Pikes Peak has a 'new height' again – and it matches a 'basic math' calculation from 1907

While most people view mountains as one of the most constant geographic features to exist, the accepted elevation of a peak can change on a fairly regularly basis. When this happens, it tends to be due to one of two factors – physical changes in the peak related to erosion or uplift or changes in the way a peak gets measured.

A much-talked about mountain for a long time, Pikes Peak has gotten plenty of attention in modern history. And perhaps a result of all that attention, it's regularly been remeasuring over the years, thus, the peak has been pinned at numerous heights.

Most recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the results of their National Geodetic Survey and 'America's Mountain' has a new height once again – but this time, they're pretty sure it's accurate.

According to the Pikes Peak Region tourism website, Zebulon Pike first estimated Pikes Peak to be 18,000 feet tall in about 1806. The peak was later estimated to be 14,500 feet during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush in 1859. By 1875, the peak was being estimated at both 14,216 feet and 14,336 feet.

Then, in 1891, with the addition of the summit house tower, the height of the peak was declared to be 14,147 feet. And by 1907, that was downgraded to 14,107 feet through the use of trigonometry, according to the Pikes Peak Region tourism company.

By 1909, the peak was calculated to be 14,109 feet, and then recalculated to be 14,110 feet in 1963.

The debate continued past 2002, which is the year the official calculation was determined to be 14,115 feet of elevation at the summit, though the US Forest Service opted to keep their calculation at 14,110 feet.

Today, the official sign at the summit says the peak is 14,115 feet – but according to new data – that's actually wrong, too.

Data recently released by NOAA using updated technology has determined the mountain is 14,107 feet tall – the same as what was calculated by using plain-old trigonometry in 1907. Thus, after much debate spanning nearly a dozen decades, we're back where we were 117 years ago.

This begs two very important questions – will the official summit sign be updated once again? And will the Pikes Peak Ascent jackets bear the newly established elevation?

See additional changes made to Colorado's fourteener heights here.