On Columbus Day weekend 2013 we set out to explore the Pemi Wilderness like never before. No time table, no worries, just the seclusion of New Hampshire's largest wilderness area, the 4000-foot summits we love (eight of them), and a crazy plan to bushwhack across them.
This 27-mile adventure through my favorite part of the White Mountains has left me speechless and amazed ever since it ended. I haven't quite been able to put the experience into words, nor would my words and photos tell anything what it was like to take on this adventure. For that reason, I've crafted an awesome film from our adventure; one that we'll have and remember forever.
After hiking over Mt.'s Lincoln and Lafayette, we descended Lincoln Slide and bushwhacked to Lincoln Brook Trail, where we decided to call it a day early in the afternoon. We enjoyed a peaceful night in the wilderness. The next morning, we climbed to the summit of Owl's Head, and then bushwhacked down its East side to Franconia Brook and Hellgate Brook. Early in the afternoon, we started our bushwhack up the west ridge of Bondcliff, which is very seldom traveled area, although I believe it was the route of first ascent to Bondcliff. We fought our way through some of the most dense vegetation and tense moments ever as we tried to reach Bondcliff's summit before dark. We didn't quite make it before dark, but before we made the summit, we had an opportunity for a break on a patch of scrub. The view we had was one for a lifetime. Finally, we made the summit of Bondcliff and then Bond at 10:00pm. We awoke the next morning to an amazing undercast sea of clouds that seemed to surround us completely as we stood atop the wilderness. After a visit to West Bond, we then hiked out about eleven miles over two more 4000 footers to finish our amazing weekend.
Just over an hour long, this film was put together from over ten total hours of footage. The soundtrack features music from Andy Moor (DJ), Beck, and Blackmill, all of which will keep you moving along through the journey with us. Hear just about everything we say, and see our actual reactions to some really incredible stuff. I can't help but want to share this amazing experience, so I hope you enjoy it!
Hike Stats
Trails: Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Lincoln Slide (bushwhack), bushwhack, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path, bushwhack to Franconia Brook, Franconia Brook Trail, bushwhack to Bondcliff from Hellgate inlet, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Guyot Shelter Spur, Twinway, North Twin Spur, North Twin Trail
Distance: 27.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 11,143 ft.
Actual Book Time: 59:20 (2 nights, 3 days)
Distance: 27.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 11,143 ft.
Actual Book Time: 59:20 (2 nights, 3 days)
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