A Shrinking Mountain

In September mountaineer and Mechanical Engineering Assistant Teaching Professor Eric Gilbertson, PhD, made the trek up to the mountain summit to measure its peak at what is the height of its melting season.

The result of Dr. Gilbertson’s GPS measurement—the mountain is 14,399.6 feet, as measured at its Southwest rim. This is lower than the last measurement of 14,410 feet. The U.S. Geological Survey last took official measurements, around this time of the year, in 1998.

In an interview with KING 5, Dr. Gilbertson explained the process of measuring Rainier using GPS signals: “It uses base stations around the state, the Washington state reference network to track the data. So, it gets the number down to the nearest inch,” Dr. Gilbertson said. "On the Southwest rim I measured I measured 14,399.6, so about 14,400. So, that’s now the highest point I’ve measured on the mountain and that’s rock.”

Dr. Gilbertson has submitted his results to Mount Rainier National Park and is awaiting an official ruling.

Learn more about Dr. Gilbertson’s hike and the grant funding that made it possible.

Dr. Gilbertson discusses his work and the new summit measurement on KING 5 and with the Seattle Times.