Peak Description - Hancock Spur
The long-trailless northwestern summit of Mount Hancock (elevation about 4020 feet) is approaching its third moment of fame.
- It was operated as a fire lookout called Hancock Spur for a couple years in the 1930's, and there are still artifacts on the summit - remember that they are protected by Federal law and should not be removed.
- In the 1960's, it appeared on the original AMC list of the 100 Highest Peaks of New England as NW Hancock, but it was removed from the list when the USGS Mount Osceola 7.5' quad (official issue date: 1967) showed a lesser col depth than the USGS Franconia 15' quad used to make the list.
- It was not originally included on the Trailwrights list of 72 4000-footers, but was added in 2004 so there will undoubtedly be a surge of activity as previous completers catch up.
Maps:
USGS Mount Osceola
AMC Franconia-Pemigewasset or Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map H/I-7
DeLorme NHA&G 44-G/I1 - Lincoln
Lincoln is located at Exit 32 of I-93
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Special regulations: Pemigewasset Wilderness
Routes
There are three common routes to the summit and experienced bushwhackers can find others.
- The fire lookouts supposedly followed a path up from the logging operations on the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, but the long walk in on the East Side Trail and large elevation gain has discouraged most peakbaggers from attempting to retrace this route.
- The route with the least amount of bushwhacking is to follow the ridge NW from the summit of Mount Hancock (located on the Hancock Loop Trail), but the scrub can be thick particularly at the beginning.
- A favorite route of Hundred Highest climbers was to utilize a slide in the Cedar Brook valley from about 2900 feet to 3700 feet. To reach the slide, follow the Hancock Notch Trail (trailhead on NH Route 112 about 11 miles E of I-93 Exit 32 at Lincoln, elevation 2129 feet) and turn L on the Cedar Brook Trail. Follow this trail over the height-of-land at 3100 feet and descend roughly 1.2 miles to about 2700 feet elevation (about 4.3 miles of trail walking). Now turn R off the trail and bushwhack uphill at an angle to your L (approx. 60 degrees magnetic) about .4 miles to the slide or to a stream gully which you follow uphill to the slide. Climb the slide to the top and attempt to angle L to the ridgetop, although it may be easier to continue straight up. Depending on where you hit the ridgetop, descend L to the col and then climb less than 200 vertical feet to the summit. Total distance from NH Route 112 to summit via slide about 6 miles one-way, with elevation gain of 2400 feet going and 400 feet on return.
A look at the map shows that the slide actually runs transverse to the direct route and it is shorter to angle up to the summit from somewhere on the Cedar Brook Trail. This route is quite feasible although requiring more careful navigation, and if used as a down route where you reach the Cedar Brook Trail depends on how far you choose to drop off.
It may be harder to find your way back from the summit as every way is downhill, so check your compass before starting down.
Topozone.com live map, summit at center top
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