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Mount Whitney (14, 497 ft.) is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. Mt. McKinley (Denali), in Alaska, is at 20, 320 ft. the tallest mountain in the US, and also the tallest in North America. Mt. Rainier, at 14, 409 is close behind Mt. Whitney.

It should be noted, however, that Whitney and Rainier are different kinds of mountains. Whitney, formed of granite, is part of the Sierra Nevada range, a result of a "fault block" that involves the tilting of a massive piece of the Earth's crust. As such, it is extremely rugged, and much steeper on the east side than on the west. On either side, it is a more difficult climb than Rainier, requiring a lot of technical work.

Mt. Rainier is a large, active volcanic cone. The most recent recorded volcanic eruption was between 1820 and 1854, but many eyewitnesses reported activity in 1858, 1870, 1879, 1882 and 1894 as well.

As of 2008, there is no evidence of an imminent eruption. However, an eruption could be devastating for all areas surrounding the volcano, which includes Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma and surrounding areas of Western Washington. Formed from lava flows, its sides are relatively shallow, smooth slopes, and it is easily climbed -- although not without risk. Glaciers, rather than walls, are its most notable obstacles.

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