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West Peak (New Haven County, Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
West Peak, 1024 feet of the Hanging Hills
, is the highest traprock peak in the state of Connecticut
. The peak hangs above the city of Meriden
700 feet (213 m) below and is characterized by its vertical cliffs and sweeping views of southern Connecticut, Long Island Sound
, and the Berkshires to the west. On a clear day, Mount Tom
of Massachusetts can be seen 47 miles to the north.
The 51 mile Metacomet Trail
crosses West Peak. Activities enjoyed on the peak include Hiking
, picnicking, and bird watching (West Peak is an important raptor migration path).
Edwin Howard Armstrong, who invented FM radio and who was a network radio pioneer, used West Peak for the location of one of the first FM radio broadcasts in 1939. His original 70' tall radio mast is still there. Currently West Peak is home to six FM broadcast stations, including WPKT, WWYZ, WZMX, WDRC-FM, WKSS and WHCN.
Once is for joy,
Twice is for danger,
Three times for death.
You can find multiple stories of people who died seeing the Black Dog all across the internet. One story is that a mountain climber had come to West Peak to hike. He saw the dog once, as it followed him up the mountain and disappeared when he started back down the mountain. He then went into a restaurant and asked about the Black Dog. The waiter told him the riddle which interested the climber. A few years later he brought a few of his friends up the mountain. One of his friends had already been there and said he had seen the Black Dog twice before. After the man's friend had seen the Black Dog again that day, he fell to his death on the groups' climb up the mountain. That is when the man saw the Black Dog again. Finally, a few years later, that man went climbing again, saw the Black Dog, and fell to his death. Although not many of these stories can be confirmed, it is still a mystery to people everywhere.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Hills#Geology
Hanging Hills
The Hanging Hills of south central Connecticut, USA are a range of mountainous trap rock ridges overlooking the city of Meriden and the Quinnipiac River Valley below. They are a sub-range of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north...
, is the highest traprock peak in the state of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The peak hangs above the city of Meriden
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
700 feet (213 m) below and is characterized by its vertical cliffs and sweeping views of southern Connecticut, Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
, and the Berkshires to the west. On a clear day, Mount Tom
Mount Tom (Massachusetts)
Mount Tom, , is a steep, rugged traprock mountain peak on the west bank of the Connecticut River 4.5 miles northwest of downtown Holyoke, Massachusetts. The mountain is the southernmost and highest peak of the Mount Tom Range and the highest traprock peak of the long Metacomet Ridge...
of Massachusetts can be seen 47 miles to the north.
The 51 mile Metacomet Trail
Metacomet Trail
The Metacomet Trail is a Blue-Blazed hiking trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge of central Connecticut and is a part of the newly designated New England National Scenic Trail. Despite being easily accessible and close to large population centers, the trail is considered remarkably rugged and...
crosses West Peak. Activities enjoyed on the peak include Hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, picnicking, and bird watching (West Peak is an important raptor migration path).
Edwin Howard Armstrong, who invented FM radio and who was a network radio pioneer, used West Peak for the location of one of the first FM radio broadcasts in 1939. His original 70' tall radio mast is still there. Currently West Peak is home to six FM broadcast stations, including WPKT, WWYZ, WZMX, WDRC-FM, WKSS and WHCN.
Black Dog
Many people believe of the old myth of the Black Dog. The Black Dog is said to roam around the mountains. Having no voice, and when it runs it does not create any dust stir up or anything. As if it is not even on the ground. There is a saying about it that goes like this,Once is for joy,
Twice is for danger,
Three times for death.
You can find multiple stories of people who died seeing the Black Dog all across the internet. One story is that a mountain climber had come to West Peak to hike. He saw the dog once, as it followed him up the mountain and disappeared when he started back down the mountain. He then went into a restaurant and asked about the Black Dog. The waiter told him the riddle which interested the climber. A few years later he brought a few of his friends up the mountain. One of his friends had already been there and said he had seen the Black Dog twice before. After the man's friend had seen the Black Dog again that day, he fell to his death on the groups' climb up the mountain. That is when the man saw the Black Dog again. Finally, a few years later, that man went climbing again, saw the Black Dog, and fell to his death. Although not many of these stories can be confirmed, it is still a mystery to people everywhere.
Geology
West Peak is part of a mountain chain that is a dormant fault line that runs through the middle of Connecticut and into Massachusetts.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Hills#Geology
See also
- Metacomet RidgeMetacomet RidgeThe Metacomet Ridge, Metacomet Ridge Mountains, or Metacomet Range of southern New England, United States, is a narrow and steep fault-block mountain ridge known for its extensive cliff faces, scenic vistas, microclimate ecosystems, and communities of plants considered rare or endangered...
- Adjacent summits:
< East North ↑ 
