Four-thousand footers explained

The Four-thousand footers (sometimes abbreviated 4ks) are a group of forty-eight mountains in New Hampshire at least above sea level. To qualify for inclusion a peak must also meet the more technical criterion of topographic prominence important in the mountaineering sport of peak-bagging.

The White Mountains Four Thousand Footers List is established (and revised from time to time) by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The AMC calls it the White Mountains List, but others call it the New Hampshire List because it does not include Old Speck Mountain (4,170 ft) in Maine, which is outside the White Mountain National Forest but within the White Mountains.

The AMC also maintains a list of New England 4000 Footers, all falling within Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Other lists of 4000-footers not maintained by the AMC include the original set of 4,000-foot mountains for peak-bagging: the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks.

The AMC has revised its 4000-footer lists as surveying became more accurate or the selection criteria were adjusted, with the White Mountains list growing from 46 peaks in the 1950s to 48 in 1982. The proper inclusion or exclusion of several peaks is still a matter of some dispute.

The 48 lie in the White Mountain National Forest, within two northern counties of New Hampshire: Coos and Grafton. All peaks except those of Mount Washington, Mount Moosilauke and Cannon Mountain are on land owned by the Forest Service, and these three are almost completely surrounded by it.

Prominence

A topographic prominence criterion is applied to exclude high points which are considered subsidiary peaks of a larger mountain. The definition of topographic prominence is the vertical separation between a peak and the low point of the highest ridge connecting it to a higher one. In practical terms, prominence is the minimum distance a hiker must descend before ascending a higher peak.[1]

The AMC's 4000-Footer lists require that a mountain rise 200feet beyond a ridge connecting it to its neighbor.[2] Earlier versions required either 300feet of prominence or NaNmiles of separation.

Four Thousand Footer club

A committee of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) sets the criteria and collects information verifying that peaks meet them. It also maintains a list of the Four Thousand Footer Club's self-declared members, who request recognition for having ascended on foot all of the 48. The first of these was compiled in 1958.

There are numerous variations in completing the Four Thousand Footer list. For example, the AMC maintains a roster of those making ascents between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Another not officially recorded is reaching each summit twelve times, once in each of the twelve months, in any calendar order. This is known as The Grid., the feat has been claimed by 68 individuals.[3]

The New Hampshire list

New Hampshire Four Thousand Footers are listed below in descending order of their elevations. Some of these names do not appear on maps, and some alternative names are indicated below.

  1. Washington: 6288feet AT*
  2. Adams: 5774feet AT**
  3. Jefferson: 5712feet AT**
  4. Monroe: 5384feet AT**
  5. Madison: 5367feet AT*
  6. Lafayette: 5249feet AT*
  7. Lincoln: 5089feet AT*
  8. South Twin: 4902feet AT*
  9. Carter Dome: 4832feet AT*
  10. Moosilauke: 4802feet AT*
  11. Eisenhower: 4780feet AT**
  12. North Twin: 4761feet
  13. Carrigain: 4700feet
  14. Bond: 4698feet
  15. Middle Carter: 4610feet AT*
  16. West Bond: 4540feet
  17. Garfield: 4500feet AT**
  18. Liberty: 4459feet AT**
  19. South Carter: 4430feet AT*
  20. Wildcat: 4422feet AT*
  21. Hancock: 4420feet
  22. South Kinsman: 4358feet ("South Peak") AT*
  23. Field: 4340feet
  24. Osceola: 4340feet
  25. Flume: 4328feet
  26. South Hancock: 4319feet
  27. Pierce: 4310feet AT*
  28. North Kinsman: 4293feet ("North Peak") AT*
  29. Willey: 4285feet
  30. Bondcliff: 4265feet ("The Cliffs")
  31. Zealand: 4260feet ("Zealand Ridge") AT**
  32. North Tripyramid: 4180 ft ("North Peak")
  33. Cabot: 4170feet
  34. East Osceola: 4156feet ("East Peak")
  35. Middle Tripyramid: 4140feet
  36. Cannon: 4100feet
  37. Wildcat D: 4070feet ("Wildcat Ridge") AT*
  38. Hale: 4054feet
  39. Jackson: 4052feet AT*
  40. Tom: 4051feet
  41. Moriah: 4049feet AT**
  42. Passaconaway: 4043feet
  43. Owl's Head: 4025feet
  44. Galehead: 4024feet AT**
  45. Whiteface: 4020feet
  46. Waumbek: 4006feet
  47. Isolation: 4004feet
  48. Tecumseh: Traditionally 4003feet, resurveyed July 2019 3997feet[4]

AT* = Appalachian Trail passes over summit; AT** = AT passes near summit

The New England list

This list consists of the New Hampshire list, plus the following:

4000-Footers in Maine:

  1. Katahdin (Baxter Peak): 5268feet AT* (northern terminus)
  2. Katahdin (Hamlin Peak): 4756feet
  3. Sugarloaf Mountain

4250feet AT**

  1. Crocker Mountain

4228feet AT*

  1. Old Speck

4170feet AT**

  1. Mount Bigelow (West Peak): 4145feet AT*
  2. North Brother

4151feet

  1. Saddleback Mountain : 4120feet AT*
  2. Mount Bigelow (Avery Peak): 4090feet AT*
  3. Mount Abraham

4050feet

  1. South Crocker Mountain

4050feet AT*

  1. Saddleback Mountain (the Horn): 4041feet AT*
  2. Mount Redington

4010feet

  1. Spaulding Mountain

4010feet AT**

4000-Footers in Vermont:

  1. Mount Mansfield

4393feet LT*

  1. Killington Peak

4235feet AT** LT**

  1. Camel's Hump

4083feet LT*

  1. Mount Ellen

4083feet LT*

  1. Mount Abraham

4006feet LT*

LT* = Long Trail passes over summit; LT** = LT passes near summit

See also

Notes

  1. Web site: Orometry: Introduction to Prominence. www.peaklist.org. 2020-01-23.
  2. Web site: FAQs AMC Four Thousand Footer Club. www.amc4000footer.org. 2020-01-23.
  3. News: First couple completes Grid hiking feat on Easter . Edith . Tucker . The Mountain Ear . May 5, 2011 .
  4. https://www.nhpr.org/post/new-measurement-data-means-new-hampshires-famed-4000-footer-list-may-be-changing#stream/0 NHPR, Feb. 26 2019: '4000-footer list may be changing'

References

External links