The Hancocks

This was really going to be my first hike of “summer”.  We’ve had a moderate slide into the season with such a cool and wet spring.  A nice stretch of temperate weather in June and now the heat has finally arrived.

Since I was hiking solo I was moving at my own pace on Saturday morning.  It was an early start but despite that, I didn’t get to the trail head until 9:15am. At 9:30am I was on the trail.  The parking lot was full and I was one of two cars parked outside the normal area so I had plenty of company ahead of me.

It was a beautiful morning to be on the trail.  Those who have hiked with me know I can move at a good clip and this morning I just let my body go at its pace – whatever that was going to be.  The first stretch of trail is flat, scenic and follows the North Fork River.  At the junction of Cedar Brook and Hancock Notch I passed my first hikers.  I snapped a photo of the trail sign and quickly jaunted up Cedar Brook.  A few fun little water crossings and I banged right onto the Hancock Loop Trail.  This stretch starts to climb more aggressively but is fairly moderate for the first .7 miles.  I soon came upon the choice – do I go up North Peak first or South Peak?  Since I’d been up North Peak I opted for South Peak.  It was .2 miles shorter but no less steep and a relentless .5 mile climb.  I settled into a rhythm and by 11:30am I was at the top.  I thought, geee, I’m flying through this hike today!  Throughout the loop is where I encountered most of the hikers – all folks who left the lot before me.  Some were looping from north to south while others were going south to north.  I snapped a few photos and decided to make my way over to North Peak for lunch.  I hit North Peak by noon, had lunch, took in the views and by 12:15 I was on my way down.  The black flies were STILL ever present and were fairly aggressive.  Sitting about was not going to happen this day. 

Scooting down North Peak was fun.  Its .7 miles of super steep downward motion.  It starts out gravely and sometimes it was wet.  You have to be careful of course, but soon the terrain changes from gravely to hard rock and that’s when you can hop from stone to stone.  In short order I was making my way back down to the trail junction of Cedar Brook and Hancock Loop.

I realized I was moving at a good clip and my body knew it.  I was easily three plus liters into the four liter camelback and I had drunk a liter of Gatorade for lunch.  My clothes were soaked with sweat but it felt good.  Hmmmmmm…. I had swimming on the brain.  I was so delighted in a mid-hike swim from the Mt. Carrigain backpack that I had to find a swimming hole.  I picked a spot to go off trail, connect with the river and follow it out of hiker’s sight.  Just over a lip of rock ledge and there it was – the swimming hole with my name on it.  I quickly stripped, hung my clothes to dry and lounged for a solid 15 minutes in the water.  It was cool and refreshing and it felt GOOD.  I probably spent a solid half hour chilling.  The photo is highly overexposed but the sun was splashing right on me and I’m not good at selfies.  After lying in the sun to dry out I decided to get dressed.  Putting on the half dried hiking clothes was a bit icky but I managed.  I rejoined the trail and by 2:15 I was back at the car.  Overall it was roughly a six hour hike over 9.8 miles of terrain with a brilliant dip in between.  I pit stopped to swim again, change into my clean clothes and head home.  I was back in Spencer by 6:30pm – a brilliant little adventure.  In hindsight I wished I’d been camping as I would have swam the rest of the afternoon.  The east branch of the Pemigewasset was just beautiful to be in.  Next weekend, the river will be there!!

Join me, Saturday June 30th, for a loop hike up to North and South Hancock.  I never made it up the Hancock’s this winter – it was on my list as were many summits.  Summer is here and I bagged any hiking this past weekend in favor of working in the gardens.  I’m feeling the need for some trail time and a quality outdoor experience.

We will meet at 9am at the trail head off of route 112 also known as the Kancamagus Highway.  This trail is quite beautiful and I anticipate it being even more so on a clear blue sky day.  The trail starts out flat and you pretty much walk a straight line 1.8 miles to the trail junction of Hancock Notch and Cedar Brook Trails.  We’ll bear down Cedar brook for another .7 miles where we connect with the Hancock Loop Trail.  It is here, the loop trail, where the ascent begins!  We begin the initial mile slowly ascending but miles 1.1 to 1.7 are ball busters – it’s a steep climb, unrelenting and incredibly rewarding.  We’ll reach the peak of Hancock at 4,420’.  We’ll take a nice long break; chat, snack and/or lunch then make our way along 1.4 miles of beautiful ridge line.  The ridge is mostly in the trees but does pop out from time to time.  The last time I was up here I was messing with snow and some moderate post holing so I’ll be looking forward to solid ground.  We’ll tag South Hancock at 4,419’.  From this peak we’ll have views of Mt. Carrigain and the area I backpacked in just two weeks ago!  From this peak we begin our descent for a short .5 miles where we close the loop.  From here on out it’s a modest descent and mostly flat until we are back to the cars.  Overall this day clocks in at 9.8 miles.

Bring two liters of water, lunch and snacks.  While the weather is predicted to be warmer, it’s always good to have layers and a rain jacket just in case the weather turns.  If interested bring a towel and a change of clothes…. We’ll look for a sweet swimming hole along the Kanc for a refreshing and invigorating splash in the east branch of the Pemigewasset River.  I’ve been known to splash nekkid in those waters but I make no promises!  Afterwards if there is interest, we can grab a bite to eat.