Pardon the reference to WWII, I just finished it. Here comes Bert the Turtle.
So the Hancocks have a backstory...a very long one complete with bad frostnip. I tried last March...woke up thinking I was dying. Tried MLK weekend after sunrise fun on the Auto Road. Just because there is a gorgeous sunrise does not mean an icestorm is not a few hours away. Luckily, I realized this and left the trailhead as the fun started. Two weeks later, I tried again. Barely made it to North. The Swedish Fish texture of my fingers (look it up) said go back. Oh well. Then the snowcopalypse. Perfect for buttsliding right? Yeah, body said no and got all cranky. So 3 weeks later, bronchitis seems clear, day is awesome, let's do this.
The trail is a mess. But it is spring so that is to be expected. Even though I woke up late and should have given my lungs a bit more time, I knew the ice bridges were on their way out. I did have a few crossings, but they were easy rock hops. The will not be after today. This trail has a reputation for being up wet. I carefully make my way up the trail and see a few people. Only one man had snowshoes. He was smart. I postholed terribly, but to be fair, I also did with my snowshoes. The snow gets soft and unstable in the heat of the day. Yet many people managed. One guy had broken his YakTrax and did not have fun coming down South. I also sensed that Gollum-like "My Precious" look as he saw my snowshoes. Cedar Brook and Hancock Loop are nice trails and I have only done them on bluebird days.
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| Yeah, I kinda ruined that bridge |
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| Good ice bridge |
Well, let me clarify. They are nice until you get to the North/South split. Then they become steep SOBs. And I mean steep, like hands and knees steep. Unless you have televators on your snowshoes, then it is not as nightmarish. This a classic loop which normally goes north to south. If I am on drugs and ever do it again, I will go south to north because coming down that steep trail was not fun at all. Then again I do the Franconia Ridge loop the wrong way too. To encourage people to hike, I have no included pictures of the insane steepness.
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| Don't let that gentle grade fool you |
Remember, I am getting over bronchitis. The huffing and puffing was legendary, but no hacking. My body was none too happy to have to endure this. If you are in a similar boat, I do not recommend this as a recovery hike. A half mile took more than an hour. Yeah, it was that steep. Steve Smith is right, it is unrelenting to the very top. Add in a lack of hunger (no fuel) and my usual uphill digestion issues and, well, no fun. That was not a bear you heard, it was me belching. I guess your body goes into fight or flight mode during severe exercise and even the water I needed caused pain. It was not pretty or quiet. But I made it.
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| Is this real life? |
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| YUP and I never have to do this again |
The trip down was pretty uneventful. Missed the section of an ice bridge I crashed into. However, I completely destroyed what was left of another ice bridge and crashed into the water. FUN. Back with less and 2.5 miles back to the trailhead, I just pulled myself out and kept hiking. And then it hit. I was tired. A bit hungry, but more tired. I did a whole lot and that up was murder. I guess I deserve to be tired. Plus I can get rid of stuff in my pack since it is getting warmer. YAY lighter pack. And depending where I go, I can filter water, less to carry. And a water bladder. :) It's all good.
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| Hey, I have a bridge to sell you |
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| Nice view |
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| I don't remember this |
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| I had to crawl under this a few weeks ago |
All in all a good day and what I needed. Sadly, the weather is crappy this week and I cannot enjoy it more. I am still sore and my chest area is sore and tight, but I am breathing and moving, that is what is important. Hopefully I will have some more adventures this vacation week. I need it.
