r/wmnf

last week I backpacked a three day extended Pemi loop. I dealt with a wide range of weather and trail conditions. There was a mix of dry trail, snow and puddles. Microspikes were needed for several sections. On day one I hiked flume, liberty, Lincoln, Lafayette and Garfield. There was rain at first but things improved a lot as I reached the ridge. I stayed at the Garfield ridge campsite. On day two I hiked galehead, south twin, north twin, and Zealand. There were snow squalls on and off all day and some high wind gusts around guyot. I stayed at the guyot campsite. From my tent platform I had a view of the sunrise and had a pine marten encounter. On day three I hiked west bond, bond and Bondcliff. 

Not sure why I thought it would be ok to hike in early May lol. I had done the AT in 2014 and remember Franconia being really cool so I picked the ridge loop to do with a friend. As we got there we saw how low the snow was on the mountains and already I was concerned.

About 9 miles, 6 hours.

Super windy, snowy, and pretty cold. At about halfway (on the ridge) both my quads were cramping and I was even contemplating turning back since at least I knew what to expect on the way back. But we kept going. Cramps eventually stopped after i chugged a bottle of water with electrolytes and put on a second pair of pants. Trail was easy enough to follow thanks to footprints and piles of rocks. But I was still worried about dying up there.

I’d recommended researching trails before hiking them lol. It was kinda scary and super uncomfortable. But kinda cool too.

I'm planning on doing this two-night hike with my son (13-yo) this summer:
Day 1 - bridle path to greenleaf (drop packs); lincoln/lafayette and back (he wants to go all the way to liberty, but I think that's too ambitious for day 1)
Day 2 - hike to galehead (drop packs); twins and back
Day 3 - hike out via hale brook trail

My son put the itinerary together to try and snag as many new 4Ks as he can (he's already done the franconia ridge ones as well as the bonds and tom/willey/field). Anything worrisome here or worth tweaking? We'd stash a car at the hale brook trailhead; it looks like there's overnight parking available there? Day 3 looks like it'll be the toughest as we'll have packs the full way, but he's a strong hiker and should be up to it. Anything else to be considering?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

Got an early start to catch the sunshine. Beautiful day on the trail. Didn’t spot a single person once I crossed over the wilderness bridge. Water crossings were all very doable (with one wet boot) and trail was in quite good shape. Wet in the expected places, but nothing terrible. Signage related to the Lincoln Woods closure still says “June through November,” and the prep work they did over the winter is very visible.

Thankfully he had an appropriate fear of humans, unlike Pemi Bear (RiP)

Planning to do this route in June, not worried abt experience or distance or anything but I am aware that the current direction I have this going (up tucks down great gulf) is def uncommon. I have some friends coming with me who haven’t hiked the whites but have done a lot in the ADK’s and other tough hiking w me so they’re fine, but they really wanna approach by tucks and still hit great gulf too. I’m cool with it but I know the descent of great gulf is sketchy. The views coming down would be awesome tho and taking our time would negate most of my concern but still, to those of u who have descended that giant headwall, any advice? People have mentioned route finding issues online, not worried abt that, again it’s just the loose rocks that concern me.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LUjmw6YhvHM

I came across this video and it made me feel a little better. The creator is funny asf too so it’s a good watch.