Mount Ellen (Vermont)
Mount Ellen is a mountain in the Green Mountains in the U.S. state of Vermont. Located at the northern edge of the Green Mountain National Forest in Washington County, the summit of Mount Ellen is in the northwest corner of Warren but the mountain extends into Fayston to the north and Lincoln to the west. Together with Lincoln Peak to the south, the slopes of Mount Ellen are home to the Sugarbush Resort.
| Mount Ellen | |
|---|---|
 Mount Ellen seen from Mount Abraham | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,083 ft (1,244 m) [1] |
| Prominence | 2,132 ft (650 m) [2] |
| Listing | New England 4000 footers |
| Coordinates | 44°09′36″N 072°55′44″W [3] |
| Geography | |
  Mount Ellen Vermont, U.S.A. | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Washington |
| Town | Warren |
| Parent range | Green Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Ellen 1:24,000 |
Mount Ellen is one of a handful of 4,000-foot (1,200 m) peaks in Vermont. At 4,083 feet (1,244 m), it is tied (with Camel's Hump) for the third-highest mountain in the state.
History
The origin of the mountain's name is unclear. One theory is that Joseph Battell, a publisher, environmentalist, and philanthropist from Middlebury, Vermont, named Mount Ellen after the fictional character in his book "Ellen, or the Whisperings of an Old Pine" published in 1903. Another theory is that the mountain was named for Ellen Douglas, the heroine in Sir Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake published in 1810.[4]
Drainage basin
Mount Ellen stands within the watershed of Lake Champlain, which drains into the Richelieu River in Québec, the Saint Lawrence River, and then eventually into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. On the east side of the ridge, Mount Ellen drains into Mill Brook, thence into the Mad River, the Winooski River, and into Lake Champlain. On the west side of the ridge, Mount Ellen drains into the New Haven River, thence into Otter Creek, and into Lake Champlain.
Hiking
The Long Trail traverses the summit of Mount Ellen midway between Lincoln Gap and Appalachian Gap. The closest side trail is the Jerusalem Trail, whose trailhead is in Starksboro, Vermont. The trail terminates at the Long Trail after 2.4 miles (3.9 km). From the intersection, Mount Ellen is 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south on the Long Trail while Glen Ellen Shelter is 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to the east and Stark's Nest is 1.0 mile (1.6 km) to the north.[1]
See also
References
- Green Mountain Club (2015). Vermont's Long Trail: A Footpath in the Wilderness (Topographic map) (5th ed.). 1:85,000. Cartography by Center for Community GIS. ISBN 978-1-888021-46-2.
- "Mount Ellen, Vermont". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- "Mount Ellen". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- Bushnell, Mark (September 15, 2019). "Whence Camel's Hump and other Vermont mountain names?". VTDigger. Retrieved 16 March 2020.