Top 144 highest ups (NOBO)

[peter lechthoff]

I walked the (AT Center)line on Google Earth during the last weeks and regsitered all ups and downs of 5 meters (16,4 feet) ore more.
Found 867 ups bigger than 164 feet (50 mts) - or 763 ups, if you allow one down up to 32,4 feet (10 mts) and noted down the elevation at each 1/16 mile.
So - if the Centerline is right, Google Earth works fine and I didn't commit many errors - I got quite good numbers about the major ups and their steepness.
'Arrived' at Mt. Katahdin last Sunday, so first I finished my list about the elevation gain, length and steepness of the ups bigger than 679 feet (which is
the elevation gain of Sassafras Mtn., Ga - Day 2).

State	toward	gain (in feet)	distance (in miles)	average (in %)
ME	Mt. Katahdin	4209	4,95	16,1
NH	Mt. Mosilauke	3622	4,89	14,0
NH	Little Haystack	2848	2,71	19,9
VA	Bald Knob	2818	5,05	10,6
ME	Horns Pond Trail	2067	2,43	16,1
VA	Chestnut Knob Sh.	2057	4,27	9,1
ME	Saddleback Mtn.	2047	3,02	12,8
MA	Saddle Ball Mtn.	1955	3,80	9,7
NH	South Kinsman Mtn.	1952	2,12	17,4
VT	Cooper Lodge	1942	3,14	11,7
ME	South Crocker Mtn.	1893	2,08	17,2
NH	Wildcat Mtn. Peak D	1877	1,14	31,2
TN/NC	Shuckstack	1837	3,02	11,5
VT	Stratton Mtn.	1736	3,69	8,9
TN/NC	Pond Flats	1729	2,16	15,2
VA	Laurel Creek Sh.	1726	2,69	12,1
NH	Webster Cliffs	1719	1,55	21,0
ME	Gulf Hages Mtn.	1667	4,33	7,3
TN/NC	Camp Creek Bald	1601	2,48	12,2
VT	Bromley Mtn.	1575	3,04	9,8
VA	Big Rocky Row	1568	2,19	13,6
NH	Carter Dome	1542	1,06	27,5
VA	Audie Murphy Mon.	1526	2,40	12,0
MA	Eph's Lookout	1506	2,57	11,1
VA	Ribble Trail	1467	3,57	7,8
ME	Mahoosuc Arm	1463	1,07	25,9
TN/NC	Ash Gap	1460	1,58	17,5
NH	South Twin Mtn.	1394	1,09	24,2
VA	Whitetop Mtn.	1378	1,99	13,1
ME	Moxie Bald Mtn.	1371	2,02	12,8
VT	Melville Nauheim Sh.	1335	1,99	12,7
VA	Bailey Gap Sh.	1332	2,37	10,6
NH	Smarts Mtn.	1266	1,39	17,2
NH	Holts Lodge	1237	1,49	15,7
ME	Barren Mtn.	1237	1,25	18,7
ME	Moody Mtn.	1230	0,98	23,8
NC	Swim Bald	1184	1,76	12,7
VA	Harpers Creek Sh.	1164	1,64	13,4
VT	Bear Mtn.	1135	1,73	12,4
NH	Mt. Washington	1135	1,24	17,3
PA	out of Lehigh Gap	1132	1,75	12,2
ME	Pleasant Pond Mtn.	1125	0,98	21,7
ME	Baldplate LT	1122	1,28	16,6
TN/NC	Snowbird Mtn.	1112	1,63	12,9
VA	Floyd Mtn.	1106	1,61	13,0
GA	Standing Indian Mtn.	1102	2,47	8,4
ME	Old Blue Mtn.	1102	0,85	24,5
PA	Tri-Country Corner	1086	2,25	9,1
TN/NC	Unaka Mtn.	1083	1,52	13,5
ME	Baldplate Mtn.	1076	0,74	27,5
GA	Rocky Mtn.	1063	1,40	14,4
VA	Rice Field Sh.	1063	1,72	11,7
NH	Ore Hill Sh.	1047	2,45	8,1
NH	Mt. Haughes	1030	1,65	11,8
TN/NC	Lovers Leap Rock	1024	1,65	11,7
PA	Chimney Rocks	1014	2,24	8,6
TN/NC	Bluft Mtn.	1010	1,66	11,5
VA	Fork Mtn.	1010	1,26	15,2
