November 22
I had a beautiful, sunny drive on the way to the trailhead until about halfway across the Kancamagus Highway. We've had snow in the mountains several times so far this year, but this was my first time having to drive in it. I had to slow down to 25 mph. My sunny day was gone, and my streak of viewless hikes would continue. Today I hiked the Hancocks for the third time in as many months. Ed Hawkins headed up the hike. We also had Paul, Jim, Rebecca, Helen, Tom, and Rick. We took a break at the start of the Hancock Loop Trail.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There was about 2 inches of fresh snow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I took the lead for a while as we made the steep climb up to North Hancock. Near the top I let Paul take the lead since this was a new peak for him. It was also a new peak for Tom. We didn't bother to go to the lookout at the top since we knew we would have no view. We then made our way over to South Hancock. For the steep climb down, I tried my new microspikes which worked great.
The original plan today was to also include a bushwhack over to East Hitchcock, but the group as a whole did not want to go. I guess we will have to do that another time. It snowed off and on all day.
On the drive home, the weather once again cleared bbout halfway across the Kanc. The highlight of the day was seeing a black bear cross the road near the trailhead for Mount Chocorua. I've seen a few black bears along the AT, but despite all the hiking I've done in the Whites, this was the first one I've seen in the area.
| 
