My Little Pemi Loop - First Post!

[pmj]

Hey guys,

First post . Awesome forum, by the way, I've found so really useful information here so far.

I'm going to be doing a loop in the Pemi Wilderness this weekend, and I basically wanted to run by you guys to see what you think.

So here's my plan, starting from the Kanc (note: this is a 2 day trip):

Day1:
Lincoln Woods Tr, Wilderness Tr, Bondcliff Tr
Spend night at Guyot Campsite (head to West Bond for the sunset)

Day2:
resume Bondcliff Tr, Twinway, Twin Brook Tr, Franconia Brook Tr, Lincoln Woods Tr (back to Kanc)

Is this comfortably feasible in 2 days? Should I tweak my plan a little bit to make sure I don't miss anything? What's the weather like at night this time of year? Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Paul

 

[Vortex]

Welcome Paul. I Think Mike P did it last weekend. I would just send him a pm.... I'll do it for ya.

Edit I sent him a pm, but he does have a trip report posted. Sorry can't help with a linc.

 

[gustmouse]

You could probably do it depending on the weather. The ridge on Bond Cliff is above treeline for about a mile. I’ve been on it in the summer months in high winds and wished I wasn’t there at the time. But the views are great!

Here the weather for Lincoln NH, in town anyway!

Lincoln, NH

Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 65. East wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low near 49. East wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 60. East wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Monday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 73.

 

[Vortex]

I'll be up in the area watching it rain and hiking will be at ground level.

 

[Mike P.]

I did the other half of the loop, Franconia Ridge & Garfield Ridge to Galehead & then down your planned route.

It's doable, Guyot in summer is a popular spot, if I were you, I'd bring a tent just in case. (you said camp site so maynbe not looking for a spot in the shelter.) West Bond is a great sunset spot, providing one can be seen. First day is around 11 miles (it's ten to Bond)

Next day the elevation gain to South Twin is never steep, but gets to moderate as you approach the actual top. It's steep descending the Twinway to the hut but more like a bad staircase, it's not a headwall or slide.

I was told that the Twin Brook trail was drier than Franconia Brook's upper section so that was one reason I went down Twin Brook.

The Twin Brook trail has a bit of blow down but other than that is a great trail, grades overall were moderate or easy with good footing, if hiking during a rainy weekend, a few spots could be muddy but you’d expect that.

Several of the brook crossings on Franconia Brook were a little high, one of them about 4 ½ miles from the road use some smaller trees for crossing which were bending under the surface of the water when used by an average sized woman, I was in a hurry & I was not next in line & afraid I’d overwhelm the trees so I just cut across, it was only knee neep 7 not moving very fast.

Your trip sounds like a nice one, hopefully the weather will cooperate.

 

[pmj]

Bob R,
Thanks for PM'ing Mike P! About the rain, given the weather, we're going to be going Monday and Tuesday instead. Hopefully the weather forecast or Lincoln is accurate. As of now, Monday and Tuesday look decent.

Mike P,
Thanks for the feedback. Regarding Guyot: yes, I will be bringing a tent as a backup plan, but since we'll probably be there on Monday rather than Saturday, I'm hoping the crowds will be smaller. If I have a choice, I'd rather stay in the shelter.

How was the bug situation last weekend?

 

[pmj]

One more thing, do you have any suggestions regarding cheap but clean and comfortable motels in the Lincoln area?

Thanks!

 

[Mike P.]

Black flies really were not an issue but I was moving pretty much the whole time at a decent pace & the summits & Ridges had just enough wind to keep them away.

Mosquitos down low after 6:30 PM were bad though.

I'm not much on cheap & comfortable places to stay in Lincoln. When I'm looking cheap, I look cheap, $20 or less so I'm in either Lyon's in Twin Mountain or Hiker's Paradise in Gorham. If taking the family, I'll browse cyber rentals for a condo for a few days.

I've heard good things about the Kancamangus, & I did a quick look here on the Lodging Tab & the Comfort Inn is mentioned amongst many others. I'd recommend looking at there for hotels, many to choose from.

 

[MichaelJ]

I'll just chime in that while people have posted caveats here and there, that overall we should say that your plan is very reasonable and do-able for strong hikers. The first day is long but very straightforward; as people have said, as long as the weather's good going over Bondcliff and Bond you'll be fine. The second day is very long, but after S. Twin it's all downhill and the majority is back on nearly-flat former railroad grade.

Guyot has a decent-sized shelter, a number of tent platforms, and an overflow site (use only if the caretaker sends you there) for tent setting on the ground. West Bond is definitely the place to be for sunset; it's an easy walk up there, around a 1/2 hour if I remember right.

If you were going on a weekend, I'd say to go early and fast to get a spot. Midweek it shouldn't be an issue.

As for Lincoln, I like the Mt Liberty Motel.