Black Cap Mountain is a 1,020 foot (310 m) mountain in Penobscot County, Maine, United States.[1] The mountain is 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of Eddington, Maine, and the Penobscot River.[2] It is accessible from Maine Route 46, near its intersection with The Airline (State Route 9).

Black Cap Mountain
Black Cap Mountain is located in Maine
Black Cap Mountain
Black Cap Mountain
Highest point
Elevation1,020 ft (310 m)
Prominence570 ft (170 m)
Coordinates44°45′13″N 68°33′58″W / 44.753611°N 68.566111°W / 44.753611; -68.566111
Geography
LocationPenobscot County, Maine, U.S.
Climbing
Easiest routeHiking, class 1
Maine Public Broadcasting Network transmitter atop Black Cap Mountain

The mountain is named for its granite peak, which is mostly bare with a few scrubby trees. From the mountain there is a panoramic view of western Maine, the Western Maine Mountains, and the eastern portion of the White Mountain National Forest.[3]

Background edit

Black Cap consists of a range of hills, approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, with an average breadth of 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide.[2] Both Boy Scout Camp Roosevelt and Fitts Pond sit at the base of the mountain.[4] The summit is home to a number of microwave,[5] radio and television broadcasting antennas, including WMEH of Maine Public Radio.[6]

The mountain is prominent in the area and is part of the southeastern vista of Bangor.[7] It can also be seen from the Penobscot Bay and the sea.[8] The area around the mountain has been affected by several natural disasters. The 1938 New England hurricane leveled the surrounding forest,[9] and a spruce forest was planted in its place.[3] The mountain also has beech trees and blueberry bushes. The latter began to grow after a series of forest fires swept through the area in the 1800s clearing the forest and opening the land.[3]

The Katahdin Area Council, owners of the 1,800 acres (730 ha) Camp Roosevelt,[10] own two-thirds of the mountain. Private landholders own the rest of the land, with energy company Emera owning one acre on the summit of the mountain for a radio tower.[11]

Recreation edit

The mountain has a popular hiking trail, whose trailhead adjoins the parking lot for Camp Roosevelt.[12][13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Blackcap Mountain - Peakbagger.com". peak bagger.
  2. ^ a b Williams, Chase. History of Penobscot County, Maine. p. 33. ISBN 9785873772766.
  3. ^ a b c "Hiking options" (PDF). Cranmore Inn. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "Camping". Katahdin Area Council. BSA. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  5. ^ US Army Engineer Division (July 1981). "Environmental Impact Statement". Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Project (ME,NH,VT,Que). 1. Waltham, MA.
  6. ^ Gagnon, Dawn (February 18, 2016). "Eddington tower maintenance interrupts Maine Public Radio signal". Bangor Daily News.
  7. ^ Chase, W. History of Penobscot County, Maine. p. 333. ISBN 978-1297507625.
  8. ^ "Historical and Archaeological Resources" (PDF). Comprehensive Plan. Town of Eddington: B-1. October 2002.
  9. ^ Lefebvre, Paul (October 19, 2016). "How a hurricane changed New England's forests" (PDF). The Chronicle. Barton, Vermont. pp. B1. review of book: "Thirty-Eight, The Hurricane that Transformed New England", by Stephen Long 2016
  10. ^ "Camp Roosevelt" (PDF). Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section. July 22, 2016. p. 2. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  11. ^ "WNVV552". FCC. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "BLACKCAP MOUNTAIN AND FITTS POND, EDDINGTON". Maine by Foot. December 2, 2019.
  13. ^ John (September 5, 2013). "Blackcap Mountain". Hiking in Maine with Kelley.

External links edit