Evitts Mountain
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
Elevation2,560+ ft (780 m)[1]
Prominence1,280 ft (390 m)[1]
Coordinates40°9′N 78°29′W / 40.150°N 78.483°W / 40.150; -78.483[1]
Geography
LocationBedford County, Pennsylvania / Allegany County, Maryland, U.S.
Parent rangeRidge-and-Valley Appalachians
Topo mapUSGS Bedford
Climbing
Easiest routeHike

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.

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″N 78°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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Evitts Mountain.
  1. ^ a b c "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)
  • MacKay, Bryan (1995). Hiking, Cycling, and Canoeing in Maryland: A Family Guide. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-5035-5.
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