VA	Apple Orchard Mtn.	1010	1,64	11,7
VA	Mc Afee Knob	1007	1,64	11,6
ME	Lone Mtn.	997	1,12	16,9
MD	Ed Carvey Sh.	988	2,19	8,5
PA	Stony Mtn.	984	1,98	9,4
NH	Max Mtn.	968	1,54	11,9
VT	Styles Peak	961	1,57	11,6
NC	Cold Spring Sh.	958	1,86	9,8
NH	Dream Lake	955	1,45	12,5
VA	Big Walker Mtn.	932	1,91	9,2
VA	Hightop Mtn.	932	1,80	9,8
ME	Moxie Pond	932	0,96	18,4
VA	Sarver Hollow Sh.	925	1,19	14,7
NJ	Wawayanda Mtn.	919	1,43	12,2
ME	Bemis Range West Peak	919	1,12	15,5
VA	Hogback Third Peak	912	1,96	8,8
VA	Mosby Campsite	902	2,07	8,2
TN/NC	Roan High Knob Sh.	879	0,84	19,8
VA	Pocosin Cabin	873	1,99	8,3
NH	Mt. Mariah	863	1,05	15,6
NH	Firewarden's Cabin	860	0,80	20,4
NH	Mt. Wolf	860	0,76	21,4
ME	Wyman Mtn.	853	1,58	10,2
GA	Tray Mtn.	850	1,47	10,9
VA	Manassas Gap Sh.	846	1,45	11,0
PA	William Penn Sh.	843	1,39	11,5
VA	Three Ridges	837	1,11	14,3
NH	Mt. Garfield	837	0,87	18,2
TN/NC	Frozen Knob	833	1,52	10,4
GA	Kelly Knob	830	0,93	16,9
MA	Beckett Mtn.	823	1,42	11,0
TN/NC	Walnut Mtn. Sh.	817	1,34	11,5
VA	Pass Mtn.	817	1,96	7,9
NH	Mt. Success	814	0,52	29,6
TN/NC	Little Hump Mtn.	807	1,57	9,7
NC	Wayah Bald Sh.	804	1,34	11,4
TN/NC	Big Bald	804	1,50	10,1
ME	Wyman Mtn.	794	2,04	7,4
ME	Spauling Mtn.	794	0,80	18,8
GA	Blood Mtn. Sh.	791	1,79	8,4
VA	Little Roundtop Mtn.	784	1,48	10,0
NH	Mt. Wolf	781	1,04	14,2
VA	Blackrock	778	1,17	12,6
VA	Floyd Mtn.	774	0,96	15,3
NH	Mt. Haughes	774	0,98	15,0
TN/NC	Brown Gap	771	1,76	8,3
TN/NC	Vandeventer Sh.	768	0,74	19,6
ME	Lone Mtn.	764	1,20	12,1
NC	Wesser Bald	761	1,37	10,5
TN/NC	Max Patch Rd.	761	0,91	15,8
TN/NC	Curley Maple Gap Sh.	755	1,40	10,2
VT	Quimby Mtn.	755	0,81	17,6
PA	Tuscarora Trail	752	2,25	6,3
ME	Hay Mtn.	752	0,64	22,2
VA	Lewis Mtn.	748	1,55	9,1
VA	The Priest	745	1,39	10,1
CT	Pine Knob Loop Trail	745	1,37	10,3
ME	Roundtop Mtn.	745	1,55	9,1
PA	Old Pa. Rd.	741	1,01	13,9
VT	Ed's Spring	741	1,28	11,0
TN/NC	Spencer Field Sh.	732	1,76	7,9
MA	Mt. Everett	728	0,67	20,6
GA	Levelland Mtn.	722	1,25	10,9
NH	Little Haystack	719	1,07	12,7
NJ	Sunfish Pond	709	2,50	5,4
TN/NC	Little Laurel Sh.	699	0,89	14,9
PA	Sandy Sod Jct.	699	1,73	7,6
ME	Nesuntabent Mtn.	699	0,71	18,6
NC	Winding Stair Gap	696	1,58	8,3
VA	Brushy Mtn.	696	1,43	9,2
VA	Bland	692	1,49	8,8
ME	Barren Mtn.	692	0,87	15,1
TN/NC	No Business Knob Sh.	686	1,16	11,2
NY	Island Pond Outlet	686	0,95	13,7
ME	White Cap Mtn.	686	1,18	11,0
VT	Clarendon Sh.	682	0,69	18,7
GA	Sassafras Mtn.	679	1,00	12,9
CT	Lions Head	679	1,34	9,6
VA	Rice Field Sh.	673	0,82	15,5
ME	Goose Eye Mtn.	673	0,72	17,7
NC	Cheoah Bald	669	1,14	11,1
NY	Hosner Mtn. Rd.	669	1,37	9,2
NC	Brown Fork Gap Sh.	663	0,61	20,6
MA	East Mtn.	659	0,88	14,2
NH	Hexacuba Sh.	659	0,83	15,0
VT	Cloudland Rd.	656	0,86	14,4

