Mount Lafaytte

Description

The highest summit of the Franconia Ridge, this mountain sits directly east of Franconia Notch, across from Cannon Mountain. The four most popular trails start from Intertate 93, these are (from N to S) the Skookumchuck Trail, the Greenleaf Trail, the Old Bridle Path and the Falling Waters Trail. The latter leads to the summit of Little Haystack Mountain (4750 ft.); to reach the summit Lafayette you must hike about 1.5 miles north, over the summit of Mount Lincoln (5080 ft.) along the Franconia Ridge Trail, all above treeline and with awesome views. The Old Bridle Path climbs merges with the Greenleaf Trail at Greenleaf Hut (4,200 feet) - a warming hut and overnight cabin. Winter ascents of Lafayette are generally easier than Mount Washington, but they do require an ice axe and crampons, and weather above treeline can be pretty horrendous. Potential technical snow/ice routes can be found in the ravine just south of the Old Bridle Path, but to reach them requires a very long and difficult bushwhack through unbroken forest, and thus they are not very popular.

Thanks to Alex for this description.