Highest peak? Depends on the year

If you're a serious hiker, then ascending the highest mountain peak in your state — if not some lofty perches in other states as well — will be on your "to do" list. However, be aware that the highest points have changed over the years.

Now, this doesn't mean that the mountains themselves have changed much, merely man's measurements or recognition of them has.

For example, Kings Peak was not always the "highest" summit in Utah. Prior to satellite-assisted measurements in 1966, South Kings Peak, to the south, had been considered the state's tallest summit at 13,512 feet, for many years.

Hikers from the north would simply pass by today's Kings Peak, not realizing it was 16 feet higher.

But in a century ago in 1909, even South Kings Peak was undiscovered. Back then, Mount Emmons was believed to be the Beehive State's highest summit at 13,428 feet above sea level.

Today, Mount Emmons is the No. 4 peak in Utah at 13,440 feet, behind Gilbert Peak, 13,442 and the two Kings Peaks.

So, a person couldn't have knowingly climbed Utah's tallest summit until at least 43 years ago when it was finally discovered.

In 1909, only 26 (53 percent) of the 49 state/territory high points had been correctly identified or named. Just one of the 49 state high points had the precise elevation identified a century ago that it does today.

Here's a list of the highest summit in each of those 49 state/territory , according to National Geographic Magazine (Hawaii was not listed by the magazine), June 1909, followed by today's accepted correct peak and elevation (if different), listed in parenthesis. Note that some peaks weren't even named 100 years ago.

Alabama: Che-aw-ha Mountain, 2,407 feet above sea level. (Cheaha Mountain, 2,405 feet.)

Alaska: Mount McKinley, 20,300 (McKinley, 20,320 feet).

Arizona: San Francisco Peak 12,611 (Humphreys Peak, 12,633).

Arkansas: Magazine Mountain, 2,800 (Magazine at 2,753).

California: Mount Whitney 14,501 (Whitney at 14,494).

Colorado: Mount Elbert 14,436 (Mt. Elbert at 14,433).

Connecticut: Bear Mountain 2,355 (Mt. Frissell at 2,380).

Delaware: 2 summits near Brandywine, 440 feet (Elbright Azimuth, 448).

Florida: near Mount Pleasant Station, 440 (Lakewood Park, 345).

Georgia: Brasstown Bald Mountain. 4,768 (Bald at 4,784).

Idaho: Lyndman Peak 12,078 (Borah Peak, 12,662).

Illinois: Charles Mound 1,257 feet (Charles at 1,235).

Indiana: near summit, Randolph Co., 1,285 (Hoosier Highpoint, 1,257).

Iowa: 5 miles SE., of Sibley 1,670 (Hawkeye Point, 1,670).

Kansas: West boundary, north of Arkansas River 4.135 (Mount Sunflower, 4,039).

Kentucky: The Double, Harlan County, 4,100 (Black Mountain, 4, 139).

Louisiana: summits in western parishes 400 feet (Driskill Mountain, 535 feet).

Maine: Mount Katahdin (west) 5,268 (Katahdin at 5,267).