Didn't succeed to download the excel file, so just copied it.
































































































I hope I will suceed to attach the excel file about the 144 ups I found!

[Half Note]

Great post. I've know I have been curious about this type of stuff just because I've never set foot on the AT. It's good to know a little bit about what I'm up against. Thanks for sharing!

[kayak karl]

some of these are back to back in the same day so a little misleading, but nice list.

[Second Half]

I walked the (AT Center)line on Google Earth

Call me a techno-dummy but what does this mean and how do you do it?

[Malto]

Great list! Standing Indian Mtn is in NC, unless there is another in GA that I'm not aware of. I may find it on my hike/run tomorrow!

[GA/MEon14]

I wish sassafras mtn was higher on the list. That mountain kicked my ass!

[bflorac]

Nice list!
While not on the list, I have fond memories of final accent along the cliffs and up to the top of Albert Mountain.

[peter lechthoff]

Thank you! sure, you're right: Standing Indian Mtn. is in NC! I found another error of mine: where it says: Wayah Bald Sh. it should be Wayah Bald.

[peter lechthoff]

hi bflorac, the final ascent to Albert Mtn. Firetower is not high enough to enter in the list (417 feet), but it's really steep: was my champion in the category 'steepest quarter mile' until New Hampshire.
394 feet up in a 1/4 mile means an average ascent of 30 %!!!

[Kerosene]

Sometimes the perceived difficulty depends on how you feel. The NOBO climb out of Tesnatee Gap in GA felt a lot worse than the climb of Sassafras, and Kelly Knob was worse yet. At Tesnatee I was dehydrated; I hit Sassafras just after lunch; and it started raining just as I bypassed a hiker feed and started to climb Kelly Knob with an empty stomach towards the end of a fast 18-mile day.

Note that there are two entries for Little Haystack. I didn't find that ascent, starting out at Liberty Spring, to be nearly as difficult as the prior morning's ascent of South Kinsman. My next section hike starts NOBO from Pinkham Notch, where I start out ascending Wildcat with its 31.2% grade, followed soon thereafter with Carter Dome at 27.5%. I don't mind climbing, but anything over a mile at a 20%+ incline on your first day out is daunting.

[peter lechthoff]

Hi kerosene, I totally agree with you that there are a lot of factors that determine the difficulty of an ascent. But two factors always stay the same: steepness and length.

Out of Tesnatee Gap is the steepest climb (22,6 %) I found in Georgia, but not long enough (417 ft) to enter in the list above.

The second entry for Little Haystack is close to the end of the list (719 ft-12,7 %), much less steep than the first and long one (19,9 %).

