What degree of altitude dictates a 'hill' to become a "mountain"?

Question

What my husband says are hills, sure look like mountains to me!

Answer 1

It's not altitude, it's attitude - I grew up skiing on Wilmot Ski Hill in southern Wisconsin and another ski area openned on exactly the same ridge and was named Fox Mountain Skiing!

  Things that are old mountains in England, 3-4000 feet tall, would be foot hills if near the Rockies in Colorado.   The Black Hills of the Dakotas look like mountains to me.  

  And it gets more confusing when the land is at high altitude - you can go walking in several states in the US and if you see a peak and decide to climb it, you may only go up 2-3000 feet and it looks small in comparison, but at the top you are at 8-9000 feet altitude because the whole place bottoms out at 5-6000 feet - i.e. the lowest point for miles is that high.

Answer 2

You kind of answered it in your question:  The degree up a hill could be the same degree up a mountain.  In other words how steep it is might have something to do with it.  But I like my wife's answer.  She stands 4' 10"  anything she would have to walk up is a mountain to her.  I myself, mountain or hill, I wouldn't want to fall or roll off of any above 2 stories high.  Now, a mountain pertaining to God, no question, height is of no concern.  I know the mountain beside us can't compare to the Rockies or the Alps.  I sense God is in them, watching over us, and knowing that, makes it a mountain.

Answer 3

Not really sure, but I like the 500 ft. answer.

Answer 4

I agree with the answerer above I will just add a suggestion, if you get get a copy this is a nice film on the subject!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112966/comb...

http://www.amazon.com/Englishman-Went-Hi...

Answer 5

Hi there Glow Wings,

If my memory serves me... A hill (at its peak) is 500 feet; anything taller is designated as a mountain.

Answer 6

There is nothing that dictates the difference between a hill and an (mount)mountain. Usually it is based on local idiosyncrasies or local reference over time. Some say in the UK it is 3000 ft/1000m. I n Australia the use the term mount  is for anything that has a significant rise above the ground sometime only a 100-200 feet.

Learn to accept family  quirks.