Evitts Mountain

Last updated
Evitts Mountain
Bedford-gaps.jpg
Water gaps cut by the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River through Evitts Mountain and Tussey Mountain (background), looking east from Kinton Knob.
Highest point
Elevation 2,560+ ft (780 m) [1]
Prominence 1,280 ft (390 m) [1]
Coordinates 40°9′N78°29′W / 40.150°N 78.483°W / 40.150; -78.483 Coordinates: 40°9′N78°29′W / 40.150°N 78.483°W / 40.150; -78.483 [1]
Geography
Location Bedford County, Pennsylvania / Allegany County, Maryland, U.S.
Parent range Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians
Topo map USGS Bedford
Climbing
Easiest route Hike

Evitts Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in the Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains, located in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and Allegany County, Maryland.

Contents

Geography

The ridge line runs north from Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland, across the Mason–Dixon line into Pennsylvania and then to the west Martin Hill, passing very near Tussey Mountain in Snake Spring Valley. The ridge then turns west, wrapping around north of Bedford, Pennsylvania to its intersection with Dunning Mountain, dividing Dunning Cove from Morrison Cove. The Raystown Branch Juniata River passes through "The Narrows", a prominent water gap along with the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the now dismantled Bedford and Bridgeport Railroad near Bedford, Pennsylvania. Evitts Creek runs through the base of the Mountain in Rocky Gap State Park.

Etymology

The mountain is named in honor of an early pioneer in Allegany County, Maryland, and Bedford County, Pennsylvania, thought by some to have gone by the last name of "Evart" (Evett, Evert, and Evit have also been proposed). In the 1780s, Mr. Evart decided to contemplate his bachelorhood from the isolated mountain top of what is today Evitts Mountain, at 39°43′13″N78°39′35″W / 39.72028°N 78.65972°W / 39.72028; -78.65972 , now in Rocky Gap State Park, far from the comforts of society. At the top of the 2,000-foot (610 m) mountain lies what its allegedly Mr. Evart's old homestead, from which he would return by the same route every day hiking a steep 3.5-mile (5.6 km) trail, now called Evitts Trail. (At least one reference has Evitt dying before 1749. [2] )

Geology

See: Geology of Bedford County, Pennsylvania

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Tussey Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in central Pennsylvania, United States, trending east of the Bald Eagle, Brush, Dunning and Evitts Mountain ridges. Its southern foot just crosses the Mason–Dixon line near Flintstone, Maryland, running north 130 km (80 mi) to the Seven Mountains of central Pennsylvania, near Tusseyville, making it one of the longest named ridges in this section of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians. The ridge line separates Morrison Cove from the Woodcock Valley and Friends Cove from the Black Valley. Tussey Mountain lies in, and the ridge line forms parts of the borders of, Centre, Blair, Bedford and Huntingdon counties.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunning Mountain</span>

Dunning Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in central Pennsylvania, United States. The mountain's north end is at McKee Gap, which separates it from Short Mountain, and where Halter Creek flows westward towards the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River. The south end of the mountain is contiguous with Evitts Mountain, but is marked by a sharp bend to the east. The valley formed by the bend is known as "The Kettle," and the broad valley to the east of Dunning Mountain is called Morrisons Cove. The town of Roaring Spring is located at the north end of the mountain on the east side.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Evitts Mountain". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Parker, Willis, Bolster, Ashe, & Marsh, Horatio N., Bailey, R.H., W.W., & M.C. (1907). The Potomac River Basin. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. p. 5. Retrieved June 23, 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)