90 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



of the question in winter, and hazardous even in summer. 

 Mt. Whitney^ therefore, of all the extremely high peaks 

 on the Pacific Coast, is probably most suitable for a 

 meteorological observatory. 



All materials would have to be carried up by pack- 

 train. I made some inquiry as to prices for this work, 

 but could obtain no trustworthy estimates. 



The Elevation of Mt. Whitney. — As will be seen be- 

 low, few mountain elevations have been discussed more 

 carefully than that of Mt. Whitney. Some barometric 

 observations were made on our trip, although it was a 

 hasty one and not altogether favorable for such work. 

 Fortunately the weather conditions were very favorable. 

 The greatest care was taken by Professor J. N. Le Conte 

 and myself to read carefully, and independently of each 

 other, the heights of the mercurial column. Our chief 

 purpose was to correct the prevailing estimate of the 

 height of Mt. Whitney — viz., 14,900 feet, an elevation 

 given on most of the maps in use in California. 



Gannett, in his "Dictionary of Altitudes in the United 

 States" (third edition, 1899), gives an elevation of 14,898 

 feet, and this we believe to be erroneous. The authority 

 given is W^hitney, but I am unable to ascertain if Pro- 

 fessor Whitney made the ascent and measurement, or, as 

 chief of the Geological Survey of California, used the 

 measurement made by Carl Rabe for the survey. This 

 latter was the first measurement of Mt. Whitney. His 

 readings, as marked on the case of the mountain mercurial 

 barometer (Green No. 1554) used by him, are 17.836 

 inches, 32° ; 17.848 inches, 42°. 



The elevation deduced from the above readings was 



