During the course of research for my various historical writing endeavors, I’ve seen the elevations posted for Death Valley, Telescope Peak and Mount Whitney vary widely over the decades of the eastern Sierra Nevada newspapers, especially before 1900.
Early news accounts give Death Valley’s elevations less than -100 feet to more than -300 feet. Mount Whitney has been reported to be more than 15,000 feet. As well, it was common for the peak to be reported to be 14,494 and 14,495 simultaneously in the same time period.
I haven’t followed up on it, but in the mid 2000s, when I was still living in Big Pine, I remember a newspaper article stating that there was some evidence that White Mountain Peak (14,252’) was higher than Mount Whitney, as measured with new technology. But they left it open ended, as in no actual claim. I checked with my contacts at both Inyo National Forest and the White Mountain Research stations in Bishop and I got no answers. No denials, no confirmations. I got the impression that they were purposely being mum about it.
I am sure no one wanted to come out publicly if true, as that would definitely hurt the Lone Pine economy as well as the potential to impact traffic over the Pacific Crest Trail.
Early news accounts give Death Valley’s elevations less than -100 feet to more than -300 feet. Mount Whitney has been reported to be more than 15,000 feet. As well, it was common for the peak to be reported to be 14,494 and 14,495 simultaneously in the same time period.
I haven’t followed up on it, but in the mid 2000s, when I was still living in Big Pine, I remember a newspaper article stating that there was some evidence that White Mountain Peak (14,252’) was higher than Mount Whitney, as measured with new technology. But they left it open ended, as in no actual claim. I checked with my contacts at both Inyo National Forest and the White Mountain Research stations in Bishop and I got no answers. No denials, no confirmations. I got the impression that they were purposely being mum about it.
I am sure no one wanted to come out publicly if true, as that would definitely hurt the Lone Pine economy as well as the potential to impact traffic over the Pacific Crest Trail.
DAW
~When You Live in Nevada, "just down the road" is anywhere in the line of sight within the curvature of the earth.
~When You Live in Nevada, "just down the road" is anywhere in the line of sight within the curvature of the earth.