Caribou 2014

    Today’s hike was a good workout in preparation for a backpack I’ll be doing the end of the month. After a long layoff I’m back in the mountains and loving it.

The beginning of the trail

    Caribou Mountain is located in Western Maine in Mason township and Batchelders Grant near West Bethel and Gilead. It is also entirely within the White Mountain National Forest and The Caribou-Speckled Wilderness. There are three trails to the summit. The first is actually one trail that approaches from two directions. The Caribou trail is about 5 miles long and starts on Rt. 113 in Evans Notch at the Caribou/Mud Brook parking lot, climbs to the saddle between Gammon mountain and Caribou, descends and ends at a gate and parking area at the end of the Bog Brook Road off Rt. 2 in West Bethel. It can be done from either end and in conjunction with the Mud Brook Trail, accesses the summit. The Mud Brook Trail as I said, starts in the same parking lot on 113 and Climbs the Southwest side of Caribou.
    In winter Rt 113 is not plowed so that would mean a long road walk to the trail head. We instead chose the Bog Brook access. The road is plowed to the Pooh Corner Farm in most years. This year it is plowed to the summer parking area at the gate. We didn’t know that and having a two wheel drive vehicle, parked just beyond the farm. This decision led to a 1.5 mile longer hike but was all flat and well packed/plowed. Arriving there at 8:30 we wasted no time getting geared up and getting started.
     We hiked the road to it’s end and began the trail proper. The trail had not been used in several weeks but was nicely packed before that. The couple of inches of snow that fell since it was used was just a nice cushion. We worked our way up the drainage between Gammon and Caribou, commenting on animal tracks we saw there. Coyote tracks. Rabbit, Squirrel both Red and Gray, Deer, Mice and Voles and once a Spruce Grouse.

Mouse tracks in the snow

 All these tracks were left in the fresh snow with their stories to tell to anyone who followed.  The snow was getting deeper as we climbed and it was time to put on snowshoes. Gaining elevation, we came to the sign marking the edge of the Wilderness.

The way now steepens for the last bit before the saddle. We took a quick break at the intersection and headed up the Mud Brook Trail toward the summit.   

    Getting near the top of our climb, the terrain flattened a bit and shortly the views began to open up.  We topped out at about 12:30. An approaching front caused a high overcast but didn’t diminish the views and 30̊ temps and light winds allowed us to sit in the open and enjoy them. I pulled on my down jacket, got a closed cell pad to sit on, grabbed my lunch and enjoyed the vista. After finishing our lunch, we snapped a few more photos, packed our backpacks, put the snowshoes back on and headed down.
    The hike down was uneventful and we arrive back at the car about 2:30.

Moses at the summit

Nice lunch spot with Kezar Lake in the background

   
HikeSafe is a joint effort between the White Mountain National Forest and New Hampshire Fish & Game Department to educate hikers on the inherent risks of hiking and how they can become better prepared before beginning any hike.


Hiker Responsibility Code
You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared:

1. With knowledge and gear. Become self reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start.

2. To leave your plans. Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you will return and your emergency plans.

3. To stay together. When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest person.

4. To turn back. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. The mountains will be there another day.

5. For emergencies. Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself.

6. To share the hiker code with others.