Saddleback Mountain (Rangeley, Maine)

Saddleback Mountain is a mountain located in Sandy River Plantation, Franklin County, Maine, near the resort town of Rangeley. Saddleback is one of the highest mountains in the State of Maine, and one of the fourteen with more than 2,000 ft (610 m) of topographic prominence. The mountain is the site of Saddleback ski resort.[3]

Saddleback Mountain
As seen from State Route 16
Highest point
Elevation4,121 ft (1,256 m)
Prominence2,448 ft (746 m)[1]
ListingNew England 4000 footers
#19 New England Fifty Finest
Coordinates44°56′12″N 70°30′11″W / 44.936667°N 70.503056°W / 44.936667; -70.503056[2]
Geography
Saddleback Mountain is located in Maine
Saddleback Mountain
Saddleback Mountain
Topo mapUSGS Saddleback Mountain
View of Saddleback Mountain as seen from the Horn of Saddleback

Saddleback is flanked to the northeast by Saddleback Horn. The mountain rock is primarily a form of granodiorite known as the Redington pluton that is estimated to have formed roughly 410 million years ago, while the soil atop it is largely till with a thickness of 10 feet (3.0 m) or less.[4]

The northwest side of Saddleback drains into Saddleback Lake, then into Redington Stream, the South Branch of the Dead River, the Kennebec River, and into the Gulf of Maine. The southeast side of Saddleback drains into Winship and Conant Streams, then Orbeton Stream, and the Sandy River, another tributary of the Kennebec. The southwest end of Saddleback drains into Cascade Stream, then into Rangeley Lake, Rangeley River, Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Upper and Lower Richardson Lakes, Rapid River, Umbagog Lake, and the Androscoggin River, which drains into Merrymeeting Bay, the estuary of the Kennebec River.

The Appalachian Trail, a 2,170 mi (3,490 km) National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine, runs along the ridge of Saddleback, crossing the summit. Saddleback Maine, a ski area, is located on the north face of the mountain.

Ranging from beginner trails to advanced and expert trails, the mountain contains 66 ski trails along with 5 ski lifts.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Saddleback Mountain, Maine". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  2. ^ "Saddleback Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  3. ^ "Saddleback ski resort". Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  4. ^ "A Geologic Transect along the Appalachian Trail to the Summit of Saddleback Mountain: A Field Trip from the September-October 2006 New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference". Maine Geological Survey, Department of Conservation, State of Maine. October 2006. Retrieved 11 December 2008.