I have a few more questions concerning the Whites. First, how are the crowds? I am planning on hiking up to Lafeyette via the AT. Will North Woodstock and the trail be crowded? Also, is Liberty Campsite open? How about the hostels in Gorham?
Bankrobber
get water at liberty and walk another 1.2 miles, or so and camp on top of little haystack… there is a sweet cherry stealth spot just off the trail to the left. check out the pictures… great quiet spot. Nice views fifty feet from the peak. why pay in the whites?
http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=66102
http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=66103
aswah
When? On a weekend? Whites are definitely crowded on weekends, esp this holiday one, and more so if a nice day. Even in the winter time, you’ll find the t/h to Franconia Ridge heavily populated. North Woodstock also functions as a ski town adjacent to Loon and is moderately touristed.
Bluebearee
Hopefully you didn’t hike Columbus Day Weekend. It was very busy. At the Falling Waters / OBP trailhead the parking lot overflowed and cars were parking on the highway up to half a mile away. Things will be much quieter now although as Bluebearee implied its a rare day when you have the ridge to yourself. Lincoln and North Woodstock will be much quieter for a couple months.
Liberty Springs is always open. The caretaker season is over so it is also now free until next June. The bootleg site on the ridge are nice but in such a high use area its a good idea to take advantage of the composting privy at Liberty.
Celt