Direttissima Honeymoon

What do hikers and climbers do to celebrate their wedding? Well, the latest couple we married won’t be caught lounging on some cruise ship, they plan to begin a 14-day Direttissima. For those unfamiliar with that term it means, translated from Italian, “the most direct way.” To climbers this means straight up the shortest route to the top (which will be the steepest). In hiker terms, locally, it refers to the “White Mountain Challenge” which is to hike all 48 of the New Hampshire 4000-footers in one go. A single hike that involves not just summiting all these peaks, but also connecting the trailheads on foot amounting to about twenty-two miles of extra road walking. This event can range from grueling to fun, depending on how one goes about it — 14 days being the fun version.

Their beautiful wedding, officiated by Redline Guide and owner Mike Cherim, a New Hampshire Justice of the Peace, was held atop a climbing spot called Square Ledge in Pinkham’s Grant (the actual name of the land in Pinkham Notch) just before the sun was to drop behind Mt Washington. Besides Mike and the bride and groom, also present was the groom’s mother, their dog, and professional photographer Lenka Flaherty who has shot other weddings we have officiated. The photos below, however, unless marked otherwise, were taken by Mike (with permission from the couple, of course).

We wish them luck. Not only on their new life together, but also for this 14-day challenge to kick things off.