North Hancock Mt. – 4,420
South Hancock Mt. – 4,319
Distance – 11.5 miles
Estimated Time – 7:20
Actual Time – 4:40
Today Dad and I hiked the Hancocks. We were originally planning on hiking the Garfield/Lafayette Ridge but the clouds were hanging low and I wanted to save those great views for a blue sky day. Also, the Flume Trail is particularly tough, especially on a wet day and we were having wet days.
The hike into the Hancock Loop trail was relative easy except for the water on the trail. We were constantly skirting the sides as to avoid deep wet muddy puddles in the middle of the path. The trail tested our balance as we had to walk across several narrow and slippery logs. It also tested our patience as there were three rivers that we had to cross which meant taking off our shoes and wading up to our knees. On the way down, though, the freezing cold water felt really good on our feet.
When we arrived at the loop, we met three hikers coming down who suggested that we head up the North Hancock branch and come down from South Hancock. It was good advice. The North Hancock trail was extremely steep and extremely wet. Imagine climbing 1,000 steep stairs with water pouring down from the top. By the time we reached the summit our thighs were burning. We were rewarded, though, with clearing clouds and the best views I have seen on my hikes to date. From the top of North Hancock we overlooked Osceola and the Tripyramids. Craning our necks to the right, we actually saw Flume and Walking Boss at Loon.
The hike across the ridge was all in the trees and South Hancock offered little in the way of views. We then skedaddled down, trying to run but constantly having to stop and work our way around the puddles and the rivers running across the trail. Our trip down seemed to go on forever but we knew when we arrived at the “slippery logs” we were close to the bottom.
South Hancock Mt. – 4,319
Distance – 11.5 miles
Estimated Time – 7:20
Actual Time – 4:40
Today Dad and I hiked the Hancocks. We were originally planning on hiking the Garfield/Lafayette Ridge but the clouds were hanging low and I wanted to save those great views for a blue sky day. Also, the Flume Trail is particularly tough, especially on a wet day and we were having wet days.
The hike into the Hancock Loop trail was relative easy except for the water on the trail. We were constantly skirting the sides as to avoid deep wet muddy puddles in the middle of the path. The trail tested our balance as we had to walk across several narrow and slippery logs. It also tested our patience as there were three rivers that we had to cross which meant taking off our shoes and wading up to our knees. On the way down, though, the freezing cold water felt really good on our feet.
When we arrived at the loop, we met three hikers coming down who suggested that we head up the North Hancock branch and come down from South Hancock. It was good advice. The North Hancock trail was extremely steep and extremely wet. Imagine climbing 1,000 steep stairs with water pouring down from the top. By the time we reached the summit our thighs were burning. We were rewarded, though, with clearing clouds and the best views I have seen on my hikes to date. From the top of North Hancock we overlooked Osceola and the Tripyramids. Craning our necks to the right, we actually saw Flume and Walking Boss at Loon.
The hike across the ridge was all in the trees and South Hancock offered little in the way of views. We then skedaddled down, trying to run but constantly having to stop and work our way around the puddles and the rivers running across the trail. Our trip down seemed to go on forever but we knew when we arrived at the “slippery logs” we were close to the bottom.
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