View Full Version : How many "Bear Mountains"?
I went out this weekend in CT and went over Bear Mountain. Then I know there is another Bear Mountain in NY and I believe another down south somewhere. On the trail, how many times do you climb Bear Mountain?
And on a related note, why are people who name mountains so unimaginative?
And on a related note, why are people who name mountains so unimaginative?
Just like in the southern half of the trail there are so many Low Gaps, Deep Gaps, Sassafras Gaps, etc.
I live in VT. The AT & LT are combined were they pass thru our town. I walk that trail a lot. One of the mountains is named Bear Mountain for a very good reason. My wife and I have seen and heard evidence of bears on more than 1 occasion. Most would probably recognize bear 'scat'. How many have heard a bear snap their jaw ? They chomp their teeth to let you know, "Don't come any closer ". We saw a pretty good sized bear this summer. They just gave us a look and continued on their way.
Just like in the southern half of the trail there are so many Low Gaps, Deep Gaps, Sassafras Gaps, etc.
I wonder what the most commonly named thing is on the trail.
I live in VT. The AT & LT are combined were they pass thru our town. I walk that trail a lot. One of the mountains is named Bear Mountain for a very good reason. My wife and I have seen and heard evidence of bears on more than 1 occasion. Most would probably recognize bear 'scat'. How many have heard a bear snap their jaw ? They chomp their teeth to let you know, "Don't come any closer ". We saw a pretty good sized bear this summer. They just gave us a look and continued on their way.
Well that's another one. Maybe it's easier to name the states that don't have a Bear Mountain
Traveler
10-27-2014, 16:55
The bear mountains in CT and NY are all that I know of the AT crosses, but there may be others.
In the Eastern US, a lot of the territory was originally settled independently from other colonies. As the area around these colonies expanded, new settlements, mountains, lakes, or other features were frequently named after native land places or local animals and indian names. This happened without other colonies being aware of any duplications, so we have several Middletowns around the US named for their UK counterpart cities. Bears being a common animal in the Appalachians, I am surprised there are not more than there seem to be.
coach lou
10-27-2014, 17:08
Vermont.....just past Little rock Pond
Confirmed in AWOL's 2014 NOBO guide. Mile 1675.0. Anybody have the PDF version and want to do a CTRL-F? :)
Vermont.....just past Little rock Pond
Yep, I remember it. It was one of those &^%$$# moments because I was carrying a 12 year old map, and Bear Mtn. wasn't on my map. :rolleyes:
Odd Man Out
10-27-2014, 18:30
In MI, just about every other lake is called Bass Lake. Only could find one Bear Mtn, unless Sleeping Bear Dune also counts.
colorado_rob
10-27-2014, 18:42
...
And on a related note, why are people who name mountains so unimaginative?Lots of Bear Mountains in Colorado too. I wonder if these are the same people that keep naming lakes "Mirror Lake" ?
They can't all be Big Butt Mtn. :p
Feral Bill
10-27-2014, 18:54
I wonder what the most commonly named thing is on the trail.
Well that's another one. Maybe it's easier to name the states that don't have a Bear Mountain
Florida?:)
If memory serves, and it may not, there are also several Bluff Mountains and Brushy Mountains in Virginia.
Sarcasm the elf
10-27-2014, 20:26
The bear mountains in CT and NY are all that I know of the AT crosses, but there may be others.
In the Eastern US, a lot of the territory was originally settled independently from other colonies. As the area around these colonies expanded, new settlements, mountains, lakes, or other features were frequently named after native land places or local animals and indian names. This happened without other colonies being aware of any duplications, so we have several Middletowns around the US named for their UK counterpart cities. Bears being a common animal in the Appalachians, I am surprised there are not more than there seem to be.
In addition to this, remember that most of these places were named during a time when the only forms of transportation were walking or using a horse/pack animal, and when most people would only travel a relatively short distance (by today's standards) from their homes during their lifetime. Did it really matter to them that there was another bear mountain or deep gap in the next state over when the average person wouldn't be expected to ever travel that far?
