The Old Man of the Mountain
In the town of Franconia, in an area known as Franconia Notch, near the top of Cannon Mountain, one used to be able to see the profile of an old man’s face. Cannon Mountain is made of granite. The “Old Man of the Mountain” was formed from five ledges of granite (look at the picture to the right and count the ledges for yourself). The Old Man looked down on Profile Lake which was 1,200 feet (320 meters) below. This interesting and unique geologic formation is 40 feet (12 m) tall and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide.
As far as is known, the very first mention of “The Old Man” in writing goes back to 1805. Daniel Webster, a famous politician and statesman of New Hampshire, made The Old Man famous with this statement: “Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men."
This unique geological formation was created by glaciers that dug through and actually created the valley. In the process, the granite walls of Cannon Mountain were ground and broken and weathered away. After the melting and retreat of the glaciers, wind, rain and ice continued to break up the large granite blocks of the mountain.
In the town of Franconia, in an area known as Franconia Notch, near the top of Cannon Mountain, one used to be able to see the profile of an old man’s face. Cannon Mountain is made of granite. The “Old Man of the Mountain” was formed from five ledges of granite (look at the picture to the right and count the ledges for yourself). The Old Man looked down on Profile Lake which was 1,200 feet (320 meters) below. This interesting and unique geologic formation is 40 feet (12 m) tall and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide.
As far as is known, the very first mention of “The Old Man” in writing goes back to 1805. Daniel Webster, a famous politician and statesman of New Hampshire, made The Old Man famous with this statement: “Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men."
This unique geological formation was created by glaciers that dug through and actually created the valley. In the process, the granite walls of Cannon Mountain were ground and broken and weathered away. After the melting and retreat of the glaciers, wind, rain and ice continued to break up the large granite blocks of the mountain.
The weathering and erosion continues to take place to this very day. You may have noticed that throughout this article the Old Man of the Mountain is referred to in the past tense: “The Old Man looked down….” Despite the use of reinforcing rods that were designed to hold The Old Man together, ice, wind and rain tore down this natural monument. On May 3, 2003, the five ledges broke away from the side of Cannon Mountain and “The Old Man” fell into the valley below. Today, if you look south down Franconia Notch, you will no longer see The Old Man of the Mountain.
For many thousands of years, the ledges of granite that made up The Old Man stood up to the geologic process known as weathering. Over your lifetime, you may not see wind, rain, sun and ice breaking up pieces of granite. But look closely at the pictures of The Old Man. His face is full of cracks. Over thousands of years, water, wind and ice push and wear on even granite - one of the toughest rocks in nature - and can eventually break tons of rock off the side of a mountain.
For many thousands of years, the ledges of granite that made up The Old Man stood up to the geologic process known as weathering. Over your lifetime, you may not see wind, rain, sun and ice breaking up pieces of granite. But look closely at the pictures of The Old Man. His face is full of cracks. Over thousands of years, water, wind and ice push and wear on even granite - one of the toughest rocks in nature - and can eventually break tons of rock off the side of a mountain.
Challenge for Young Geologists
What is weathering? How does water weather granite? How does ice weather and break down granite? How do plants and trees weather granite? Describe the weathering process as fresh granite is reduced to sand.
What is weathering? How does water weather granite? How does ice weather and break down granite? How do plants and trees weather granite? Describe the weathering process as fresh granite is reduced to sand.