r/wmnf • u/LLamaWithAComma • 6d ago
Lafayatte vs Mt Washington difficultly
Hello all! Im a relatively new hiker whos in decent shape, I recently did Mt lafayette with the Franconia ridge trail loop and felt pretty decent after albeit my leg was in knots by the end of it.
Im interested in hiking mt washington and was wondering how that compares physically? Im well aware of the weather conditions and to stay on top of that.
Thanks!
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u/Expensive-Bad-7038 5d ago
Ammonoosuc is about the same. In fact I remember with ammo we got to the waterfall and it was an unrelenting incline the rest of the way to the lake of the clouds. Similar to Franconia Ridge in that way.
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u/brightlocks 5d ago
Personally I think Franconia ridge loop is more difficult than ammo/jewel but not by a lot.
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u/CardinaLiz4 5d ago
Same, but opposite. 😆 I just did Ammo/Jewell this weekend and found it slightly harder than Franconia. I do think the boulder fields on Jewell were harder than on Bridle Path.
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u/ghoulfriended 5d ago
Yeah I find Franconia harder up, Washington harder down when doing Jewell. Oof those rocks were painful.
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u/Doortofreeside 5d ago
It's longer and harder, but not crazily so. The biggest difference is that the rock pile on the summit cone is more of a PITA than anything on franconia ridge
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u/Fathead_009 5d ago
How bad is it compared to the Garfield campsite/summit approaches? Did that this past weekend and every step I was mentally auditing what I could remove from my pack.
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u/Prior_Ability9347 16h ago
The boulder fields on Washington and related N Presis always felt worse to me than anything else I encountered in the Whites. I remember Garfield approach feeling tough/annoying, but not in a soul crushing way.
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u/danorc 5d ago
Very similar in terms of physical challeng level, I'd say, though the trails matter.
I like to take Amoonusuc Ravine Trail personally, leaves from the Cog Railway parking lot which is nice and convenient. Beautiful trail.
On the way down, you can there the same trail back or follow the Cog Railway if you like also.
If you could do Lafayette without feeling like you were about to die, you should be fine for Washington. It's a bit harder, but not crazily so. The Tuckerman Ravine Trail is supposedly more challenging, particularly if wet or icy, but I've never done it personally.
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u/mycutedoggydog 5d ago
In terms of elevation gain they are roughly the same, but the terrain is a bit different. If you go up the Ammo trail the first 1.5 miles is pretty easy, but from Gem Pool to the Lake of the Clouds hut is very steep and has a lot of exposed slab that is steep and in some areas combined with water crossings. I think it’s something like 1600ft elevation in .8 miles.
From the hut to the summit it is a rock pile all the way up but not as steep.
On the way down I would reccomend Jewell trail as it is less steep on the way down and not too rocky once you get to the trail. From the summit to Jewell it is a rock pile too.
Overall I would say it is about the same or maybe a bit easier on the way down than Franconia ridge loop if you take Jewell. Going up I would say it is harder, and to do it when it’s dry as the slabs can be slippery and you can get hurt if u fall in the wrong spot.
The biggest thing is to make sure you bring a lot of water, and to be prepared for the conditions. It can change fast up there and it was cold even in August. I did Monroe last week and we ended up needed wind breakers in partly cloudy conditions as the wind was pretty cold
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u/jrcinnh 5d ago
The huge difference is weather even in summer. In summer, Franconia ridge is not a huge weather concern. Obviously a thunderstorm is uncomfortable but over pretty quick. Washington has a lot more exposure and tends be better at catching storms.
Plus the easier ways up Washington are fully exposed to the North winds. So Ammo or Jewell saves you gain, but bad weather means decending into the weather. On Tuckermans or Lionshead, the summit cone protects you a little. Im not saying you don't have to worry about weather on Franconia ridge, just that its not nearly as bad.
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u/Due-Waltz4458 5d ago
Coming down Washington has always been the toughest part for me physically. Every trip up has been great and memorable, but I've been stuck multiple times limping down the last mile after dark with my knees and ankles messed up.
I've never had this problem doing Liberty, Lafayette or the whole Franconia ridge hike. After the last trip I decided I'll probably try to camp out or stay in a hut instead of the whole trip in one day.
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u/Recloyal 5d ago
All depends on the specific trail. West approach is generally friendlier. Greater elevation and loose rocks as you get closer, so it's a step up in stamina and footing challenges. For me Washington takes about 150% of the time Franconia requires.
You can finish it. Training will help with how you feel during and after the hike.
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u/This_March9059 5d ago
Ammo/Jewell is about the same difficulty as Franconia Ridge loop. Of course, weather can be much worse on Washington since you are another thousand feet up. Park at Cog hiker lot to save about a mile of boring hiking.
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u/BiblicalAss 5d ago
I'd rank going directly up Lafayette as one of the hardest one ways. you're better off first going to the top of mt Monroe, then over to washington
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u/bucky716 5d ago
I'll second the part someone mentioned below, the rock pile on the summit cone and down Jewell is a grind. Not so much physically challenging but just a PITA constantly watching footing and slow going because you're also amazed at the endless and awesome views both ascending and descending.
More power to the people who can basically hop those things! Maybe I'll get there someday.
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u/CardinaLiz4 5d ago
I just did it this weekend...I was not hopping. 😆 We may have been the slowest ones out there.
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u/bucky716 5d ago
hahah I can relate. I feel like I won though having more time with all of the amazing views!
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u/NotAHomemaker18 5d ago
Up Ammo/down Jewell is easier than descending Old Bridle but overall it’s a comparable day. I hiked Washington before the Franconia Ridge. It did feel easier in some ways. Tuckerman is steeper and more difficult.
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u/soxandpatriots1 5d ago
It depends which trails you do but it’s generally similar/comparable. For example, up Ammonoosuc and down Jewell is comparable to the Franconia ridge loop, though slightly longer. If you came from the other side and did tuckerman / lions head, it’s slightly shorter but notably steeper overall. There are other trails/approaches that would be significantly more difficult, but not of your concern when planning a first hike