Mount Lafayette is one of the tallest mountains in NH. At 5249 feet it is the tallest mountain that is not part of the Mount Washington Massif. And it’s location next to interstate 93, AMC hut and 360 views makes it a popular hiking destination.
She is the crown jewel of the Pemi loop. An impressive peak of the beautiful Franconia ridge. And a summit with a great deal of interesting history of her own.
Despite the fact that I would not name Mount Lafayette as one of my favorite mountains, my history with her is long and I respect and love her rocky summit.
I first met Mount Lafayette in September 2001. My crew team did a team bonding exercise and hiked the New Hampshire peak. It was my first time on a mountain with intention to scale it (instead of skiing it) and most likely my first time in what is now my home state. Several members of my team had to stop at Greenleaf hut because of various aches and pains. But I was part of the group that pushed for the summit. I loved being on top of that mountain.
Many months later I was driving through Franconia Notch, the gap between Mount Lafayette and Mount Cannon, when I saw my first live wild moose (and tourists getting out of their cars to take pictures).
I would have a much scarier experience in the notch years later when I crashed and spun a school van by slipping on black ice and ping ponging on the guard rails. It remains the only time I was in an accident that caused injury to myself (it was a concussion, but still memorable to me).
As for hiking, I’ve been on Lafayette on gorgeous blue bird days, I’ve been on her in winter. I once bailed on a Pemi loop because I was on her summit as a thunderstorm gathered around her.
Lafayette has also been my beacon. I’ve seen her distinctive summit from so many other peaks. I once even tried to catch the sunrise from Kinsman in hopes of catching a view of the sun rising in the col between Lafayette and her brother Lincoln. It ended up being a cloudy sunrise.
She’s also been a beacon on my drives home. On countless trips back from Quebec, Lafayette has let me know that yes indeed I was back in New Hampshire and solidly on my way home.
And perhaps this post is a bit of a love song for the mountain, but Lafayette’s popularity also upsets me sometimes.
There is a huge parking area at her base that is often overflowing. Leading to people parking along the side of the highway. I think it’s enough of an overflow issue that a parking garage could almost be justified.
The ease of reaching the trailhead from both Boston and Southern Quebec attracts a lot of inexperienced hikers and large groups. The stunning viewpoints and great trails also mean that some never branch out to other mountains. The White mountains have so many incredible mountains to explore that this is a shame.
But this crowding issues is probably why I don’t visit Lafayette more often and why I don’t count her as a favorite summit.
But one thing is for sure, my history will continue to cross paths with this gem of geology.
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I’m used to the Rocky Mountains – they look very different from this. I have to say I’d rather climb a NH mountain and it’s so pretty!
I’m really excited to be going to Colorado in August so I can hike the Rockies!
NH mountains trails tend to be either muddy or rocky and eroded.
Hi Miriam,
Yup, it’s a good one and I am with you about it’s popularity. It is always crowded, and usually by folks ill prepared to climb her.
We’ll be getting married atop her in Sept. It’s the first mountain we climbed together in NH and thought it fitting! I’m sure we’ll have a big crowd though!
That’s a great place to get married then! Lafayette will be part of your history even more than she is in mine.
We got married on Mount Kearsarge. I wore a gown for the 1/2 mile hike up. It was awesome (other than the corset).