[VAULT] Mt. Pemigewasset (White Mountain National Forest)

Mt. Pemigewasset (White Mountain National Forest)

Hike Type: Out-and-Back

Distance: 3.28 miles

Elevation: 1,234 feet

Time: Unknown
Hiking Challenges: 52 With-a-View

The Hike

It was a major day in my hiking journey - my first day in the White Mountain National Forest! It was the spring of 2020, we were finishing out what remained of the 2019-2020 school year virtually, and Emma asked if I wanted to come up to visit her, so we secretly broke quarantine and headed north! I had been up to her place in Orleans, VT once before, and I was absolutely awe-struck by the beauty of Franconia Notch, so I was itching to explore! We hiked a bunch in the Northeast Kingdom during this visit: Mt. Pisgah, Moose Bog, Bald Mountain (a failed attempt because of snow and ice!), and Wheeler Mountain. 

We started this day in particular by hiking the famed Artsit Bluff - we took the loop clockwise and hit Bald Mountain first, only saw a few people - it was lovely! I've been too scared to go back becuase of crowds recently! After that hike, we drove down to the Mt. Pemigewasset Trail trailhead - chosen becuase of its proximity to I-93, relatively easy stats, and being on the 52 With-a-View list. I remember wanting to hit one of the smaller 4,000 footers, but they were either too far away or too instense for us (its really fun to reflect on how foreign all of these places used to be). 

From what I remember, the Mt. Pemigewasset Trail was super straightforward. There was a dog running laps with no owner in sight and a human, also running laps, with no owner in sight (jokes!). We were unsure if the dog and human were related, but the human ran up and down past us three times! I also remember we were really enjoying the different "biomes" - when the forest changes from hard to softwood, that is. 

Eventually, the trail opens up to the stunning vista south, with I-93, US-3, and the Pemi River slowing in a winding fashion and spring-green trees as far as the eye could see. Little did I know at the time, but I would soon be back to this region, and in just a few years I would be close to finishing up my lists!

Step-By-Step

- Hike to the summit and back via Mt. Pemigewasset Trail.

Originally written and posted Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 at 11:03am.