pemi loop counter clockwise (7-21-14)

My 1st time doing the pemi loop! I've done all the peaks prior, however garfield ridge tr and osseo tr. were new segments for me. I ran the very beginning until bondcliff tr turns left and then it was hiking the rest of the day. was a casual shakedown affair 6:30a to 11:15p. 16 hrs 45min total. next year i will shoot for 14 hrs, take less pix, not visit guyot site and start earlier in the day and earlier in the summer, so i can take advantage of the running miles at the end of the loop from mid-way osseo to car. (yesterday had headlamp on for this segment and didn't want to run and risk a tripping injury.) I'm in awe of the times the ultra trail runners do on this loop! Hiking franconia ridge with no people and sun setting and stars above flume were the highlights. Great full day hike, hope to do it yearly.

bond cliff
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checking out guyot site
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red rock ravine slides.
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slowest segment of loop IMO is s.twin to lafayette
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airing out at galehead.
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continued....

view from garfield.
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franconia ridge pix.
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I've always been impressed by the hikers that can do this loop in a day. After just completing a clockwise loop as a three day trek staying at the huts and bagging the side peaks (galehead, n. twin, w. bond) on the way, I feel even more that you guys are bonkers. I know I was probably carrying more gear, but it was a pretty good hike just getting up and over Franconia Ridge in time for supper at Greenleaf. Congrats on getting it all in one day.

Nice one Nate! This is on my "to do" list this summer as a day hike. Great photos, looks like you had perfect weather.

Excellent Pictures, natron. I really like the ones you took heading up Lafayette later in the day. Congrats on your first of hopefully many Pemi Loops!

-Chris

thanx for the kind words guys! i have the pemi loop itch!

On the Lafayette/sun shot, I enjoyed the backdrop of what almost looks like a lenticular cloud.

On my own mega-hikes, I also routinely grapple with the dilemma of smelling (and photographing, lol) all the roses vs. stick to the route, keep moving, optimize time. On one pemi loop, I even stopped to tag W.+E. Garfield Ridge!

On another, I included the 4 nearby 'spur' peaks for a 12-bagger -- but that didn't trouble me as much - that's really its own distinct hike, aka 'extended pemi loop', with its own distinct times to track.

The other tradeoff I struggle with is how much stuff to carry vs. being a burden to others in a greater range of trouble situations. The AMC leader in me has been keeping things on the heavy side with a base weight (excludes food/water) of 10+ lbs -- and that's already after much angst and soul searching re: what I can do without. As I train for the hut traverse, I'm working on this.

Alex

yup, going light is a slippery slope, that i struggle with too. my pack on pemi loop was always 10+lb, which is on light side for big hikes for me... I've been doing more trail running at my local trails last 2 years with no pack and really enjoy it.. as my running improves i may face tough decisions on mt. running vs. mt. hiking and how light vs. being prepared... today a close friend of mine did prezzi traverse in 5:59, he obviously went light and ran most of the miles, super stoked for him!

*pix from pemi loop hike don't do justice to the beauty of that day, all pix taken with cell phone in order to save weight.