Sometimes even a proud mountain peak must step down and hard over its high honors to a taller mountain. For many years, Mount Whitney of Southern California claimed the title of tallest peak in the United States. Then Alaska was admitted to the Union and with it brought Mount McKinley, highest peak on the continent of North America.

McKinley, standing aloof in the icy Alaska Range, has two peaks, lest anyone should dare to challenge its title   for both the North Peak and the South Peak are higher than any other peak on the continent. The North Peak is 20,000 feet high   some 9,000 feet  below Everest, the World’s Champ. The South Peak of McKinley is 20,320 feet above sea level   which is 5,825 feet above the crest of mount Whitney, the former Champ of the United States.