Washington
Washington’s tallest mountain is shrinking with age
In a discovery that has literally changed the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, Mount Rainier—Washington state’s towering icon—has been found to be shorter than previously known.
A local scientist and mountaineer has confirmed that the volcano’s famous summit point has shifted and shrunk, marking a significant change in the mountain’s geography.
The discovery was made following a recent expedition to the summit by Eric Gilbertson, a teaching professor in mechanical engineering at Seattle University.
“Mt Rainier is the tallest peak in Washington, the most topographically prominent peak in the contiguous US, and the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous US,” Gilbertson wrote in a blog post.
“The peak is very significant in Washington—it is easily visible from Seattle on a clear day, and its picture is even on the state license plate and the state quarter. Some people refer to it simply as ‘The Mountain.’”
Jennifer J Taylor/Getty
Using survey-grade GPS units borrowed from his university’s civil engineering department, Gilbertson found that the mountain’s official summit, known as Columbia Crest, is no longer the highest point on Mount Rainier.
On August 28, precise measurements revealed that Columbia Crest stands at 14,389.2 feet, while the southwest crater rim reaches 14,399.6 feet. This means Mount Rainier is approximately 10 feet shorter than its historically recorded height of 14,410 feet, which was first measured by triangulation in 1914 and officially established in 1956.
In total, the Columbia Crest has shrunk by 21.8 feet since 1998.
The reason for the shrinkage is relatively simple: ice is melting. “The summit area of Mt Rainier has a crater rim that melts out to rock every summer, but there has historically been a permanent dome of ice on the west edge of the rim,” Gilbertson said.
That ice dome is the Columbia Crest. Official measurements of a permanent ice cap such as this are usually made in late summer, when the ice cap is at its lowest point. Gilbertson added: “Measuring at this time of year ensures seasonal snow does not count towards the summit elevation.”
Gilbertson’s discovery came as part of his ongoing personal project to measure the exact heights of Cascade peaks, which he began in 2022. Reports from mountain guides who noticed that Columbia Crest, traditionally the summit where climbers pose for photos and plant their ice axes in triumph, no longer felt like the highest point sparked this particular expedition.
Despite their remarkable accuracy—the measurements have an error of just 0.1 feet—these new heights aren’t official just yet. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) still lists Mt Rainier as being 14,410 feet on its website.
Newsweek reached out to the USGS for comment via email outside of business hours.
Gilbertson didn’t point to a specific cause behind the shrinking, but climate change could play a key role. The mountain has undergone dramatic changes over the past century, with 42 percent of its glacier ice vanishing since 1896. At least one glacier has completely disappeared.
Based on his calculations, Gilbertson estimates that the southwest crater rim surpassed Columbia Crest as the highest point around 2014, a high-water mark in the mountain’s ongoing transformation.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about mountains? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Washington
Iran warns Washington it will retaliate against any attack
DUBAI, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Iran warned President Donald Trump on Sunday that any U.S. attack would lead to Tehran striking back against Israel and regional U.S. military bases as “legitimate targets”, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told parliament.
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Washington
Washington National Opera cuts ties with the Kennedy Center after longstanding partnership | CNN Politics
The Washington National Opera on Friday announced it is parting ways with the Kennedy Center after more than a decade with the arts institution.
“Today, the Washington National Opera announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity,” the opera said in a statement.
The decoupling marks another high-profile withdrawal since President Donald Trump and his newly installed board of trustees instituted broad thematic and cosmetic changes to the building, including renaming the facility “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
The opera said it plans to “reduce its spring season and relocate performances to new venues.”
A source familiar with the dynamic told CNN the decision to part ways was made by the opera’s board and its leadership, and that the decision was not mutual.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said in a statement, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship. We believe this represents the best path forward for both organizations and enables us to make responsible choices that support the financial stability and long-term future of the Trump Kennedy Center.”
Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell, who was appointed by Trump’s hand-picked board, said on X, “Having an exclusive relationship has been extremely expensive and limiting in choice and variety.”
Grenell added, “Having an exclusive Opera was just not financially smart. And our patrons clearly wanted a refresh.”
Since taking the reins at the center, Grenell has cut existing staff, hired political allies and mandated a “break-even policy” for every performance.
The opera said the new policy was a factor in its decision to leave the center.
“The Center’s new business model requires productions to be fully funded in advance—a requirement incompatible with opera operations,” the opera said.
Francesca Zambello, the opera’s artistic director, said she is “deeply saddened to leave The Kennedy Center.”
“In the coming years, as we explore new venues and new ways of performing, WNO remains committed to its mission and artistic vision,” she said.
The New York Times first reported the opera’s departure.
Founded in 1956 as the “Opera Society of Washington,” the group has performed across the district, taking permanent residency in the Kennedy Center in 2011.
The performing arts center has been hit with a string of abrupt cancellations from artists in recent weeks including the jazz group The Cookers and New York City-based dance company Doug Varone and Dancers who canceled their performances after Trump’s name was added to the center – a living memorial for assassinated President John F. Kennedy.
The American College Theater Festival voted to suspend its relationship with the Kennedy Center, calling the affiliation “no longer viable” and citing concerns over a misalignment of the group’s values.
American banjo player Béla Fleck withdrew his upcoming performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, saying that performing at the center has become “charged and political.”
The Brentano String Quartet, who canceled their February 1 performance at the Kennedy Center, said they will “regretfully forego performing there.”
CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center on the additional cancellations.
The opera said, “The Board and management of the company wish the Center well in its own future endeavors.”
CNN’s Betsy Klein and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.
Washington
Andre Washington’s 20 points help Eastern Illinois take down Tennessee Tech 71-61
CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Andre Washington had 20 points in Eastern Illinois’ 71-61 victory over Tennessee Tech on Thursday.
Washington shot 8 for 13, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc for the Panthers (5-10, 2-3 Ohio Valley Conference). Meechie White added 13 points and four steals. Kooper Jacobi finished with 11 points and added seven rebounds.
The Golden Eagles (6-10, 1-4) were led in scoring by Jah’Kim Payne, who finished with 11 points. Tennessee Tech also got 10 points from Mekhi Turner.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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