hikersinger
Member
Straightforward winter hike of the south and north peaks of Mt. Hancock.
Surface conditions: packed powder down lower, mostly packed on the ridge
Foot gear used: microspikes on the way in; snowshoes on the Hancock Loop Trail and out
Timing: started at hairpin turn lot on the Kanc (Route 129) at about 8:10, returned to lot at 1pm
Photo Gallery (does not require a Facebook account)
Nothing real special to report here; recent very cold weather and snow, with a week of previous travel between, provided the easiest winter conditions for a Hancock loop. All crossings were very easy, with ice bridges frozen solid; they let out their "hollow" sound a little, but were very solid. Microspikes did a fine job all the way in; switched to snowshoes with the heel lift (best invention ever!) for the ascent up to the south peak, and just kept them on the rest of the time.
Lots of animal tracks of all sizes, including what seemed to be recent bear tracks near the Cedar Brook and Hancock Loop trail junction. They actually went right through a very recent tent site near that junction as well. Nice surface conditions for a tent site, I'd say, with the soft pack!
Mostly cloudy, with some sun around mid-morning. By 11am or so, clouds rolled in and saw first flakes on north peak. Steady light snow on the way out, quiet and beautiful.
Surface conditions: packed powder down lower, mostly packed on the ridge
Foot gear used: microspikes on the way in; snowshoes on the Hancock Loop Trail and out
Timing: started at hairpin turn lot on the Kanc (Route 129) at about 8:10, returned to lot at 1pm
Photo Gallery (does not require a Facebook account)
Nothing real special to report here; recent very cold weather and snow, with a week of previous travel between, provided the easiest winter conditions for a Hancock loop. All crossings were very easy, with ice bridges frozen solid; they let out their "hollow" sound a little, but were very solid. Microspikes did a fine job all the way in; switched to snowshoes with the heel lift (best invention ever!) for the ascent up to the south peak, and just kept them on the rest of the time.
Lots of animal tracks of all sizes, including what seemed to be recent bear tracks near the Cedar Brook and Hancock Loop trail junction. They actually went right through a very recent tent site near that junction as well. Nice surface conditions for a tent site, I'd say, with the soft pack!
Mostly cloudy, with some sun around mid-morning. By 11am or so, clouds rolled in and saw first flakes on north peak. Steady light snow on the way out, quiet and beautiful.
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