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Variety of Terrain Makes Evans Notch Tops with Family

September 29, 2009 - STOW -- The Evans Notch area north of Fryeburg offers beautiful views with plenty of hiking trails. Blueberry Mountain and its surrounding trails are a favorite hiking destination for my family. Whether we want the challenge of climbing a mountain, an easy walk around a scenic pond or a visit to a small waterfall and pool, we know we're going to enjoy hiking in this area.

BLUEBERRY MOUNTAIN

The summit of Blueberry Mountain is in the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness. With a significant elevation gain for a tween (1,150 feet), this can be a challenging hike – but doable if the child has an average fitness level. Packing a favorite treat for the frequent breaks you'll be taking during the ascent will help make this hike a more enjoyable experience.

When we hike this mountain, we choose to ascend via the White Cairn Trail to Blueberry Ridge Trail, then loop back down the Stone House Trail. The loop is about 4 miles total. The White Cairn Trail was a challenge for my girls the first time, with a steep area that required climbing a couple of large rocks with tricky footholds. But the reward is the great view along the mountain's ridge and Rattlesnake Pool, which we stop by on the way down the mountain via the Stone House Trail (there is a sign on the trail to indicate the turnoff to the pool). The pool is amazingly clear, and not a spot to be missed on these trails.

And the reviews are in:

• 11-year-old: "I liked the mountain trail even though it was kind of steep and long. I didn't like the big rocks I had to climb, because there wasn't any places for my feet. I packed some candy because it's like my medicine to keep me going. I had Pop-Rocks this time. I also liked eating all the blueberries on the trail (we visited in August). Now I know why they call it Blueberry Mountain. I loved Rattlesnake Pool, and that was my favorite part of the trail. I put my feet in the pool to cool off, and it felt really good."

• 13-year-old: "At the beginning, it was easy and then in the middle of the hike up the mountain, it got harder. Once you reach the top of Blueberry Mountain, it is a really pretty view. Going down the Stone House Trail was easier. The pool was really cool, and it looked like a tropical beach with three shades of different greens with a waterfall."

SHELL POND LOOP

When my crew wants a less-strenuous hiking adventure, a loop hike around Shell Pond is ideal. The mostly level trail has beautiful views of the pond and surrounding mountains. To get to the Shell Pond Loop Trail, take the Stone House Trail from the trail head. Hikers have to cross an open field to connect to the Shell Pond Trail, but trail markers help lead the way. And be sure to bring along your binoculars, because the beautiful hawks and other birds flying over the field are even more exciting when kids can get a closer look at them soaring through the sky.

• 11-year-old: "I liked hiking around the pond, because it was easy. I didn't want to hike the mountain, because I was tired that day. But I could still watch the birds and see all the pretty mountains around me even without hiking up the mountain."

• 13-year-old: "Shell Pond was fun to hike around, and we saw two hawks not far from where the pond was in the field. It was an easy and fun trail. We got to see the mountains, and we hiked a bit up the mountain to see Rattlesnake Pool, because we like to visit that pretty pool too."

RATTLESNAKE POOL

If you have young hikers who need a specific destination to motivate them, my kids would highly recommend the short hike to Rattlesnake Pool. Your kids will likely enjoy a chance to climb around the rocks surrounding the pool and dip their feet in to the ice-cold water. To get to the pool, take the Stone House Trail (you'll pass a turn-off to the White Cairn Trail along the way, but be sure to stay on the Stone House Trail) before the trail makes a turn toward the mountain. About a quarter-mile up the trail with only a modest elevation gain is a sign for the turn-off to Rattlesnake Pool. The pool is about a quarter-mile from that marker.

WENDY ALMEIDA, Portland Press Herald, 9/24/09


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