Pemi Loop questions..

[Jay H]

I'm looking at doing a 4 day (ish) pemi loop, an outer loop, per se, as I've done the inner loop (bypassing the Franconia Ridge) and then out to the Bonds. Remember this Tuco? Anyway, I am thinking of hitting the outer loop and planning days. Plan would be Falling waters to Little Haystack and huff it over the big peaks to Galehead hut (11.2 miles if I added it correct from my Map Adventures map), day 2 would be an easy day, long slog up South Twin, and head to Guyot Campsite. We'll probably do the out and back to Galehead and North Twin. I've done Galehead already as I did that while waiting for Tuco, I need North Twin. Day 2, even with the out and backs is only like 7.2 miles. Then Day 3, I'm wondering if we try to go for Franconia Brook East campsite, do we have to go east on the wilderness trail to get to a bridge/crossing over the Pemigawassett river-East Branch? or is there a bridge closer to the FB-east campsite? It's hard to see on the map but I'm guessing not. I'm also assuming it not possible to whack across the river?

The next day, we'll have to hike back up towards Liberty and Flume and out....

It looks to be about 900meters to get from Lafayette campground to Little Haystack and the ridge itself, does anybody have an accurate elevation gain via day 1?

Jay

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

I may be missing something (probably am ) but why not start and end at Lincoln Woods:

Day 1: Up Osseo, over Flume and Liberty, sleep at Liberty Spring
Day 2: Franconia and Garfield ridges to Garfield campsite
Day 3: Galehead, both Twins, Guyot campsite, sunset on West Bond
Day 4: Over Bond and Bondcliff and home!!

 

[Jay H]

Well, my friend wants to experience a hut, like Galehead. I've heard Greenleaf hut mentioned but it's a 1000ft drop off the ridge....

Lincoln Woods to Galehead seems to be quite a haul, and also LWs seems to be about 100meters lower than Lafayette campground so more miles and more elevation to gain....

Jay

 

[Frodo]

You are correct about there not being a bridge to cross the E. Branch of the Pemi near the East Campsites. When you get to the bottom of the Bondcliff Trail, take a left and go over the bridge to the East Side Trail, then follow that to the Campsites. It only adds about a mile to your hike.

To get back up on the ridge the following day, I would recommend hiking out to the suspension bridge at the begining of the Lincoln Woods Trail, then crossing it and head back to the Osseo Trail.

It is possible to cross the river during the summer as long as it hasn't rained much (I've done it twice). It's wide, but not deep. Just bring along a pair of Teva's and be prepared to get wet below the waist.

 

[Jay H]

Thanks Frodo, I'll bring my paddling shoes and I think we'll try to cross the river, plan B would be to do as you say, go down to LW and then back up, if we do that route. Maybe I'll bring my inner tube and can float down the East branch to Lincoln Woods...

However, Mohammad's idea may work, Day 1 would be from Lincoln Woods to Libery Springs, Day 2 we'd go to Galehead Hut instead of Garfield Ridge campsites... Day 3 to Guyot and Day 4 out to Lincoln Woods... I'll run that by my friend.. It looks this way, we'd be able to avoid staying at the Franconia Ridge -East Branch campsite altogether... I've also seen some folks camping north of the Wilderness trail too...

Jay

 

[Jay H]

$8 caretaker fee at Liberty Springs and Guyot, is there an AMC member discount?

Thanks,
Jay

 

[David Metsky]

$8 caretaker fee at Liberty Springs and Guyot, is there an AMC member discount?

No discount. Here's a link with the details - http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/campsites/index.cfm

There used to be pretty good stepping stones across the Pemi to access the Franconia Falls camp site. I don't know if they are still as useful.

 

[Tuco]

I'm looking at doing a 4 day (ish) pemi loop, an outer loop, per se, as I've done the inner loop (bypassing the Franconia Ridge) and then out to the Bonds. Remember this Tuco?
Jay

Jay- oh yeah, very well. Not a shining performance for my first backpack-, blisters, dehydration, exhaustion

But still a great time.. hope you have a great trip!

 

[Jay H]

Thanks Tuco, I knew you'd see this thread... You kind of looked like your avatar that weekend!

jay

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

It is possible to cross the river during the summer as long as it hasn't rained much (I've done it twice). It's wide, but not deep. Just bring along a pair of Teva's and be prepared to get wet below the waist.

Usually worth checking this link before river crossings in the Pemi; generally a discharge with less than 200 cfs at the East Branch gauging station means the crossings should be doable without swimming, etc.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=01074520&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00062,72020

 

[dug]

Just a side comment. There is a serious lack of water between Greenleaf Hut and Garfield Pond. We camped along that section once and were draining puddles dry trying to rehydrate.