Whenever I had to do rock hopping for long, I ended the day with sore feet. I've worn them in the few backpacking trips I've done and found out they are really NOT suited for the job. They're good for day hikes, even long ones, but not what you want to have on your feet when you're carrying a lot of weight. After two years of consistent abuse, they just began to show signs of wear and the soles began to separate from the leather. Personal preferences will play a major role here and you should try different options in case something doesn't work well for you.
Some people like to wear a synthetic liner under wool socks all year round.
I think that no matter how great and comfy your socks are, you'll always want to bring a couple extra pairs even for a day hike. Even if you don't stick a foot in water, your sweat may get your socks uncomfortably wet after a few hours of hard labour. So, plan to bring at least another pair. If you have the means to avoid it, deck out in synthetic fabrics and you'll be much better off. Although one would imagine that they dry up much faster than pure cotton, my experience was disappointing.