Sawyer Pond and Bear Mountain areas. Another unexpected surprise occurred when Marianne and Nathan were waiting for us on the summit! We conversed and laughed until it was time to say farewell and continue our journey.
Several of us discussed climbing up the Arrow Slide, the original route to the summit. It certainly looks like a much more steep, difficult and dangerous climb than the North Slide Trail of the Tripyramids. Perhaps we will ascend it.
Returning to the parking lot at 3pm, we thanked each other for the super hike and sat on the wall chatting as we basked in the sun. It took an hour for the last of us to leave. We all agreed, what a perfect day to hike!
