Denali Gets Renamed and now Has a New Height

Blaine Horner of CompassData probed the snow pack at the highest point in North America.  The tallest mountain in North America lost a bit of stature — 10 feet.

Acording to the New York Times Denali got officially renamed and now has a New Height, read the following info from their site:

This week, the tallest mountain in North America not only was renamed, but also lost a bit of stature — 10 feet. The United States Geological Survey announced on Wednesday that the official height of Denali, the Alaskan mountain formerly known as Mount McKinley, is 20,310 feet. Previously, it was listed at 20,320 feet.

The mountain itself has not shrunk, of course. The old elevation was measured in 1953 using optical surveying techniques, and the new elevation reflects the refining of technology over the decades.

In some respects, the new number marks a rebound. Two years ago, sophisticated airborne radar measurements by the geological survey suggested that Denali was only 20,237 feet tall, a downward revision of 83 feet. However, while radar excels at revealing the patterns of topography, it does not precisely measure the elevation of specific spots, especially in steep terrain, and the official elevation remained at 20,320 feet.

To come up with a conclusive height, a team of four scientists climbed to the summit in June carrying GPS equipment. “We wanted to be as accurate as possible,” said Mark Newell, a spokesman for the geological survey, which is now updating brochures, signs and other materials.