Martin Hill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Martin Hill | |
|---|---|
 Martin Hill |
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| Elevation | 2,775 feet (846 m) |
| Location | Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Range | Appalachian Mountains |
| Prominence | 1,783 feet (543 m) |
| Topo map | USGS Beans Cove (PA) Quadrangle |
| First ascent | unknown |
| Easiest route | drive up |
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Martin Hill is a mountain ridge which connects Tussey Mountain to its east and Evitts Mountain to its west. Martin Hill is located in the Martin Hill Wild Area, which is a part of the Buchanan State Forest, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The summit of Martin Hill is one of the few in the Commonwealth, which is void of any towers or transmitters. These pieces of equipment are located on a lesser summit on the same mountain complex. Martin Hill is the second highest in the Ridge and Valley Appalachians (in Pennsylvania), the highest being Wills Mountain to its west at 2,780 ft. above sea level. The highest mountains in the Commonwealth are located in the Allegheny Mountains in western Pennsylvania, where Mount Davis stands at 3,213 ft. above sea level.
[edit] Flora and Fauna
Martin Hill is a rugged mountain, with trails that run along the summit ridge and down its slopes. Wildlife on the mountain include bobcat, black bear, ruffed grouse, wild turkey and the white-tailed deer. Mountain Laurel, white pine, eastern hemlock along with an oak and hickory forest make up the main tree species found here. Sassafrass, fire cherry and striped maple are found on the upper slopes of the mountain.
[edit] Other Info
The adjacent Sweet Root Natural Area combine for a 13,000 acre wildland which is one of the most remote and serene in the Commonwealth.
The old lookout tower was removed in 2003. The views from that tower were beautiful; to the north you could see the ridges of both Evitts and Tussey Mountain fade into the distance. Blue Knob could be seen 30 miles distant, rising behind Kinton Knob, the north end of Wills Mountain. To the east you could see Sideling Hill and the "cut" in Maryland, to the south you could see Dans Mountain in Maryland and to the west the Wills Mountain highpoint and the Allegheny Front. Although this view is no longer available, rock screes and other overlooks in the Wild Area, make sweeping vistas available to the outdoor enthusiast.
Martin Hill is the highest point on Pennsylvania's longest footpath, Mid State Trail.
[edit] References
- Latitude and Longitude from Topozone. Topzone.com.
- Buchanan State Forest. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