The steepest part I found was between Pinkham Notch and Wilcat Mtn. Peak D, exactly where you will start your next hike. When I measured it, I measured it three times, because I didn't believe the numbers: 781 ft. in a 1/4 mile (59,5 %), the second 'best' was to Carter Dome (558 ft - 42,5 %). And both on the same day!!! Good luck and tell me how you made it!

[Driver8]

Did you do this exercise SOBO, Peter? It will give different and interesting results if you have the time. If you do Connecticut's Bear Mtn from the Sages Ravine brook crossing to summit, it's about 1.2 miles with a 900 foot climb, approximately 15%, but the hardest part of it, the last quarter mile, climbs about 500 feet, with stretches at 50% or so. It's a Bear, alright. You'll also see the northside of the Greylock Range as the toughie it is, Jug End in SW Mass also. Everett's grade is mellower SOBO, though the net climb is higher.

I speak of the parts of the trail I know best. Would be interesting to see the results.

[qipao]

I'm going crazy watching so much data.You're amazing.I guess you must be certain math is very sensitive and very cautious.
qipao

[ChinMusic]

I'd like to see it in the order of slope. Slope gets me more than total climb.

[colorado_rob]

I'd like to see it in the order of slope. Slope gets me more than total climb.

Cool post, thenks Peter!

Here ya go, just copy Mr. Lechtoff's table into Excel, re-sort on the last column (the % grade, but first you have to replace the commas with periods, at least on my US version of Excel). I also added a grade angle in the last column. I think better in grade angle than percent. Of course these slope angles are only for the top 144 elevation gainers, but I find it interesting which states dominate the top, even more so than just with total gain sorting

