List "50 Finest Eastern County Highpoints" By wayfarer
Notes: A list of the 50 most prominent Eastern county highpoints. This list also includes all competing peaks that fall within the "proven" prominence cutoff of 1,620'. Rocky Mountain in Virginia has several nearby contenders that include Bald Knob, Maintop Mountain, Mount Pleasant, and one of two areas on The Priest. The concensus seems to be that, though unlikely, any one of these contenders could potentially be higher than Rocky Mountain. If so, that peak would become the prominence peak of the massif. It would also still be a county highpoint and therefore retain it's rank of #30 on this list. In Vermont, there is some uncertainty as to whether Mount Ellen or Camels Hump is highest, as well as a possibility that the actual summit of Camels Hump is not in Washington County. If Ellen is higher, then its rank would move up several spots in this list as it would "capture" the prominence of Camels Hump. If Camels Hump is higher, and is indeed in Washington County, then it's stated prominence would take over the #42 spot on the list. If Camels Hump's summit is actually entirely in Chittenden County, then it loses any possible COHP status to Mount Mansfield and Mount Ellen wins Washington County by default. Regardless, one of these two peaks would remain on this list. Georgia's two contending peaks of Big Bald Mountain and Rich Mountain compete with one another for #49 on the list, though there seems to be some concensus that Big Bald Mountain is indeed higher. It is suggested that all be climbed to ensure having attained the true prominence peaks and county highpoints. Also, along the North Carolina and Tennessee border, Gravel Knob is generally considered to be the COHP for Greene County, TN but nearby Camp Creek Bald is a possible contender. Both are contenders to nearby Green Ridge Knob for prominence leader of this massif. If either is ever proven to be higher than Green Ridge Knob (which is in Madison County, NC and is NOT a county highpoint), then Greene County, Tennessee's HP would supplant Chimneytop Mountain (also in Tennessee) as the #50 peak. See cohp.org for more discussion on these peaks. It should also be mentioned that the next peak in line, based on "clean" prominence, Sugarloaf Mountain in Rutherford County, NC could potentially capture the #50 spot. It is also the #51 ranked Eastern COHP by average prominence. It has an average prominence of 1,745' and 1,725' clean prominence, but an optimistic prominence of 1,765'. Chimneytop has 1,748' average and 1,738' clean prominence, but only 1,758' optimistic. Therefore, there is a small chance Sugarloaf could be more prominent than Chimneytop. Many peakbaggers will wish to climb this peak, just in case. Additionally, there is one more peak in New Hampshire and a trio of competing peaks in West Virginia that also have some small potential to displace the # 50 peak of Chimneytop. The Sullivan County, NH highpoint of Croydon Peak has a clean prominence of 1,722', an average prominence of 1,732', and an optimistic prominence of 1,741'. Pocahontas County, WV has three peaks that compete for the same prominence and county highpoint status. These are BM Thorny, Cheat Mountain, and Bald Knob. While only one can win, all three have the potential to be the winner with a clean prominence of 1,680', average prominence of 1,720', and optimistic prominence of 1,759'. However, there is considerable consensus that BM Thorny is the highest and some evidence that it has an elevation of 4,848' and a prominence range between 1,688'-1,728': http://cohp.org/wv/Pocahontas_4.html If those numbers are accurate, it cannot possibly displace the #50 peak of Chimneytop. I have elected to leave these bottom end of list contenders off in order to remain consistent with similar "Front Runner Listings" maintained by Andy Martin. On the various lists he tracks, in order to claim completion, one must complete all contenders to peaks within the "proven" or "clean" prominence cutoffs but not those peaks that just miss the bottom of the list by their "proven" prominence. Nevertheless, these peaks could potentially deserve to make the list and displace one or more that are on the list. It becomes a personal judgement as to whether or not one wishes to complete the additional peaks but doing so ensures beyond any shadow of a doubt as to whether or not one has truly completed the 50 Finest.