Mt. Chocorua - Prominence

[dr_wu002]

I saw this list once. And then I hiked Chocorua for the first time in January. I wondered why Chocoura wasn't on the list because at first glance it looked as if the col between it and Passaconaway is about 1450' which would put Chocorua's prominence at about 2000'+. Steve Smith argued with me that I'm wrong on this one although, the Sandwich Area is so tangled that I find it damn near impossible to figure out just where the col is.

Maybe someone can help... (even Greg Slayden himself doesn't seem to know -- he lists no prominence or col location, duh -- I wouldn't be asking if he did) where is the col? At best I can find one at about 1900' on some sloping ridge somewhere southeast of Passaconaway... somewhere between Passaconaway and Paugus. Does anyone agree? I basically used Google Earth to find it.

Regardless, Chocorua is very near the top ten in terms of prominence in the White Mountains. I wish it'd appear on more lists regardless of its height!

-Dr. Wu

 

[^MtnMike^]

If I am correctly understanding how the key col is determined (based on the info on that site), then it would seem that this col would be the ridge connecting Pagus to each peak (Chocorua and Passaconaway). And the lowest point on this ridge would be in on of the two areas I circled (lowest non-connected contors highlighted in blue) -- both of which are around 2240 ft above sea level. The next contour line down (same for each area - 2200ft.) encompasses all three peaks.

This would make the Chocorua prominence less than 2000 ft.):
Of course I could be totally mistaken in how I am interpretating "prominence" and "key col" (as defined by that site).
^MtnMike^

 

[Papa Bear]

If I am correctly understanding how the key col is determined (based on the info on that site), then it would seem that this col would be the ridge connecting Pagus to each peak (Chocorua and Passaconaway). And the lowest point on this ridge would be in on of the two areas I circled (lowest non-connected contors highlighted in blue) -- both of which are around 2200 ft above sea level (making the Chocorua prominence less than 2000 ft.):
Of course I could be totally mistaken in how I am interpretating "prominence" and "key col" (as defined by that site).
^MtnMike^

You got the right idea Mike. On the 7.5 minute maps both saddles lie between 2200 and 2240'. Chocorua has a closed contour at 3480'. So by the AMC convention (interpolating half a contour interval at saddles and peaks) the prominence is 3500' - 2220' = 1280'. Using the "Clean Prominence" convention (most strigent case) which Greg Slayden uses, the Prominence would be 3480' - 2240' = 1240'

Sorry Dr. Wu. But it's still a great mountain which I want to climb.

 

[dr_wu002]

Thanks for the responses -- basically the two people I figgerd I'd hear from!

Papabear: Sorry for what though? at 1200'+, Chocorua is still around #15 in The Whites in terms of prominence... greater than Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Monroe, Eisenhower, Pierce, Jackson, both Wildcats, Moriah, Middle & South Carter, South Hancock, Tom, Willey, Hale, Zealand, North Twin, Bond, West Bond, Bondcliff, Garfield, Flume, Liberty, Lincoln, North Kinsman, Galehead, Cannon, Passaconaway, Whiteface, North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid, Owl's Head, Isolation and East Osceola.

I hope you get to climb it soon... it's a spectacular peak with views unmatched in the Whites in my opinion!

Thanks again!

-Dr. Wu

 

[Papa Bear]

Papabear: Sorry for what though? at 1200'+, Chocorua is still around #15 in The Whites in terms of prominence... greater than Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Monroe, Eisenhower, Pierce, Jackson, both Wildcats, Moriah, Middle & South Carter, South Hancock, Tom, Willey, Hale, Zealand, North Twin, Bond, West Bond, Bondcliff, Garfield, Flume, Liberty, Lincoln, North Kinsman, Galehead, Cannon, Passaconaway, Whiteface, North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid, Owl's Head, Isolation and East Osceola.

I hope you get to climb it soon... it's a spectacular peak with views unmatched in the Whites in my opinion!

Thanks again!

-Dr. Wu

I think Roy has calculated all of NH down to 1000' Prominence so maybe he can chime in here with what else is there. You'd be surprised at the ones in southern NH that have high prominence: Shaw (P=2340'), Monadnock (P=2169'), Kearsarge (P=2100'), Cardigan (P=1922'), and Belknap (P=1872') as well as the "usual suspects" in the Whites.

Anyway, Chocorua is certainly on my to-do list.

 

[dr_wu002]

I think Roy has calculated all of NH down to 1000' Prominence so maybe he can chime in here with what else is there. You'd be surprised at the ones in southern NH that have high prominence: Shaw (P=2340'), Monadnock (P=2169'), Kearsarge (P=2100'), Cardigan (P=1922'), and Belknap (P=1872') as well as the "usual suspects" in the Whites.

Anyway, Chocorua is certainly on my to-do list.

Which is why I only said White Mountains. In terms of the Whites, it's an impressive little peak. The views are great... you'll love it!

-Dr. Wu

 

[askus3]

I wish it'd appear on more lists regardless of its height!

I wish it would be on less lists. It probably is too popular a climb already! I am glad it is not a 4,000 footer. Aside from Monadnock, it is probably the most climbed under 4,000 footer in NH.

 

[dr_wu002]

I wish it'd appear on more lists regardless of its height!

I wish it would be on less lists. It probably is too popular a climb already! I am glad it is not a 4,000 footer. Aside from Monadnock, it is probably the most climbed under 4,000 footer in NH.

True! I'm not a list person really so I guess I wasn't thinking from this angle.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Raymond]

If memory serves, it's number 100 on the New Hampshire Hundred Highest list.

 

[RoySwkr]

at 1200'+, Chocorua is still around #15 in The Whites in terms of prominence... greater than Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Monroe, Eisenhower, Pierce, Jackson, both Wildcats, Moriah, Middle & South Carter, South Hancock, Tom, Willey, Hale, Zealand, North Twin, Bond, West Bond, Bondcliff, Garfield, Flume, Liberty, Lincoln, North Kinsman, Galehead, Cannon, Passaconaway, Whiteface, North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid, Owl's Head, Isolation and East Osceola.

If you define "The Whites" as "the WMNF in NH" it is closer to #20, while if you use "anything in the AMC White Mtn Guide" it is even lower down the list. Yes, only about 1/4 of the 4K peaks have greater prominence than Chocorua but there are a lot of minor peaks with good prominence - think Stinson, Carr, Tremont, Kearsarge North, etc.

Figuring the prominence of White Mtn peaks would be a good exercise for aspiring prominence hikers. Use the AMC maps to lay out the ridges, then get the peak and col elevations from topozone.com. It could probably be done in a couple hours.

 

[bobandgeri]

If memory serves, it's number 100 on the New Hampshire Hundred Highest list.

At 3500 foot elevation it is number 77 on the Y-Alpine list (100 highest peaks with trails in NH) and number 95 on the New Hampshire Hundred Highest list (at least the one I found on the web)

 

[AntlerPeak]

Fine Mt here is a shot from a few years ago.

 

[forestgnome]

I wish it would be on less lists. It probably is too popular a climb already! I am glad it is not a 4,000 footer[ /QUOTE]

Strongly agree with this, and with Dr Wu's second post.