State	toward	gain (in feet)	distance (in miles)	average (in %)	average (Degrees)
NH	Wildcat Mtn. Peak D	1877	1.1	31.2	17.3
NH	Mt. Success	814	0.5	29.6	16.5
NH	Carter Dome	1542	1.1	27.5	15.4
ME	Baldplate Mtn.	1076	0.7	27.5	15.4
ME	Mahoosuc Arm	1463	1.1	25.9	14.5
ME	Old Blue Mtn.	1102	0.9	24.5	13.8
NH	South Twin Mtn.	1394	1.1	24.2	13.6
ME	Moody Mtn.	1230	1.0	23.8	13.4
ME	Hay Mtn.	752	0.6	22.2	12.5
ME	Pleasant Pond Mtn.	1125	1.0	21.7	12.2
NH	Mt. Wolf	860	0.8	21.4	12.1
NH	Webster Cliffs	1719	1.6	21.0	11.9
MA	Mt. Everett	728	0.7	20.6	11.6
NC	Brown Fork Gap Sh.	663	0.6	20.6	11.6
NH	Firewarden's Cabin	860	0.8	20.4	11.5
NH	Little Haystack	2848	2.7	19.9	11.3
TN/NC	Roan High Knob Sh.	879	0.8	19.8	11.2
TN/NC	Vandeventer Sh.	768	0.7	19.6	11.1
ME	Spauling Mtn.	794	0.8	18.8	10.6
ME	Barren Mtn.	1237	1.3	18.7	10.6
VT	Clarendon Sh.	682	0.7	18.7	10.6
ME	Nesuntabent Mtn.	699	0.7	18.6	10.5
ME	Moxie Pond	932	1.0	18.4	10.4
NH	Mt. Garfield	837	0.9	18.2	10.3
ME	Goose Eye Mtn.	673	0.7	17.7	10.0
VT	Quimby Mtn.	755	0.8	17.6	10.0
TN/NC	Ash Gap	1460	1.6	17.5	9.9
NH	South Kinsman Mtn.	1952	2.1	17.4	9.9
NH	Mt. Washington	1135	1.2	17.3	9.8
ME	South Crocker Mtn.	1893	2.1	17.2	9.8
NH	Smarts Mtn.	1266	1.4	17.2	9.8
ME	Lone Mtn.	997	1.1	16.9	9.6
GA	Kelly Knob	830	0.9	16.9	9.6
ME	Baldplate LT	1122	1.3	16.6	9.4
ME	Mt. Katahdin	4209	5.0	16.1	9.1
ME	Horns Pond Trail	2067	2.4	16.1	9.1
TN/NC	Max Patch Rd.	761	0.9	15.8	9.0
NH	Holts Lodge	1237	1.5	15.7	8.9
NH	Mt. Mariah	863	1.1	15.6	8.9
ME	Bemis Range West Peak	919	1.1	15.5	8.8
VA	Rice Field Sh.	673	0.8	15.5	8.8
VA	Floyd Mtn.	774	1.0	15.3	8.7
TN/NC	Pond Flats	1729	2.2	15.2	8.6
VA	Fork Mtn.	1010	1.3	15.2	8.6
ME	Barren Mtn.	692	0.9	15.1	8.6
NH	Mt. Haughes	774	1.0	15.0	8.5
NH	Hexacuba Sh.	659	0.8	15.0	8.5
TN/NC	Little Laurel Sh.	699	0.9	14.9	8.5
VA	Sarver Hollow Sh.	925	1.2	14.7	8.4
GA	Rocky Mtn.	1063	1.4	14.4	8.2
VT	Cloudland Rd.	656	0.9	14.4	8.2
VA	Three Ridges	837	1.1	14.3	8.1
NH	Mt. Wolf	781	1.0	14.2	8.1
MA	East Mtn.	659	0.9	14.2	8.1
NH	Mt. Mosilauke	3622	4.9	14.0	8.0
PA	Old Pa. Rd.	741	1.0	13.9	7.9
NY	Island Pond Outlet	686	1.0	13.7	7.8
VA	Big Rocky Row	1568	2.2	13.6	7.7
TN/NC	Unaka Mtn.	1083	1.5	13.5	7.7
VA	Harpers Creek Sh.	1164	1.6	13.4	7.6
VA	Whitetop Mtn.	1378	2.0	13.1	7.5
VA	Floyd Mtn.	1106	1.6	13.0	7.4
TN/NC	Snowbird Mtn.	1112	1.6	12.9	7.4
GA	Sassafras Mtn.	679	1.0	12.9	7.4
ME	Saddleback Mtn.	2047	3.0	12.8	7.3
ME	Moxie Bald Mtn.	1371	2.0	12.8	7.3
VT	Melville Nauheim Sh.	1335	2.0	12.7	7.2
NC	Swim Bald	1184	1.8	12.7	7.2
NH	Little Haystack	719	1.1	12.7	7.2
VA	Blackrock	778	1.2	12.6	7.2
NH	Dream Lake	955	1.5	12.5	7.1
VT	Bear Mtn.	1135	1.7	12.4	7.1
TN/NC	Camp Creek Bald	1601	2.5	12.2	7.0
PA	out of Lehigh Gap	1132	1.8	12.2	7.0
NJ	Wawayanda Mtn.	919	1.4	12.2	7.0
VA	Laurel Creek Sh.	1726	2.7	12.1	6.9
