Here's Ryan at the trailhead with his new shoes
The trail was packed some of the way by a couple of guys and their dog who started about half an hour before us
Ryan with the Turtle flavored Chex Mix and Hiking Jesus, our official mascot
Eventually we caught the guys and their dog, Stan, and it was out turn to break trail through three feet of powder. Here's Ryan leading the pack. At times you sank to your waist even with the snowshoes.
The last section of trail up the north peak climbed 1200 feet in 0.7 miles through very steep unbroken snow. It took 2.5 hours to go a distance that usually takes 15-20 minutes. That's about the height of a staircase every minute and a half.
At the summit of North Hancock, 4420 feet. That's the south peak behind us.
The other hikers went down the same way they came up, whick left only the two of us to break the 1.4 mile ridge trail to the south summit.
These trees are ten feet tall, but in the winter you can see right over them. In the summer the trail has very few views, and of course a snow squall blew in so it had very few this day also. 
This is the stick we used to measure the snow. It was 6.5 feet near the south summit. That's the ridge and the north peak behind him.
Just me on one of the lookout ledges.
Summit of South Hancock, 4319 feet and Ryans 33rd 4000 footer. This was the last picture before the camera froze in the 20-30 below wind chills.
2 comments:
...and then they went hiking. (hopefully somebody gets this joke)
I'm glad someone actually picked up on it. Even though he's getting up there in age (knocking on the door of the big 3-0) Brett is still sharp as a tack!
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