It's official: Mt. Rainier is still as tall as we thought
SEATTLE -- It's official: Mt. Rainier is still as tall as the thought.
The Land Surveyor's Association of Washington set out to confirm the height of Washington's tallest peak using newer GPS technology. In 1988, Mt. Rainier was the first major peak measured by GPS and surveyors arrived at the familiar 14,411 feet height.
But recent speculation has been that the mountain may have shrunk or swollen a bit of late. So survey teams set out to remeasure the mountain again, this time taking advantage of new technology.
Their result?
"The new elevation came in at only a few inches different than the previous observations," said Larry Signani, team geodesist for all three expeditions. "The published value will remain at 14,411 feet."
For the measurement, the team of 9 surveyors carried GPS units that weighed two pounds and were able to use more than 45 satellites for tracking -- much more efficient than the 1988 measurement that required 40-pound GPS units and a team of 140 surveyors.
They did express some disappointment that one of the only two permanent survey markers on the summit was not recoverable and the other had been partially dislodged due to vandalism.
A climb team member pounded the mark back in as best they could but say the disturbance in the marker could account for the few inches' difference in the measurement this time around.
The Land Surveyor's Association of Washington set out to confirm the height of Washington's tallest peak using newer GPS technology. In 1988, Mt. Rainier was the first major peak measured by GPS and surveyors arrived at the familiar 14,411 feet height.
But recent speculation has been that the mountain may have shrunk or swollen a bit of late. So survey teams set out to remeasure the mountain again, this time taking advantage of new technology.
Their result?
"The new elevation came in at only a few inches different than the previous observations," said Larry Signani, team geodesist for all three expeditions. "The published value will remain at 14,411 feet."
For the measurement, the team of 9 surveyors carried GPS units that weighed two pounds and were able to use more than 45 satellites for tracking -- much more efficient than the 1988 measurement that required 40-pound GPS units and a team of 140 surveyors.
They did express some disappointment that one of the only two permanent survey markers on the summit was not recoverable and the other had been partially dislodged due to vandalism.
A climb team member pounded the mark back in as best they could but say the disturbance in the marker could account for the few inches' difference in the measurement this time around.
Learn about changes coming to commenting