Mount Bigelow (Maine)
Encyclopedia
Mount Bigelow is a long mountain ridge with several summits. It is located in Franklin County
and Somerset County
, Maine
. It is one of Maine's highest summits. The mountain is named after Major Timothy Bigelow
who climbed the rugged summit in late October 1775 "for the purpose of observation." Major Bigelow was one of Colonel Benedict Arnold
's four division commanders during the 1775 Invasion of Canada
. The expeditionary force passed along the Dead River on the northern edge of the Bigelow Range, now dammed into Flagstaff Lake
.
The highest summit of Bigelow Mountain is West Peak, at 4,145 feet (1,263 m). Subpeaks include Avery Peak (Myron H. Avery Peak) at 4,088 feet (1,246 m), The Horns at 3,805 feet (1,160 m), Cranberry Peak at 3,194 feet (974 m), and Little Bigelow Mountain at about 3,070 feet (936 m).
Bigelow Mountain is part of the Rangeley-Stratton mountain range, which also includes Sugarloaf Mountain
, Crocker Mountain
, Saddleback Mountain
, Mount Abraham
, Mount Redington
, and other mountains.
The Appalachian Trail
traverses Bigelow Mountain. Much of the mountain and surrounding area is part of the 10540 acres (42.7 km²) Bigelow Preserve, created in 1976 in response to a massive proposed ski resort
.
The Appalachian Mountain Club
considers both the West Peak and Avery Peak of Bigelow to be "four-thousand footers
" because Avery Peak rises more than 200 feet (61 m) above the col
that adjoins it to the higher West Peak. By this same criteria, the South Horn of Bigelow, while under 4000 feet (1,219.2 m), qualifies for the New England Hundred Highest list.
Franklin County, Maine
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 30,768. Its county seat is Farmington.Franklin County was established on 9 May 1838.-Geography:...
and Somerset County
Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 52,228. Its county seat is Skowhegan.-History:...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It is one of Maine's highest summits. The mountain is named after Major Timothy Bigelow
Timothy Bigelow
Timothy Bigelow fought as a patriot in the American revolution. He was a delegate to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, participated in the Committee of Correspondence, fought in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and served as Colonel of the 15th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental...
who climbed the rugged summit in late October 1775 "for the purpose of observation." Major Bigelow was one of Colonel Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
's four division commanders during the 1775 Invasion of Canada
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
. The expeditionary force passed along the Dead River on the northern edge of the Bigelow Range, now dammed into Flagstaff Lake
Flagstaff Lake (Maine)
Flagstaff Lake is located in Somerset County and Franklin County, Maine in the United States. The North Branch Dead River and South Branch Dead River join in the lake, forming the Dead River....
.
The highest summit of Bigelow Mountain is West Peak, at 4,145 feet (1,263 m). Subpeaks include Avery Peak (Myron H. Avery Peak) at 4,088 feet (1,246 m), The Horns at 3,805 feet (1,160 m), Cranberry Peak at 3,194 feet (974 m), and Little Bigelow Mountain at about 3,070 feet (936 m).
Bigelow Mountain is part of the Rangeley-Stratton mountain range, which also includes Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain (Franklin County, Maine)
Sugarloaf Mountain is a mountain located in Franklin County, Maine. It is the second highest mountain in the state, after Mount Katahdin. Sugarloaf is flanked to the south by Spaulding Mountain....
, Crocker Mountain
Crocker Mountain (Maine)
Crocker Mountain is a 4,228-foot peak located in Carrabassett Valley, Franklin County, Maine, in the United States. Crocker Mountain is part of the Appalachian Mountains....
, Saddleback Mountain
Saddleback Mountain (Rangeley, Maine)
Saddleback Mountain is a mountain located in Rangeley, Franklin County, Maine.Saddleback is one of the highest mountains in the State of Maine, and one of the fourteen with more than of topographic prominence. The mountain is the site of Saddleback ski resort.Saddleback is flanked to the northeast...
, Mount Abraham
Mount Abraham (Maine)
Mount Abraham is a mountain located in Franklin County, Maine.Mount Abraham is flanked to the north by Spaulding Mountain.-Watersheds:The northeast side of Mt...
, Mount Redington
Mount Redington
Mount Redington is a mountain located in Franklin County, Maine.Redington is flanked to the northeast by South Crocker Mountain and to the west by Black Nubble.Redington stands just northeast of the U.S...
, and other mountains.
The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
traverses Bigelow Mountain. Much of the mountain and surrounding area is part of the 10540 acres (42.7 km²) Bigelow Preserve, created in 1976 in response to a massive proposed ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
.
The Appalachian Mountain Club
Appalachian Mountain Club
The Appalachian Mountain Club is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups. Created in 1876 to explore and preserve the White Mountains in New Hampshire, it has expanded throughout the northeastern U.S., with 12 chapters stretching from Maine to Washington, D.C...
considers both the West Peak and Avery Peak of Bigelow to be "four-thousand footers
Four-thousand footers
The term Four-Thousand Footers refers to a group of forty-eight mountains in New Hampshire at least 4,000 feet above sea level...
" because Avery Peak rises more than 200 feet (61 m) above the col
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
that adjoins it to the higher West Peak. By this same criteria, the South Horn of Bigelow, while under 4000 feet (1,219.2 m), qualifies for the New England Hundred Highest list.