True summit of Fort Mountain

[marty]

Hi all,

My current understanding regarding Fort Mountain is:

• There are two different summit cairns on Fort Mountain.
• Both are about the same elevation.
• Neither has been designated as the "official one".
• One would need to hit both summits just to be sure.

Just wondering if this is indeed the case, or if one has been designated as the "official" summit.

Thanks,
Marty

 

[Tom Rankin]

Hi all,

My current understanding regarding Fort Mountain is:

• There are two different summit cairns on Fort Mountain.
• Both are about the same elevation.
• Neither has been designated as the "official one".
• One would need to hit both summits just to be sure.

Just wondering if this is indeed the case, or if one has been designated as the "official" summit.

Thanks,
Marty

I'll be heading there soon (again). Looks like there are 3 small contour circles on the map at the same height. Guess we'll have to hit them all!

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Marty -

I've been there three times now, including once in winter with a GPS and it's not clear which bump is higher (highest?). The ridge isn't very long/difficult, especially considering what it took to get there, so ... do what everybody else seems to do, and walk down the ridge and back before heading back to Brother.

 

[una_dogger]

I did what Kevin suggested, walked back and forth hoping I walked over the summit.

I think you got it, Marty...

 

[Frodo]

I'm in the "does it really matter" category. Once you are on the ridge and go to one of the small bumps, to me you have climbed it. If you don't have your center of gravity over the absolute highpoint, does that mean you haven't climbed it???

On a side note, spending a little more time bushwacking to the crash site is far more memorable and honorary than just bagging the peak... That is one special mountain...

 

[MichaelJ]

Given Fort's relatively flat appearance, I'm of the camp that if you didn't know, then you're fine, but if you made the mistake of asking ahead of time then you owe it to yourself to walk the whole ridge. It's only what, fifty yards long?

The USGS Topo actually pins the NW end at 3867' and the SE end at 3856'.

And of course, when pursuing a peakbagging list, the maintainers of the list have the right to decide where you need to step.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

...That is one special mountain...

Am curious as to why you regard it as special? I know there was at least one plane crash there (walking along the summit ridge shows amble evidence of that) but many mountains have been the scene of plane crash(es). Are there other reasons as well?

 

[Frodo]

So I take it that you have never been to the crash site? Otherwise you wouldn't be asking me why I think it is special.

7 people died there back in 1944. It's more than just a peak on a list...

 

[dr_wu002]

Am curious as to why you regard it as special? I know there was at least one plane crash there (walking along the summit ridge shows amble evidence of that) but many mountains have been the scene of plane crash(es). Are there other reasons as well?

Beautiful, above tree-line views for a "trail less" peak. Open ridgewalk w/ remote feeling. Plane crash -- not just bits and pieces, the entire plane is there. Plus, it's in Baxter. Good enough for me.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Kevin Rooney]

So I take it that you have never been to the crash site? Otherwise you wouldn't be asking me why I think it is special.

7 people died there back in 1944. It's more than just a peak on a list...

Yes, have been to the site.

As I said in my earlier post, many of the peaks on the lists have seen deaths from plane crashes. For me, Fort is like Moosilauke, Camels Hump and many others in that regard.

But, as they say, YMMV.

 

[audrey]

Marty, I've been there three times and each time I walked the ridge just because it's so beautiful, to prolong the experience. I always thought that the left bump (facing Fort) was the higher; Terraserver shows it 11 feet higher, but I don't know how accurate that is.

 

[marty]

Thanks for all the fine information, everyone.

Regards,
Marty