MOUNT RAINIER IS 14,408 FEET HIGH 



COMMENT BY F. E. MATTHES 



The mountaineers of the Pacific Northwest will no 

 doubt jubilate at the above announcement by the 

 United States Geological Survey of the new figure for 

 the altitude of Mount Rainier. It places that peak 

 close to the top of the list of high mountains in the 

 United States. Mount Rainier's closest rival on the 

 Pacific coast, Mount Shasta, it so happens, has just 

 recently been beheaded by the United States Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey, and now can claim no more than 

 14,162 feet, that is, 218 feet less than it once boasted. 

 The great volcano of Puget Sound is thus left well in 

 the lead. 



A review of the different figures that have been 

 announced in the past for each of the higher peaks of 

 the United States would almost justify one to infer 

 that these summits have a peculiar habit of fluctuating 

 in height from time to time. Both Rainier and Shasta 

 have been notorious for their inconstancy ; so much so 

 indeed that it is to be feared that the public will lose 

 faith somewhat in the trustworthiness of altitude 

 determinations in general. There is good reason to 

 believe, however, that the last announcements for 

 these two peaks are not likely to be changed again. 

 About Mount Shasta, perhaps the Coast Survey is the 

 only party able to speak positively ; but as regards 

 Mount Rainier, the Geological Survey feels satisfied 

 that the new figure is the best that can be obtained 

 with modern methods and instruments. 



The elevation of Mount Whitney (14,501 ft.), it 

 may be remembered, was determined by actual leveling, 

 but such procedure would have been impossible on 

 Mount Rainier, as the most practicable route to its 

 summit leads over many miles of snow and ice, and up 

 a precipitous chute several hundred feet in height. 

 On thawing snow accurate leveling is out of the ques- 

 tion, for the instrument can not be set up so firmly that 



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