Mount Cardigan
Encyclopedia
Mount Cardigan is a prominent bare-rock summit in the towns of Orange
and Alexandria
in western New Hampshire. While its peak is only 3155 feet (961.6 m) above sea level
, it has extensive areas of bare granite ledges and alpine scrub, giving it the feel to hikers of a much higher mountain. Most of the summit area was denuded by devastating forest fires in 1855.
The Civilian Conservation Corps
helped to develop the alpine ski trail network still in use today on the east side of the mountain.
The mountain is set in the 5000 acres (20.2 km²) Cardigan Mountain State Forest.
The Cardigan Lodge, operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club
since 1934, is located to the east at the foot of the mountain, and is often used as a base for day hikes in and around the mountain. Many schools from around New England have overnight field trips to the mountain during the autumn and spring months.
Littleton Formation (a light grey meta-turbidite
) on its west flank (seen on lower parts of the West Ridge Trail). On the summit and to the east on the Clark Trail the bedrock is the Kinsman Granodiorite of the Early Devonian Cardigan Pluton
(a foliated granitic body with large megacryst
s of potassium feldspar
). The Cardigan pluton has been dated by the Rb/Sr
method at 411 +/- 19 MA. The metamorphic rocks of the Littleton Formation that make up the west flank are at middle amphibolite metamorphic
grade. The Littleton Formation rocks were once deep water sediments of the Bronson Hill Island Arc
and were deformed and metamorphosed during the Acadian orogeny
.
and Merrimack River
watersheds
. The western slopes of the mountain drain to Orange Brook towards the town of Canaan
, then via the Indian River
to the Mascoma River
, the Connecticut River, and ultimately Long Island Sound
. The south slopes of the mountain flow via Mill Brook to the Smith River
, a tributary of the Pemigewasset
and Merrimack rivers, ultimately flowing to the Gulf of Maine
. The eastern slopes of Mount Cardigan drain via Brock, Clark, and Davis brooks to the Fowler River
, then via Newfound Lake
and the Newfound River
to the Pemigewasset. Atwell Brook flows off a northeastern ridge of the mountain, draining via the Cockermouth River
to Newfound Lake. The farthest north ridge of Cardigan is drained by the South Branch of the Baker River
, with water flowing north to the Baker River
in Rumney
before turning east to reach the Pemigewasset in Plymouth
.
Orange, New Hampshire
Orange is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 331 at the 2010 census.- History :Orange was granted in 1769 and incorporated in 1790. It was originally named Cardigan, after George Brudenell, fourth Earl of Cardigan. The Cardigan name lives on with Mount...
and Alexandria
Alexandria, New Hampshire
Alexandria is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,613 at the 2010 census. Newfound Lake is in the northeast corner, with Wellington State Park on the western shore. The town is home to Welton Falls State Forest. Cardigan State Park, with Mount Cardigan,...
in western New Hampshire. While its peak is only 3155 feet (961.6 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, it has extensive areas of bare granite ledges and alpine scrub, giving it the feel to hikers of a much higher mountain. Most of the summit area was denuded by devastating forest fires in 1855.
The Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
helped to develop the alpine ski trail network still in use today on the east side of the mountain.
The mountain is set in the 5000 acres (20.2 km²) Cardigan Mountain State Forest.
The Cardigan Lodge, operated by 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...
since 1934, is located to the east at the foot of the mountain, and is often used as a base for day hikes in and around the mountain. Many schools from around New England have overnight field trips to the mountain during the autumn and spring months.
Geology
The bedrock of Mount Cardigan is the upper member of the Lower DevonianDevonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
Littleton Formation (a light grey meta-turbidite
Turbidite
Turbidite geological formations have their origins in turbidity current deposits, which are deposits from a form of underwater avalanche that are responsible for distributing vast amounts of clastic sediment into the deep ocean.-The ideal turbidite sequence:...
) on its west flank (seen on lower parts of the West Ridge Trail). On the summit and to the east on the Clark Trail the bedrock is the Kinsman Granodiorite of the Early Devonian Cardigan Pluton
Cardigan Pluton
The Cardigan Pluton is the most voluminous pluton in the state of New Hampshire, USA. The onset of magmatism was during the Acadian orogeny, and the pluton is part of the Kinsman suite of the New Hampshire Plutonic Series. The pluton is approximately 20 km wide by 90 km long and on average about...
