Climbing
Colorado peak baggers must have held their collective breath as the height of all 58 of the state’s prestigious “14ers” were recently scrutinized. Reaching the summit of one of Colorado’s many peaks over 14,000 feet is a popular outdoor activity, and there would be a lot of disappointed climbers if some failed the reassessment.
The survey was the culmination of a 15-year project to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) terrain mapping accuracy. The agency incorporated sophisticated technology such as airborne laser imaging detection and ranging (LiDAR) and more advanced GPS techniques, allowing for more precise measurements. The survey actually used data from a project called Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D), which allowed for a more precise estimation of sea level, even under continents. Mountain heights that could previously be measured only within a couple of feet are now accurate to within inches.
Colorado’s rugged orthographic terrain proved to be the perfect test for the new capabilities. On average, the corrected elevations are 1.6 meters lower than their previous measurements. To the relief of many climbers, none of the peaks needed to be reclassified as less than 14 thousand feet. The rankings were, however, shuffled. Notably, Sunshine Peak, previously the shortest of them all, gains a spot, leaving Huron Peak as the lowest 14er at 14,004.1 feet. Mount Elbert, while three feet lower in this latest estimation, remains the tallest in the state.
It will be interesting to see what further surveys of other ranges reveal. California, for example, contains 15 famous 14ers, one of which is Thunderbolt Peak, which has an elevation estimated at less than three feet over 14,000. What if the more accurate technology downgrades it in a future survey? What else will the new calculations reveal about our mountains? Whatever happens, we know a lot of guidebooks will need updating!
