The 32-mile long Pemi Loop includes the Franconia Ridge Trail, the Garfield Ridge Trail and the Bondcliff Trail from the Lincoln Woods Trailhead. That trek includes the summits of Mount Flume, Mount Liberty, Mount Lincoln, Mount Lafayette, Mount Garfield, South Twin Mountain, Mount Bond, and Bondcliff Mountains.
Thunderstorms caused a change in plans (and we’d already hiked the Franconia Ridge), so we hiked up Franconia Brook Trail through the heart of the Pemigewasset Wilderness to the Garfield Ridge Trail, where we turned east and completed the eastern half of the Pemi Loop (Garfield, South Twin, Bond, and Bondcliff Mountains). It was almost the same distance (28 versus 32 miles) and still included what’s arguably one of the roughest trail sections in the White Mountains – the section of the Garfield Ridge Trail between the summit of Mount Garfield to just before the Galehead Hut. We spent 2 1/2 days hiking. Day one was Lincoln Woods to Thirteen Falls Campsite. Day two was Thirteen Falls Campsite to the Guyot Shelter and Campsite, and Day 3 was from the Guyot Campsite back to Lincoln Woods.
I took what turned out to be the most serious fall I’ve had on a hike, near the end (about 6 miles from Lincoln Woods) on the way down Bondcliff. I’m still not totally sure what happened – misplaced footing or just the shoe not gripping quite enough, whatever it was, I went down really hard on my thigh. I made it out, though in quite a bit of pain by the end and then once in the car and not moving, my leg really seized up. I went in for a Doctors visit after we got home and while nothing was broken, the bruising was extensive and very deep and had about a three week recovery to regain full motion in the leg. Goes to show you that accidents can and do happen, even when you’re fully prepared for them.
The full hike description and guide is on the Hiker Trash Husbands website.
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Jeff Senterman 