(a foliated granitic body with large megacryst
Megacryst
In geology, a megacryst is a crystal or grain that is considerably larger than the encircling matrix. They are found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.- Notes :*...
s of potassium feldspar
Orthoclase
Orthoclase is an important tectosilicate mineral which forms igneous rock. The name is from the Greek for "straight fracture," because its two cleavage planes are at right angles to each other. Alternate names are alkali feldspar and potassium feldspar...
). The Cardigan pluton has been dated by the Rb/Sr
Rubidium-strontium dating
The rubidium-strontium dating method is a radiometric dating technique that geologists use to determine the age of rocks.Development of this process was aided by Fritz Strassmann, who later went on to discover nuclear fission with Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner....
method at 411 +/- 19 MA. The metamorphic rocks of the Littleton Formation that make up the west flank are at middle amphibolite metamorphic
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
grade. The Littleton Formation rocks were once deep water sediments of the Bronson Hill Island Arc
Bronson Hill Island Arc
The Bronson Hill Island Arc is a bimodal volcanic terrane and associated sediments that are thought to have docked with Laurentia during the Ordovician, to create the Taconic Orogeny. These rocks are presently well exposed along the Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire...
and were deformed and metamorphosed during the Acadian orogeny
Acadian orogeny
The Taconic, Acadian and Alleghenian orogenies are the three tectonic phases responsible for the formation of the present Appalachian Mountains. The Acadian orogeny is a middle Paleozoic mountain building episode dating back 325-400 million years which should not be regarded as a single event but...
.
Hydrology
Mount Cardigan lies on the divide between the Connecticut RiverConnecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
and Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
watersheds
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. The western slopes of the mountain drain to Orange Brook towards the town of Canaan
Canaan, New Hampshire
Canaan is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,909 at the 2010 census. It is the location of Mascoma State Forest...
, then via the Indian River
Indian River (New Hampshire)
The Indian River is a 12.8 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. The river is a tributary of the Mascoma River, which in turn flows to the Connecticut River and ultimately Long Island Sound....
to the Mascoma River
Mascoma River
The Mascoma River is a 31.6 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound. The Mascoma comprises two sections which are split by Mascoma Lake in the communities of Enfield and Lebanon...
, the Connecticut River, and ultimately Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
. The south slopes of the mountain flow via Mill Brook to the Smith River
Smith River (Pemigewasset River)
The Smith River is a river located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Pemigewasset River, part of the Merrimack River watershed....
, a tributary of the Pemigewasset
Pemigewasset River
The Pemigewasset River , known locally as "The Pemi", is a river in the state of New Hampshire, the United States. It is in length and drains approximately...
and Merrimack rivers, ultimately flowing to the Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
. The eastern slopes of Mount Cardigan drain via Brock, Clark, and Davis brooks to the Fowler River
Fowler River
The Fowler River is a river located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is an inflow to Newfound Lake, part of the Pemigewasset River and therefore Merrimack River watersheds...
, then via Newfound Lake
Newfound Lake
Newfound Lake is located in Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA, within the towns of Bridgewater, Bristol, Alexandria, and Hebron. The lake is located in a section of New Hampshire known as the Lakes Region. At 4,451 acres, it is the third-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire. The lake's...
and the Newfound River
Newfound River (New Hampshire)
The Newfound River is a river located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Pemigewasset River, part of the Merrimack River watershed.The Newfound River begins at the outlet of Newfound Lake in Bristol, New Hampshire...
to the Pemigewasset. Atwell Brook flows off a northeastern ridge of the mountain, draining via the Cockermouth River
Cockermouth River
The Cockermouth River is a stream located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is the longest tributary of Newfound Lake, part of the Pemigewasset River and ultimately Merrimack River watersheds...
to Newfound Lake. The farthest north ridge of Cardigan is drained by the South Branch of the Baker River
South Branch Baker River
The South Branch of the Baker River is a river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Baker River, part of the Pemigewasset River and Merrimack River watersheds....
, with water flowing north to the Baker River
Baker River (New Hampshire)
The Baker River, or Asquamchumauke, is a river in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, the United States. It rises on the south side of Mount Moosilauke and runs south and east to empty into the Pemigewasset River in Plymouth. The river traverses the towns of Warren, Wentworth, and...
in Rumney
Rumney, New Hampshire
Rumney is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,480 at the 2010 census. The town is located at the southern edge of the White Mountain National Forest.-History:...
before turning east to reach the Pemigewasset in Plymouth
Plymouth, New Hampshire
Plymouth is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States, in the White Mountains Region. Plymouth is located at the convergence of the Pemigewasset and Baker rivers. The population was 6,990 at the 2010 census...
.