to legend, Saint Aspinquid (sometimes Aspenquid) was born in May 1588, and after converting to Christianity, spread the gospel to tribes across the continent. His funeral and burial atop Mount Agamenticus in May 1682, at which 6,712 animals were allegedly sacrificed, was allegedly attended by hundreds, even thousands, of Native Americans. Numerous people have written and questioned the legendary account, even to the point of challenging the existence of St. Aspinquid. Some have suggested the Saint is a fanciful version of real Chief Passaconaway. In the 1881 essay A Winter Drive, Seacoast literary legend Sarah Orne Jewett remarked that "...I could never trace this legend beyond a story in one of the county newspapers, and I have never heard any tradition among the people that bears the least likeness to it." A symbolic cairn on the summit stands as memorial to the Aspinquid legend. As a ski area Mount Agamenticus has the highest elevation of any hill within its distance to the ocean from Portland, Maine, to Brownsville, Texas. The ski area there, The Big A, had a 2,400 foot double chairlift, a 1,200 foot T-Bar, and a rope tow, and was supplemented with both snowmaking and night skiing. At its peak the area had nine trails spread over 500’ of vertical drop, including a mile long Beginner, two novice, two intermediate, and four Advanced. the facility had a summit lodge, complete with a ski shop and 400 car parking lot - on top the mountain, not at its base. The ski area operated from 1966 to 1974. Today Today there is a park at the summit, with a trail network covering the area. There is a large cell phone mast at the top, arrayed with various other antenna. It is one of the best places for viewing hawks in New England. Trails In addition to a road to the summit and limited parking there, the mountain has a network of trails for hiking. Its short access trail from the main parking area at the base leads to the ring trail, which in circles the mountains summit. Feeder trails off of it offer access to the top. See also St. Apenquid’s Chapel References External links Mount Agamenticus Mt. Agamenticus at Summitpost.org Mountains of York County, Maine York, Maine Wells, Maine South Berwick, Maine Ogunquit, Maine