Beginning in the Spring of 2007, we have been  opportunistically  surveying high mountain summit elevations using the UAF-GI laser altimetry system. To date, we have surveyed the summits of Mt Logan, Mt Saint Elias, Mt. Vancouver (south summit), Mt. Augusta, Mt. Miller, and Mt Steller. This project is unfunded, and I very much welcome any support that can contribute to further surveys.
Technical Details: Because we are surveying with a GPS based system, our elevations are referenced to the ellipsoid (HAE). Traditional surveys such as used on all summit elevations use sea level or the geoid as the vertical reference (except the 1992 GPS survey of Mt. Logan by Mike Schmidt). To compare our summit elevations, we use a model (GEOID06) to convert our HAE values to geoid.  
  • Aircraft of choice for high altitude summit surveys: Turbine Single Otter.
  • Laser, inertial measurement unit, 5 Hz GPS, data logging computer, mounted in Otter.
  • Suspicious flight crew.
  • Mt Logan. Mike Schmidt led an expedition that carried GPS equipement to the top in 1992 and accurately surveyed the summit. 1992 Height above Geoid = 5959 m or 19,550,5 feet. 2007 Laser Height above Geoid= 5966.1 m or 19,574 feet. Because both surveys used GPS, we can also compare HAE directly: 1992 HAE = 5977.05 m or 19609.7 feet. 2007 Laser HAE = 5983.99 m or 19,632.5 feet
  • Mt Vancouver, south summit. Laser 2008 height above Geoid = 4804.5 m or 15,763 ft. USGS 1:63,000 topo map = 4870 m or 15,979 ft.
  • Mt Augusta. 2008 Laser Height above Geoid = 4238.3 or 13,905 ft. USGS topo map: 4289 m or 14,070 ft
  • Climbing up to St. Elias
  • Approaching St. Elias Summit
  • St. Elias. 2008 Laser Height above Geoid = 5495.2 m or 18,029 ft. USGS topo map = 5489 m or 18,008 ft.
  • Cold up here
  • After the survey, go down!
  • Mt. Miller, surveyed with Cessna 185. Not yet processed.
  • Mt. Steller, surveyed with Cessna 185, not yet processed.