Mount Rainier Elevation Survey 2024

TL;DR

Recent ground surveys and LiDAR data reveal that Mount Rainier's highest point has shifted from Columbia Crest to the Southwest Rim, with a new elevation of approximately 14,399.6 feet NGVD29.

Contribution

This study provides the first updated elevation and summit location of Mount Rainier since 2010, using multiple ground survey methods and corroborating historical data.

Findings

Columbia Crest has lost 21.8 feet of elevation since 1998.

The summit has shifted from Columbia Crest to the Southwest Rim.

The new summit elevation is approximately 14,399.6 feet NGVD29.

Abstract

The elevation of Mount Rainier was last surveyed in 2010 by the Land Surveyors Association of Washington. More recent LiDAR data and observational reports have indicated that the historical highest point on the mountain, Columbia Crest, has lost a significant amount of elevation and may no longer be the highest point. This report documents the results of multiple ground surveys conducted in August and September 2024 to determine the current elevation of Columbia Crest and the current elevation and location of the summit of Mt Rainier. On August 28, 2024, a Promark 220 differential GPS unit was used to measure the elevation of Columbia Crest and the Southwest Rim, two recognized historical local maxima on the rim of the summit caldera. Columbia Crest is a year-round ice-capped locality, while the Southwest Rim melts to rock each summer. Measurements were corroborated with Abney level measurements and LiDAR data from 2007 and 2022. On September 21 and 22, 2024, additional ground measurements were taken with the Promark 220 of the Summit 2 USGS monument location and of the highest rock on the Southwest Rim. Additionally, the three USGS monuments lower on the mountain (Muir, McClure, and Paradise) were measured. These measurements were used to corroborate the summit measurements. Monument measurements were found to be consistent with 2010 measurements. Southwest Rim summit measurements were consistent from August and September. Columbia Crest, last measured at 14,411.0ft (NGVD29) in 1998, was measured to have lost 21.8ft of elevation. Now the ice-capped Columbia Crest is no longer the summit of Mt Rainier. The summit is now on the seasonally rocky Southwest Rim, next to the Summit 2 USGS monument location. (The physical monument was not located and has likely been stolen). The new summit elevation of Mount Rainier is 14,399.6ft +/-0.1ft NGVD29 (14,406.2ft +/-0.1ft NAVD88).