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White Mountain National Forest

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 - Tuesday, October 3, 2023 -- $1475 ★★★★★



Description

New Hampshire's White Mountains are a rugged and beautiful wilderness with enormous granite peaks that rise far above tree line, offering sweeping hundred-mile vistas on clear days. The Whites are also a land of primeval trees, tumbling waterfalls, and charismatic wildlife such as moose, bears, deer, and fox. And during the Fall Foliage season, the colors of the region come alive.


We are planning to hike in one of the premiere wilderness areas that the White Mountain National Forest has to offer, the Pemigewasset Wilderness. We will summit several 4000' peaks including The Owl's Head, Garfield Peak, South Twin Mountain, Bond Mountain and Bondcliff.


Hopefully, we'll get to see the animal totem prevalent in these woods: Moose. But we may also encounter deer, black bears and ubiquitous chipmunks chattering at you as you walk by. If we're lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of a bobcat, fisher or pine marten (Note: We won't).


Come explore this wilderness with us. The trip will occur during the legendary Fall Foliage season when colors abound and cooler, drier weather keeps the bugs at bay.



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 60s and nighttime temperatures in the low 30s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 80 and as low as 20, with a reasonable chance of rainfall at any point in the trip. Here is the Pemi's historical weather.



Probable Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Jenifer Smith
Any Other Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


Trails in New Hampshire are full of rocks, roots and mud. We find that terrain is the most difficult impediment most participants face when hiking ... even more than elevation gain or loss. This trip features all of the above plus elevation gain and loss. The relatively short hike from Galehead Hut to South Twin Mountain is a dramatically steep mile of boulders that offers very little flat purchase upon which to step. A lot of the rest of our route can be like that too. And then it might rain. Yes, the trip is difficult but it is attainable, the mileages are moderate and the views are breathtaking.



Cost

$1475 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Manchester Airport (MHT), as well as personal equipment, restaurant meals and any gratuities for guides. You may also be charged for any parking charges for leaving your car at the hotel all week if you drive.


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 1 nights in front country campground, 6 days of trail meals, airport ground transportation, ground transport to/from the White Mountains, National Forest permits, backcountry campsite fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes


Flights to Manchester, NH may be limited.


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Map
 
 

Itinerary


Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Drive or fly into Manchester Airport (MHT). The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-1PM. However, if you have completed your online shakedown and will arrive fairly ready to go, you can fly in a little later.

We'll pick you up at the airport and shuttle you to a local hotel to gather the group

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Mini-equipment shakedown, following up your virtual shakedown done prior to the trip

Make-Your-Own Trail mix bar

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Buy last minute and forgotten items at EMS Manchester, 1500 South willow St, Suite W155, Manchester, NH, (603) 632-3666, open 'til 6PM

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD


Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Second set of "before" measurements taken

Start hiking at Lincoln Woods Trailhead across the street, elevation 1160'

Hike 2.8 miles on the East Side Trail to Franconia Brook Tentsite, elevation 1410'

Set up tents here and pack your day-pack

Wade about .2 miles across the Pemigewasset River to the Lincoln Woods Trail

Day-Hike 1.4 round trip miles to Franconia Falls, elevation 1410'

Day-Hike 1.9 round trip miles to Black Pond and back to camp (wading the Pemigewasset River again, elevation 1590'

Camp at Franconia Brook Tentsite, elevation 1410'

Miles today: 6.3. Total miles: 6.3

Possible bailout: Lincoln Woods


Thursday, September 28, 2023

Wade about .2 miles across the Pemigewasset River (again) to the Lincoln Woods Trail

Hike 4.4 miles to the Brutus Bushwack Trail, elevation 2400'

Drop packs and day-hike 2.2 steep round trip miles to summit of The Owl's Head, elevation 4025'

Hike 3.2 miles along the Lincoln Brook Trail to the Thirteen Falls Tentsite, elevation 2215'

Camp at Thirteen Falls Tentsite, elevation 2215'

Miles today: 10.0. Total miles: 16.3

Possible bailout: Lincoln Woods a day away


Friday, September 29, 2023

Hike 2.5 steep miles to Garfield Hut, elevation 4000'

Set up camp at Garfield Hut, elevation 4000'

Day-Hike 0.8 round trip miles to the summit of Mount Garfield, elevation 4480'

Camp at Garfield Hut, elevation 4000'

Miles today: 3.3. Total miles: 19.6

Possible bailout: Daniel Webster Highway


Saturday, September 30, 2023

Hike 2.4 miles on the Appalachian Trail to Galehead Hut, elevation 3775'

Drop packs and day-hike 0.8 round trip miles to the summit of Galehead Mountain, elevation 4026'

Pick up full packs and hike 0.7 grueling uphill miles on the Appalachian Trail to the summit of South Twin Mountain, elevation 4902'

Hike 2.5 miles to Guyot Tent Site, elevation 4161'

Camp at Guyot Tent Site on wooden tent platforms, elevation 4161'

Miles today: 6.4. Total miles: 26.0

Possible bailout: FR304A (or Daniel Webster Highway)


Sunday, October 1, 2023

Hike 0.8 miles to the summit of West Bond Mountain with sweeping views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, elevation 4470' (note: much of this will be done as a day-hike, leaving packs near the a trail spur)

Hike 0.9 miles to Mt. Bond with sweeping views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, elevation 4680'

Hike 5.0 downhill miles to the Bondcliff Trail, passing Bondcliff Mountain (elevation 4250') with more sweeping views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, elevation 1600'

Hike 1.9 miles to the Pemigewasset River, crossing the river one last time elevation 1425'

Camp at Franconia Brook Tentsite, elevation 1410'

Miles today: 8.7. Total miles: Hiking 34.7

Possible bailout: Lincoln Woods


Monday, October 2, 2023

Hike 2.8 miles back to Lincoln Woods, elevation 1160'

End of hiking portion of trip

Miles today: 2.8. Total miles: Hiking 37.5

Shuttle back to Manchester hotel

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

After body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Tuesday, October 3, 2023

There will either be a free airport shuttle, we may drop you at the airport or we may order a shared cab/Uber to get you there.


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