Labor Day Weekend in the White Mountains is notorious for crowded trailheads; not exactly my cup of tea. So, I pulled out my maps of the White Mountains and scoured them in search of a mountain that was both off the beaten path and somewhat understated. Evans Notch is the far eastern section of the White Mountains and it straddles the New Hampshire-Maine state line. I've hiked this region many times before, and I've found it to be much quieter than the rest of the Whites. I choose Caribou Mountain, which can be hiked as a 7-mile loop via the Caribou Trail and Mud Brook Trail.
I pulled into the trailhead around 8:45 am and was happily surprised to discover that I was the only car in the parking lot. Prime! A few minutes, later I was headed up the trail. The Caribou Trail is rather gradual and crosses Morrison Brook multiple times. It also has a beautiful waterfall called Kees Falls.
The summit of the mountain has views for miles despite being just shy of 3,000 feet. Looking out, mountains line the horizon the west, and to the east lakes fill the valleys in between the smaller hills of western Maine. I have the summit to myself. Hallelujah! I take a break to grab a snack, and enjoy the views.
The trail markers have faded significantly on the rocks, and I slowly pick my way down the trail looking for a cairn or a hint of yellow paint that remains. I don't run into another person until I'm almost back to the car. Ah, solitude!
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