Peak Mountain
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(October 2023) |
| Peak Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Old Newgate Prisonand Salmon Brook Valley from Peak Mountain | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | c.730 feet (223 m) |
| Parent peak | 41° 58' 13 "N, 72° 44' 24" W |
| Coordinates | 41°58′13″N72°44′24″W/ 41.97028°N 72.74000°W |
| Geography | |
| Location | East Granby, Connecticut |
| Parent range | Metacomet Ridge |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 200 Ma |
| Mountain type | Fault-block;igneous |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Metacomet Trail |
Peak Mountain,also calledCopper Mountain,est. 730 feet (220 m), is atraprock mountainlocated inEast Granby, Connecticut,6 miles (10 km) south of theMassachusettsborder and 6 miles west of theConnecticut River.It is part of the narrow, linearMetacomet Ridgethat extends fromLong Island SoundnearNew Haven, Connecticut,north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to theVermontborder. Peak Mountain is known for its expansive views from 200 feet (61 m) high cliffs overlooking the historicOld Newgate Prison,Congamond Lake, and the Salmon Brook Valley of north-central Connecticut. The mountain is also known for itsmicroclimateecosystems, rare plant communities, and as a seasonalraptormigration path. It is traversed by the 51-mile (82 km)Metacomet Trail.
Geography
[edit]Roughly 3 miles (4.8 km) long by 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, Peak Mountain rises steeply 400 feet (120 m) above the Salmon Brook Valley to the west and the Connecticut River Valley to the east. The namePeak Mountainapplies to the entire ridge whileCopper Mountainmay apply to the entire ridge or just a ledge, 672 feet (205 m), on the south side of the ridge. The Metacomet Ridge continues north from Peak Mountain to becomeWest Suffield Mountainand south to becomeHatchet Hill.
The west side of Peak Mountain drains into Salmon Brook, then into theFarmington River,thence to the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound; the east side drains into the Connecticut River.
Peak Mountain is located directly in line with the approach to Runway 15 atBradley International Airport.In 1995,American Airlines Flight 1572clipped trees near the summit while landing at the airport.[1]
Geology and environment
[edit]Peak Mountain, like much of the Metacomet Ridge, is composed ofbasalt,also called traprock, avolcanicrock. The mountain formed near the end of theTriassic Periodwith theriftingapart of theNorth Americancontinent fromAfricaandEurasia.Lavawelled up from the rift and solidified into sheets of strata hundreds of feet thick. Subsequentfaultingandearthquakeactivity tilted the strata, creating the cliffs and ridgeline of Peak Mountain. Hot, dry upper slopes, cool, moist ravines, and mineral-rich ledges of basalttalusproduce a combination ofmicroclimateecosystems on the mountain that support plant and animal species uncommon in greater Connecticut. Peak Mountain is also an importantraptormigration path;Hawkcount.orghas recorded over 20 different species of raptor migrating via Peak Mountain including thebald eagle,American kestrel,golden eagle,andperegrine falcon.[1](SeeMetacomet Ridgefor more information on the geology and ecosystem of Peak Mountain)
Recreation and conservation
[edit]
Peak Mountain is traversed by the Metacomet Trail, (maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association), which extends from theHanging HillsofMeriden, Connecticut,to the Massachusetts border. The mountain is open tohiking,bird watching,snowshoeingand other passive pursuits. Views from the summit include theBarn Door HillsandManitook Mountain.
Peak Mountain provides a bird's eye view of Old Newgate Prison, managed as a tourist attraction since 1860, a pre-American Revolutionary Warprison andcoppermine. Old Newgate, aNational Historic Landmark,was named afterLondon'sNewgate Prison.Old Newgate Prison is America's first copper mine and the first state prison in the United States. The ecosystem and ridgeline of Peak Mountain are most threatened by development and quarrying. In 2000, Peak Mountain was included in a study by theNational Park Servicefor the designation of a newNational Scenic Trailnow tentatively called theNew England National Scenic Trail,which would include theMetacomet-Monadnock Trailin Massachusetts and theMattabesett TrailandMetacomet Trailtrails in Connecticut.
TheEast Granby Land Trusthas played an active part in the conservation of Peak Mountain and itsviewshed.
See also
[edit]- Metacomet Ridge
- Metacomet Trail
- American Airlines Flight 1572
- Adjacent summits:
| ↓ South | North ↑ |
|---|---|
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References
[edit]- Farnsworth, Elizabeth J. "Metacomet-Mattabesett Trail Natural Resource Assessment."2004. PDF wefile cited November 1, 2007.
- Connecticut Walk Book East: The Trail Guide to the Blue Blazed Hiking Trails of Eastern Connecticut(2005) 19th edition. Rockfall, Connecticut: The Connecticut Forest and Park Association.
- Raymo, ChetandRaymo, Maureen E.Written in Stone: A Geologic History of the Northeastern United States.Globe Pequot, Chester, Connecticut, 1989.
- U.S. CongressNew England National Scenic Trail Designation Act.Archived2016-07-04 at theWayback Machine
- Hawkcount.orgPeak Mountain count. Cited Dec. 19, 2007
- USGS Windsor Locks topographic 41° 58' 13 "N, 72° 44' 24" W (NAD83/WGS84) viaTopozone.