Pemi West: History

Pemi West for teenagers and adults is the western branch of Camp Pemigewassett, a summer camp in Wentworth, New Hampshire for boys aged 8-15 years old. The camp was founded in 1908 and throughout its long history as one of the oldest camps in the U.S., activities such as hiking, camping, and nature studies have been mainstays of the program, just as they are at Pemi West today. Pemi West was founded in 1997 by Fred and Jon Fauver, grandchildren of the founders of Camp Pemigewassett and current owners, out of the desire to provide an extensive and challenging wilderness experience for teenage girls and boys. With sufficient interest, we also run all-female groups. For the first seven seasons, Pemi West was held in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness of the Colorado Rockies. In 2005, the program moved to Olympic National Park in the state of Washington. This summer, the Pemi West program will once again be held in Olympic National Park. This spectacular setting offers us a unique opportunity to explore the gem of forest and mountain wildernesses of the Pacific Northwest, as well as the opportunity to learn a broad set of technical mountaineering skills as we cross the vast glaciers of Mt. Olympus on our attempt to reach the summit.