Cookerhiker
10-27-2014, 21:28
As I recall, Maine has 2 Moxie Ponds.
The Colorado Trail has 2 separate Pine Creeks.
Alleghanian Orogeny
10-28-2014, 12:11
If memory serves, and it may not, there are also several Bluff Mountains and Brushy Mountains in Virginia.
There are at least 4 Brushy Mountains within line of sight of Garden Mountain, VA.
AO
there also seems to be a good amount of "Pine Knob"s too. At least in CT. And many other variations - Pine Hill, Pine Mountain, etc.
I've long last track of how many Bear this or Bear that I've come across while hiking.
I could give you a few more associated with hiking: highline, sky, Moose, Big, ...............
Actually, those who name mountains are imaginative. And, if someone comes along more imaginative, and influential, they'll rename a mountain on ocassion. Hence, Denali becomes McKinley.
So to get the highest peak on the continent named after you, you need to become President, win some wars, do other good things for the country, and then get assassinated. What does one need to do to get one of these little unimaginatively named mountains after them? :)
So to get the highest peak on the continent named after you, you need to become President, win some wars, do other good things for the country, and then get assassinated. What does one need to do to get one of these little unimaginatively named mountains after them? :)
Have a Big Butt. Or be a Chunky Gal.
Nicki Minaj Mountain?
I'm ashamed of myself for having typed this.
Traveler
10-28-2014, 17:38
Actually, those who name mountains are imaginative. And, if someone comes along more imaginative, and influential, they'll rename a mountain on ocassion. Hence, Denali becomes McKinley.
Which interestingly has become Denali again lol. Things seldom stay the same long...
Another Kevin
10-31-2014, 13:05
In the Catskills, there are four mountains with 'Balsam' in their name (three are among the 35 3500-footers, and the fourth is among the Hundred Highest): Balsam Mountain (Greene County), Balsam Mountain (Ulster County), Balsam Lake Mountain, and Balsam Cap. And I don't know how many little waterfalls there are in the Catskills named, 'Buttermilk Falls'. I can think of half a dozen off the top of my head.
There are also two mountains named just 'High Peak' and another two named just 'High Point' on the maps: the hikers distinguish them with names like Kaaterskill High Peak, Windham High Peak, Ashokan High Point, ... There are two Indian Heads, three Mink Hollows (the 26-mile Devils path crosses two of them!), two Sphinx Rocks, and a creek unimaginatively named, 'the South Branch of the East Branch."
For most of their history, these things didn't really need names. Why trouble to name a place that you don't visit?
Oh yes, and the original site of the village of Neversink ... is sunken under the reservoir of the same name.
Farther afield, on my last longish hike in the Adirondacks, I planned to visit a lake with the amazingly generic name of "34th Flow." That's what you get when a lumber company names things.
There's a settlement up that way named Number Four. Apparently, it's had that name since 1799, when John Brown, a Providence merchant, was granted 210,000 acres of land in payment for a shipment of tea. He divided this huge lot into 12 townships, and Township Number Four never received any other name.
Gambit McCrae
10-31-2014, 13:24
Bob D. used to talk about some Bear Mountain Picnic, I hate bears.
Old Grouse
10-31-2014, 16:03
Bob D. used to talk about some Bear Mountain Picnic, I hate bears.
Are you perhaps referring to the song "Teddybears' Picnic?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxFIGWm9M6w
That brings back the memories. My daughter used to love this song, and when she sang it, "Watch them, catch them unawares" became "Watch them, catch their underwear." Our very own family mondegreen (http://www.fun-with-words.com/mala_mondegreens.html).
Gambit McCrae
10-31-2014, 16:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AylFqdxRMwE&list=PL76A4D7960C6F754E
Gambit McCrae
10-31-2014, 16:26
Soory about that it uploaded the wrong video. It is Bob Dillan Talkin bear mountain Picnic
upstream
10-31-2014, 20:34
USGS GNIS query lists 151 summits or ridges with the exact name bear mountain. There are probably 20 more like little bear, polar bear, sitting bear, yellow bear, and ten bear mountain.