Stratton Mountain (Vermont)
Encyclopedia
Stratton Mountain is a mountain
located in Windham County
, Vermont
, in the Green Mountain National Forest
.
The mountain, a monadnock
, is the highest point of Windham County, and of the southern Green Mountains
generally. A fire tower located on the summit is generally open for climbing by the public. There is also a small caretaker cabin (not open to the public) at the summit that is inhabited in season by a caretaker from the Green Mountain Club
.
Stratton Mountain stands within the watershed
of the Connecticut River
, which drains into Long Island Sound
in Connecticut
.
The south and southeast slopes of Stratton Mtn. drain into Ball Mountain Brook, thence into the West River
, and into the Connecticut River.
The east side of Stratton drains via Kidder Brook into the North Branch of Ball Mountain Brook.
The north side of Stratton drains into the North Branch of Ball Mountain Brook.
The northwest side of Stratton drains into the Winhall River, and thence into the West River.
The southwest slopes of Stratton drain into the East Branch of the Deerfield River
, another tributary
of the Connecticut.
Stratton Mountain claims a unique role in hiking trail history.
In 1909, James P. Taylor (1872–1949) was on the mountain when he conceived the idea of a trail from Massachusetts
to Canada
, which became Vermont's Long Trail
.
While on the summit of Stratton during the construction of the Long Trail, Benton MacKaye
(1879–1975) considered that it would be a good idea to have a trail spanning the entire Appalachian Range.
The result was the Appalachian Trail
, a 2170 miles (3,492.3 km) National Scenic Trail
from Georgia
to Maine
.
In southern Vermont, the two trails are contiguous, crossing the summit of Stratton from south to north. A short (.75-mile), relatively flat side trail leads from the summit to the Stratton Mountain Resort.
ski resort
is located on the northeast slopes of the mountain.
It has 92 trails over 600 acres (2.4 km²) with a 2,000 ft (610 m) vertical drop, served by 16 lifts, including four 6-person chair lifts.
Jake Burton built his first snowboard
while living in Manchester, near Stratton, which was the first major ski resort to allow snowboarding.
Mountain
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located in Windham County
Windham County, Vermont
Windham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 44,513. Its shire town is Newfane.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, in the Green Mountain National Forest
Green Mountain National Forest
Green Mountain National Forest is a national forest located in Vermontwhich supports a variety of wildlife, including beaver, moose, black bear, and white tailed deer. It also supports an abundant variety of bird species. The forest has been referred to as the 'granite backbone' of the state...
.
The mountain, a monadnock
Monadnock
A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain...
, is the highest point of Windham County, and of the southern Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
generally. A fire tower located on the summit is generally open for climbing by the public. There is also a small caretaker cabin (not open to the public) at the summit that is inhabited in season by a caretaker from the Green Mountain Club
Green Mountain Club
The Green Mountain Club is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to preserving and protecting Vermont's Long Trail - America's first long-distance hiking trail which stretches from Massachusetts to the Canadian border along Vermont's high ridgeline...
.
Stratton Mountain stands within the watershed
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...
of the Connecticut River
Connecticut 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...
, which drains into 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...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
The south and southeast slopes of Stratton Mtn. drain into Ball Mountain Brook, thence into the West River
West River (Vermont)
The West River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, about long, in southern Vermont in the United States. According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as "Wantastiquet" and as "Waters of the Lonely Way"...
, and into the Connecticut River.
The east side of Stratton drains via Kidder Brook into the North Branch of Ball Mountain Brook.
The north side of Stratton drains into the North Branch of Ball Mountain Brook.
The northwest side of Stratton drains into the Winhall River, and thence into the West River.
The southwest slopes of Stratton drain into the East Branch of the Deerfield River
Deerfield River
Deerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its namesake town...
, another tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Connecticut.
Stratton Mountain claims a unique role in hiking trail history.
In 1909, James P. Taylor (1872–1949) was on the mountain when he conceived the idea of a trail from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which became Vermont's Long Trail
Long Trail
The Long Trail is a hiking trail located in Vermont, running the length of the state. It is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States, constructed between 1910 and 1930 by the Green Mountain Club...
.
While on the summit of Stratton during the construction of the Long Trail, Benton MacKaye
Benton MacKaye
Benton MacKaye was an American forester, planner and conservationist. He was born in Stamford, Connecticut; his father was actor and dramatist Steele MacKaye. After studying forestry at Harvard University , Benton later taught there for several years. He joined a number of Federal bureaus and...
(1879–1975) considered that it would be a good idea to have a trail spanning the entire Appalachian Range.
The result was 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...
, a 2170 miles (3,492.3 km) National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail is a designation for protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty.National Scenic Trails were authorized under the National Trails System Act of 1968 along with National Historic Trails and National Recreation Trails...
from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to 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...
.
In southern Vermont, the two trails are contiguous, crossing the summit of Stratton from south to north. A short (.75-mile), relatively flat side trail leads from the summit to the Stratton Mountain Resort.
Stratton Mountain Resort
Stratton MountainStratton Mountain Resort
Stratton Mountain Resort is a ski area located on Stratton Mountain in Stratton, Vermont.-History:Stratton was established in 1961, and expanded rapidly into one of Vermont's largest ski areas...
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...
is located on the northeast slopes of the mountain.
It has 92 trails over 600 acres (2.4 km²) with a 2,000 ft (610 m) vertical drop, served by 16 lifts, including four 6-person chair lifts.
Jake Burton built his first snowboard
Snowboard
Snowboards are boards, usually with a width the length of one's foot, with the ability to glide on snow. Snowboards are differentiated from monoskis by the stance of the user...
while living in Manchester, near Stratton, which was the first major ski resort to allow snowboarding.
Emergency services
Policing Services is provided by Stratton Mountain Security as well as Winhall Police Department who patrols in Ford Expeditions. Stratton Mountain has it own fire department, The Stratton Mountain Volunteer Fire Company, but also receives mutual aid from the surrounding Fire Departments. The Fire Company is headquarted on Brazers Way and has 4 apparatus (2 Engines, 1 Ladder truck & 1 Rescue). In January, 2011 the company will take delivery of a new ladder truck. During working hours, an ALS Ambulance is staffed at the Ski Patrol Building. At night, the Londonderry Emergency Squad is used for Ambulance Services.See also
- Stratton Mountain Ski Resort
- List of mountains in Vermont
- New England Hundred HighestNew England Hundred HighestThe New England Hundred Highest is a list of the hundred highest summits in New England, used in the mountaineering sport of peak bagging. The list is a superset of the New England Four-thousand footers, with the same requirement that each included peak must have of topographic prominence .The...
- New England Fifty FinestNew England Fifty FinestThe New England Fifty Finest is a list of mountains in New England, used in the mountaineering sport of peak bagging.The list comprises the fifty summits with the highest topographic prominence — a peak's height above the lowest contour which encloses that peak and no higher peak.This list differs...