Gore Mountain (New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gore Mountain |
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 Gore Mountain
Location in New York
Gore Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3563+ ft (1086+ m) |
| Prominence | 1,850 ft (560 m) |
| Listing |
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| Geography | |
| Location | North Creek, Warren County, New York, U.S. |
| Parent range | Adirondack Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Thirteenth Lake |
Gore Mountain is a large mountain found near North Creek in Warren County, New York. It is the highest point in Warren County. Next to Gore Mountain are South Mountain to the north and Height of Land Mountain to the southwest. Gore Mountain is also home to the popular Gore Mountain ski resort. A special building called the Gore Mountain Fire Observation Station was built here in 1918.
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Why is it Called Gore Mountain?
The name "Gore" comes from an old surveying term. A "gore" is a piece of land, often shaped like a triangle, that is left over when land is measured. This happens when survey lines do not meet perfectly.
Early settlers and loggers in the Adirondack Mountains did not measure Gore Mountain. They thought it was too high and steep for farming or moving logs with horses. Because it was left unmeasured, it became known as a "gore." The name Gore Mountain stuck, and it is still called that today.
The History of the Fire Tower
Fire towers were very important for spotting forest fires. In August 1909, the first fire lookout tower was built on Gore Mountain. It was an 18-foot (5.5 m) tall wooden tower.
Later, in 1918, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps replaced the wooden tower. They built a much taller 60-foot (18 m) metal tower. However, a strong hurricane in October 1919 knocked the tower down. The tower was quickly rebuilt and was ready for use in the spring of 1920.
The fire tower helped spot fires until the end of 1988. It was officially closed in early 1989. The tower is still on the mountain today, but it is closed to visitors. Now, it is used to help send communications signals.
Where Does Gore Mountain's Water Go?
Gore Mountain is part of the watershed of the Hudson River. This means that all the rain and snow that falls on the mountain eventually flows into the Hudson River. The Hudson River then flows all the way to New York Harbor.
- Water from the south side of Gore Mountain flows into Black Mountain Brook. This brook then joins Chatiemac Brook, then North Creek, and finally the Hudson River.
- Water from the southeast side of Gore Mountain flows into Straight Brook, which also goes into North Creek.
- Water from the northeast side flows into Roaring Brook, which also joins North Creek.
- Water from the northwest and west sides of Gore Mountain flows into the beginning of the East Branch of the Sacandaga River. This river also flows into the Hudson River.
What is Garnet Mining at Gore Mountain?
Gore Mountain is famous for its garnet mines. Garnet is a type of mineral that is very hard. People have been mining garnet here since 1878. Henry Hudson Barton started the first garnet mine. He used the garnet as a rough material for making sandpaper.
The special rock found at Gore Mountain that contains these garnets is called the Gore Mountain Garnet unit. It is a type of rock known as garnet amphibolite.
