The latest Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust hike was up Caribou Mountain in the White Mountain National Forest.  We had a nearly-full hike of nine and everybody was ready to hit the trail.  It’s been a cold fall/early winter and conditions have been snowy in the mountains since mid November, but our hikes were scheduled before that so we’ve been wanting to get out too!

Unfortunately, conditions were not ideal for this hike and the group did not reach the summit.  The snow was soft and the trail was unbroken so the group was slowed down considerably.  One hiker started feeling under the weather about halfway up and she was accompanied back to the cars with a trip leader.  The rest of the group kept going but spent too much time trying to find the trail since, as per Forest Service policy, the trails in the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness Area are not blazed very well.

It was still a nice day to get out with some great people.  We met the owner of Pooh Corner Farm, Richard Duplessis – it is through their generosity that hikers are able to park on their driveway in winter!  AND, thanks to our community partners for this hike (Rosemont Market & Bakery and REDD) we had some awesome munchies to fuel up with.  Stayed tuned for our next hike up Little Bigelow Mountain!