Mount Bross, elevation = 14,178, prominence = 292 feet. On many fourteener lists.
El Diente Peak, elevation = 14,159 feet, prominence = 239 feet. On many fourteener lists.
Challenger Point, elevation = 14,087, prominence = 281 feet.
All numbers in the above are correct. The connecting saddles of both Bross and Challenger Point don't have fixed spot elevations. For example, the 312' prominence number on Bross comes from the fact that the connecting saddle is somewhere between the 13840 contour and the 13880 foot contour. If you simply average the two numbers you come up with 13860 feet as the possible interpolated saddle elevation, which would make Bross have 312 feet prominence. Rather than taking an average, if you use the next highest contour to meet the definition of clean prominence, Bross has a minimum of 292 feet prominence. Since the elevation of the saddle is labeled on topo maps, (assuming the contours are accurate), Bross has a prominence of anywhere from 292-332 feet. 312 is a simple average or interpolation.
See below for the definition of clean prominence and why it is different from interpolated prominence:
http://peakbagger.com/help/glossary.aspx#clean" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For a good example, see the two list below and how they differ (for example, notice the second entry on the list: South Kings Peak):
http://peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=21350
http://www.summitpost.org/list/169944/U ... nence.html
I was actually the one whom compiled the original list (which is on Summitpost) and I sent my data to Greg whom maintains Peakbagger. I use interpolated elevations for prominence (as does Gerry Roach whom the 53 14er list comes from), while Greg uses clean prominence for his elevations and thus he adjusted the list I sent him accordingly which is why they differ (352 on Greg's list vs. 372 on mine-the true figure is actually unknown, but somewhere between 352 and 392).
If you want to use the 300 foot rule for a Colorado 14er, by interpolated elevation numbers there are 53 14ers. By clean prominence elevation numbers, both Bross and Challenger Point drop off the list and there are 51 14ers. That's why the wiki list differs. Niether is really wrong or right; they are just using slightly different methods to calculate elevation prominence.
Whoa... is that variability due to winter snow, cornices, cairns, bentonite, or did the surveyor just say "close enough for government work"?
It is due to contour lines. Most 7.5 minute maps have a contour line interval of 20 or 40 feet. In flat regions some have 10 and in some steep regions it goes to 80. Unless you have a map that has either a fixed elevation at a saddle or that has contours every foot you can say that a saddle fits between contours XXXXX and XXXXX so is somewhere between elevation XXXXX and XXXXX. On most maps in Colorado, you will have a range of 40 feet.
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
