“While not planning on dying in the mountains anytime soon, I can certainly subscribe to the theory that dying in pursuit of my dreams—living the life I want and giving it my best shot—whether or not anyone bears witness to it, is certainly preferable to dying tied to my desk.”
Cannon was tough, but the winter ascent of the Hancocks is what I regard as my first truly big climb in the White Mountains. Approximately 10 miles long, the loop includes two of the 4000-footers, making it a sizable trail even in summer. But with at least a foot of snow on the ground—and in some spots, more than a few—this climb was a beast. A few times, I had to crawl on all fours, even with snowshoes on. It never occurred to me to turn around, though. I won’t get into it here, but I believe I was unnaturally spurred on by the receipt of some automatic checks from a deceased customer. He obviously didn’t have anything to pay for.
Like Cannon, I didn’t see anyone else on the trail, but I didn’t feel alone. It was a gray, wet day, but I felt invigorated and happy.
Hiking up South Hancock
The climb up South Hancock had me crawling on all fours at times because the snow was so deep. I crossed over shelves of it perched on steep sections near the summit. Some spots felt like the snow could slide right back down the mountain, taking me with it.
I spent much of this hike thinking about how impressive it is that so many make their way up these mountains. So much is made of our weaknesses in society, but I think the resiliency mountain climbers show resides in most of us. It just needs a spark to let it out.
Looping Through Mount Hancock
It was a bleak day, but I enjoyed the views nonetheless. In fact, there was something thrilling about being out, braving the trails alone on such a day. Maintaining a consistent pace, I gave credence to the reasons that brought me here.
Of all the climbs I did on my journey, none presented more difficult snows to contend with than the Hancocks. It was DEEP. But even though I needed to work harder than on any previous hike, my energy levels were still strong after completing the ten-mile loop. Either I was getting in better shape or receiving a dead man’s checks was having a profound effect on my motivation. Maybe both.
“Nobody sees you when you’re working hard, and nobody knows the effort you put into something. Nobody is really aware of your heroics. You may trick yourself once or twice into thinking they are, but to sustain that level of commitment, you have to do it because it matters to you and you alone. Because you care.”
South Hancock and Mount Hancock Ascent Details
- Route (Loop): Hancock Loop Trail – This moderately challenging hike features steep ascents, especially on South Hancock, and rewarding wooded summits. The trail follows a well-defined loop with a ridge traverse between the peaks. As a bonus, this is really a 3-peak day, because as you pass from one summit to the other, you actually have to cross over Mount Hancock’s Middle Peak as well.
- Elevation Gain: 2,650 – 2,750 Feet
- Miles to Summit: Hancock: 4.1 miles / South Hancock: 5.5 miles
- Total Distance: 9.8 Miles (Loop)
- Trailhead Location: The Hancock Loop Trailhead is located at the Hairpin Turn on the Kancamagus Highway (NH-112), Lincoln, NH
Exploring Mount Hancock: Trail Reports & Peakbagging Resources
While they lack the open summit views of other 4000-footers, the steep, sustained climbs up both Hancock and South Hancock make them tougher than they appear on paper. South Hancock, in particular, can feel relentless, with a steep ascent that may have you scrambling in deep snow, should you decide to climb it in the winter.
Even though this is a popular loop, there are days when the trail feels surprisingly quiet, and in deep winter, you might not see another hiker at all—which can be a good thing. 😉
For more resources on hiking Hancock and South Hancock, here are a few helpful sites:
- Peakbagger.com – Hancock & South Hancock – Track your 4000-footer progress, log summits, and see detailed elevation data.
- Current Trail Conditions – New England Trail Conditions – Helpful for checking recent reports on snow depth, ice, and overall trail conditions.
- AMC Trail Maps – Always a good idea to have a reliable map, especially in winter.
More Stories From the Mountains
If you like reading about mountain adventures, check out 4000s by 40.
Want more pictures? You’ll find them all in the 4000s by 40 Visual Companion.
