My daughters and I take an exercise class together, as well as walk and hike regularly, so we felt like we were finally ready to tackle this 2,850-foot mountain with its 2,000-foot elevation gain from trailhead to summit. But as I posted on my Twitter account after this hike, it really tested my family's fitness level. The key to making it doable included pacing ourselves, along with several water and snack breaks. It also confirmed we need to keep up with our weekly Zumba classes because it gave us the cardio endurance we needed to make it up this big (to us) mountain.
I concurred with both my kids that this climb was absolutely worth the sweat. We were amply rewarded with an amazing panorama of surrounding peaks. My 14-year-old also was pleased to have found yet another geological marker at the summit. She's all about locating those markers this year and I have found it to be a great motivator for my teens on our mountain treks.
We chose to hike up the mountain via the Mud Brook Trail and loop back down the Caribou Trail. It turned out to be a 7-mile trek round-trip. We read in the AMC Mountain Guide that the connection between these two trails was not well marked. Because we were warned, we kept a keen eye out for trail blazes on the rocky summit and had no major problem finding the connection.
But there was an aspect of this hike that the girls and I found particularly challenging -- the rocky terrain. There were large rocks and roots embedded in the trail for most of the climb up, as well as down. There were also a surprisingly high number of water crossings, which were shallow streams of varying widths. Basically we did a lot of rock jumping over waterways and on the actual trail. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal to have to watch your footing. But after 7 miles of careful stepping to avoid twisting an ankle, we really came to appreciate the even terrain walking around our neighborhood the next day.
Despite the rocks, this was a trail that offered a great sense of accomplishment for my family. It's not a casual or easy mountain hike, so I'd recommend you make sure your kids (and you) are ready for the elevation gain. I think my kids, at 14 and 16 years old now, were at the right age and general fitness level to hike this mountain to ensure we would all enjoy the experience. If you want to visit Evan's Notch with your family but aren't sure they can handle this mountain, the 1,300-foot elevation gain of Blueberry Mountain might be a better place to start. The views on the various mountain peaks in Evan's Notch are all wonderful. Well, those we've climbed so far. We have plans to take on a few more mountains around the notch later this year because we love the views so much. But you can be sure we'll be making a point to step up our weekly exercise program to stay in shape before tackling these taller peaks.
TRAIL REVIEW
WHAT: Caribou Mountain
WHERE: Batchelders Grant
LENGTH: Seven miles by looping from Mud Brook Trail to Caribou Trail
ELEVATION GAIN: About 2,000 feet
BATHROOM: Outhouse at trailhead
TERRAIN: Dirt with a lot of roots and rocks, and narrow waterway crossings
TRAILHEAD: From Fryeburg take Route 113 to the Evan’s Notch area on the Maine side of the White Mountains National Forest. The trailhead is 6.0 miles north of the Cold River Campground. For those with a GPS, the trailhead is located at: 44.3359, -70.9753
14-YEAR-OLD’S REVIEW: “This was a nice hike with a pretty view at the summit. It was a big mountain so it was a bit of a challenge for me to get to the top. I also liked finding the (geological) marker at the summit.”
16-YEAR-OLD’S REVIEW: “This hike was not too hard if you are in pretty good shape. The view at the top was really pretty. It was worth it to get to the top to see all the mountains that are around this one.”
Caribou MountainWHAT: Caribou Mountain
WHERE: Batchelders Grant
LENGTH: Seven miles by looping from Mud Brook Trail to Caribou Trail
ELEVATION GAIN: About 2,000 feet
BATHROOM: Outhouse at trailhead
TERRAIN: Dirt with a lot of roots and rocks, and narrow waterway crossings
TRAILHEAD: From Fryeburg take Route 113 to the Evan’s Notch area on the Maine side of the White Mountains National Forest. The trailhead is 6.0 miles north of the Cold River Campground. For those with a GPS, the trailhead is located at: 44.3359, -70.9753
14-YEAR-OLD’S REVIEW: “This was a nice hike with a pretty view at the summit. It was a big mountain so it was a bit of a challenge for me to get to the top. I also liked finding the (geological) marker at the summit.”
16-YEAR-OLD’S REVIEW: “This hike was not too hard if you are in pretty good shape. The view at the top was really pretty. It was worth it to get to the top to see all the mountains that are around this one.”
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram May 13, 2012
