A couple from Maryland came to us looking for a guide to lead them one of the most awesome hikes offered here in the White Mountain National Forest: The Pemi Loop. This 30+ mile loop circles then bisects the Pemigewasset Wilderness and is hiked in a day, two days, three days, or even more depending on how tough one wants it to be. For this couple three days was the magic number — plus, they decided they wanted a Hut-to-Hut experience.
Day one began at Lincoln Woods Trailhead and then started a clockwise loop at Osseo Trail. The team made it to Franconia Ridge, traversed said ridge, then dropped down to Greenleaf Hut for the night knowing they’d have to come back up in the morning. A two-plus mile detour, ’round trip.
Day two — which would be their easiest day of the tour — began with the team climbing back up the way they came tagging the summit of Mt Lafeyette again, then finished the Franconia Ridge and started their traverse of the rugged Garfield Ridge. They eventually made their way to Galehead Hut for night two.
Day three was going to be another tough one, the longest day yet. Leaving the hut they climbed steeply up South Twin Mountain. Talk about a wake up call. South Twin from the hut is tough! They made it, though, and then continued on their way and before long found themselves on the Bond Cliff Trail, now within the Wilderness. Leading this epic was Redline Guide Michael Scire. He reported that they had a great time, and a challenging one at that. Today, he told us, was a long one but they timed the weather perfectly. As they were leaving Bondcliff the rain started as they made the march back to the trailhead.