ME	Lone Mtn.	764	1.2	12.1	6.9
VA	Audie Murphy Mon.	1526	2.4	12.0	6.8
NH	Max Mtn.	968	1.5	11.9	6.8
NH	Mt. Haughes	1030	1.7	11.8	6.7
VT	Cooper Lodge	1942	3.1	11.7	6.7
VA	Rice Field Sh.	1063	1.7	11.7	6.7
TN/NC	Lovers Leap Rock	1024	1.7	11.7	6.7
VA	Apple Orchard Mtn.	1010	1.6	11.7	6.7
VA	Mc Afee Knob	1007	1.6	11.6	6.6
VT	Styles Peak	961	1.6	11.6	6.6
TN/NC	Shuckstack	1837	3.0	11.5	6.6
TN/NC	Bluft Mtn.	1010	1.7	11.5	6.6
PA	William Penn Sh.	843	1.4	11.5	6.6
TN/NC	Walnut Mtn. Sh.	817	1.3	11.5	6.6
NC	Wayah Bald Sh.	804	1.3	11.4	6.5
TN/NC	No Business Knob Sh.	686	1.2	11.2	6.4
MA	Eph's Lookout	1506	2.6	11.1	6.3
NC	Cheoah Bald	669	1.1	11.1	6.3
VA	Manassas Gap Sh.	846	1.5	11.0	6.3
MA	Beckett Mtn.	823	1.4	11.0	6.3
VT	Ed's Spring	741	1.3	11.0	6.3
ME	White Cap Mtn.	686	1.2	11.0	6.3
GA	Tray Mtn.	850	1.5	10.9	6.2
GA	Levelland Mtn.	722	1.3	10.9	6.2
VA	Bald Knob	2818	5.1	10.6	6.1
VA	Bailey Gap Sh.	1332	2.4	10.6	6.1
NC	Wesser Bald	761	1.4	10.5	6.0
TN/NC	Frozen Knob	833	1.5	10.4	5.9
CT	Pine Knob Loop Trail	745	1.4	10.3	5.9
ME	Wyman Mtn.	853	1.6	10.2	5.8
TN/NC	Curley Maple Gap Sh.	755	1.4	10.2	5.8
TN/NC	Big Bald	804	1.5	10.1	5.8
VA	The Priest	745	1.4	10.1	5.8
VA	Little Roundtop Mtn.	784	1.5	10.0	5.7
VT	Bromley Mtn.	1575	3.0	9.8	5.6
NC	Cold Spring Sh.	958	1.9	9.8	5.6
VA	Hightop Mtn.	932	1.8	9.8	5.6
MA	Saddle Ball Mtn.	1955	3.8	9.7	5.5
TN/NC	Little Hump Mtn.	807	1.6	9.7	5.5
CT	Lions Head	679	1.3	9.6	5.5
PA	Stony Mtn.	984	2.0	9.4	5.4
VA	Big Walker Mtn.	932	1.9	9.2	5.3
VA	Brushy Mtn.	696	1.4	9.2	5.3
NY	Hosner Mtn. Rd.	669	1.4	9.2	5.3
VA	Chestnut Knob Sh.	2057	4.3	9.1	5.2
PA	Tri-Country Corner	1086	2.3	9.1	5.2
VA	Lewis Mtn.	748	1.6	9.1	5.2
ME	Roundtop Mtn.	745	1.6	9.1	5.2
VT	Stratton Mtn.	1736	3.7	8.9	5.1
VA	Hogback Third Peak	912	2.0	8.8	5.0
VA	Bland	692	1.5	8.8	5.0
PA	Chimney Rocks	1014	2.2	8.6	4.9
MD	Ed Carvey Sh.	988	2.2	8.5	4.9
GA	Standing Indian Mtn.	1102	2.5	8.4	4.8
GA	Blood Mtn. Sh.	791	1.8	8.4	4.8
VA	Pocosin Cabin	873	2.0	8.3	4.7
TN/NC	Brown Gap	771	1.8	8.3	4.7
NC	Winding Stair Gap	696	1.6	8.3	4.7
VA	Mosby Campsite	902	2.1	8.2	4.7
NH	Ore Hill Sh.	1047	2.5	8.1	4.6
VA	Pass Mtn.	817	2.0	7.9	4.5
TN/NC	Spencer Field Sh.	732	1.8	7.9	4.5
VA	Ribble Trail	1467	3.6	7.8	4.5
PA	Sandy Sod Jct.	699	1.7	7.6	4.3
ME	Wyman Mtn.	794	2.0	7.4	4.2
ME	Gulf Hages Mtn.	1667	4.3	7.3	4.2
PA	Tuscarora Trail	752	2.3	6.3	3.6
NJ	Sunfish Pond	709	2.5	5.4	3.1

[max patch]

I don't know how this data was collected, but from the Nantahala River to Cheoah Bald its a 3,319 climb over 8.1 miles.

[colorado_rob]

I don't know how this data was collected, but from the Nantahala River to Cheoah Bald its a 3,319 climb over 8.1 miles.

I think the OP was only quoting the more localize elevation gains... the longest mileage in his table is 5 miles.