Iconic US mountain is shrinking, scientists warn

Call it shrinkage in Seattle.

Washington State’s towering Mount Rainier has lost about ten feet of its massive height, scientists warn.

The mountain and skyline staple, known for its peculiar cloud shapes being famously misconceived as UFO flying saucers, was reduced to 14,399.6 feet above sea-level from its previous 14,410-foot size, the Seattle Times reported.

“That’s as accurate as it gets,” mountaineer Eric Gilbertson, who made the discovery after August and September climbs, told the outlet.

“Down to the nearest inch.” 

The mountain’s newfound modesty has been brought on by the melting of frozen, glacial ice at its once-tallest peak — a stark contrast to recent scientific reports that Mount Everest is still continuing to grow.

The United States Geological Survey will further look into Gilbertson’s readings.

Mauri Pelto, a researcher keeping tabs on the frozen mountains since 1984 also warned the state’s high-up glaciers have been losing 40% of their volume.

“We’ll still have mountains; we’ll still have snow in the winter,” he said, nothing other ones around the northwest including California, and even more globally in Europe are losing glacial volume as well.

“But without the glaciers, you’ve lost an important dynamic, and the mountains will be poorer for it.” 

As far as it is, guide Justin Sackett is saying that climbing season, which usually goes from April until September has been subject to early endings in recent years due to the danger of claiming under warmer conditions.

Particularly in Mount Rainier’s North Cascades range, the future is looking flat as well.

“There aren’t very many glaciers in the North Cascades that can survive the next 30 years,” said Pelto.