Mount Clay
Encyclopedia
Mount Clay is a peak located in Thompson and Meserve's Purchase
in Coos County
in the Presidential Range
of the White Mountains
of New Hampshire
. It is a rise about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) long and a few hundred feet tall, with summit elevation
of 5533 feet (1,686.5 m); it lies on the ridge joining the summits of Mount Washington
, about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) to the south-southeast, with that of Mount Jefferson
, about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) north.
The Appalachian Trail
, coinciding there with the Gulfside Trail, rises about a hundred feet approaching it northbound, and passes 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) from the summit, 200 feet (61 m) below it. The 1.2 miles (1.9 km) Mt. Clay Loop passes over the summit. The Jewell Trail is a popular choice as a relatively less strenuous route to Mt. Washington's summit; hikers ascending it, eastbound, from the vicinity of the cog rail base station join the Gulfside Trail about 0.4 mile (0.643736 km) from Clay's summit and about 200 feet (61 m) below, and give up about 100 feet (30.5 m) in descending the southern tail of Clay, before resuming the ascent of Washington.
The mountain is named for Henry Clay
, 19th-century senator and U.S. Secretary of State
from Kentucky
, known as "The Great Compromiser". In 2003, the New Hampshire state legislature
, participating in a Reagan Legacy project, made it state law that Mt. Clay "shall hereafter be called and known as Mount Reagan," after President Ronald Reagan
. The legal force of this is limited to actions by the state of New Hampshire. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names
(BGN) voted in May 2010 not to change the name of the mountain. Maps used in connection with foot travel in the Presidentials are typically published by the U.S. Geological Survey (which adheres by law to BGN's naming), and by the Appalachian Mountain Club
and two New England companies, all three of whom use "Clay" and make no mention of "Reagan".
Although well over 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) in height above sea level, the Appalachian Mountain Club does not consider Mount Clay a "four-thousand footer" because it stands less than 200 feet (61 m) above the col on the ridge from Washington, making it a secondary summit of that peak.
Thompson and Meserve's Purchase, New Hampshire
Thompson and Meserve's Purchase is a township located in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the purchase had a population of 0....
in Coos County
Coos County, New Hampshire
-National protected areas:*Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge *Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge *White Mountain National Forest -Demographics:...
in the Presidential Range
Presidential Range
The Presidential Range is a mountain range located in the White Mountains of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Containing the highest peaks of the Whites, its most notable summits are named for American Presidents, followed by prominent public figures of the 18th and 19th centuries.Mt...
of the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. It is a rise about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) long and a few hundred feet tall, with summit elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 5533 feet (1,686.5 m); it lies on the ridge joining the summits of Mount Washington
Mount Washington (New Hampshire)
Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at , famous for dangerously erratic weather. For 76 years, a weather observatory on the summit held the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, , on the afternoon of April 12, 1934...
, about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) to the south-southeast, with that of Mount Jefferson
Mount Jefferson (New Hampshire)
Mount Jefferson is located in Coos County, New Hampshire, and is the third highest mountain in the state. The mountain is named after Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, and is part of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains...
, about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) north.
The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
, coinciding there with the Gulfside Trail, rises about a hundred feet approaching it northbound, and passes 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) from the summit, 200 feet (61 m) below it. The 1.2 miles (1.9 km) Mt. Clay Loop passes over the summit. The Jewell Trail is a popular choice as a relatively less strenuous route to Mt. Washington's summit; hikers ascending it, eastbound, from the vicinity of the cog rail base station join the Gulfside Trail about 0.4 mile (0.643736 km) from Clay's summit and about 200 feet (61 m) below, and give up about 100 feet (30.5 m) in descending the southern tail of Clay, before resuming the ascent of Washington.
The mountain is named for Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
, 19th-century senator and U.S. Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, known as "The Great Compromiser". In 2003, the New Hampshire state legislature
New Hampshire General Court
The General Court of New Hampshire is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The lower house is the New Hampshire House of Representatives with 400 members. The upper house is the New Hampshire Senate with 24 members...
, participating in a Reagan Legacy project, made it state law that Mt. Clay "shall hereafter be called and known as Mount Reagan," after President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. The legal force of this is limited to actions by the state of New Hampshire. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names
United States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the U.S. government.-Overview:...
(BGN) voted in May 2010 not to change the name of the mountain. Maps used in connection with foot travel in the Presidentials are typically published by the U.S. Geological Survey (which adheres by law to BGN's naming), and by the Appalachian Mountain Club
Appalachian Mountain Club
The Appalachian Mountain Club is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups. Created in 1876 to explore and preserve the White Mountains in New Hampshire, it has expanded throughout the northeastern U.S., with 12 chapters stretching from Maine to Washington, D.C...
and two New England companies, all three of whom use "Clay" and make no mention of "Reagan".
Although well over 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) in height above sea level, the Appalachian Mountain Club does not consider Mount Clay a "four-thousand footer" because it stands less than 200 feet (61 m) above the col on the ridge from Washington, making it a secondary summit of that peak.