Vertical Drop

[trackbiker]

You are making a HUGE assumption about the reliability of those maps.

 

Maps like that for our house show markedly different altitudes from measurements taken both with an altimeter and three different GPS units. Over 100 feet off. Those maps don't take into account minor bumps on a ridge very well, for instance. They only look at the "big picture".

 

I also notice that NONE of the PA mountains are "verified". See other sections of the country for the check marks next to the listing.

 

The USGS maps are actually very accurate. If you are refering to the Google terrain maps you are correct. I don't know how their program works but they tend to "flatten" mountains. The bottom altitudes are usually pretty close but the top of the mountains are generally listed as lower than the actual altitude. You're right that the maps often miss little "bumps" but they always include the highest point on a mountain. I had to zoom out in a lot of cases to include the top and bottom of the ski area and the altitude lines. The USGS maps have been updated over the years as technology improves but the corrections have usually been pretty small. If you've ever seen one of those round brass markers at the top of a mountain, they're the guys that put it there as a reference point.

You're right about the mountains not being verified. What's the point of that website if they're just going to copy what the areas trail map or website says?

[sibhusky]

Well, CONTACT THEM. They've got a link to do that and in fact have been on Epic responding to changes there.

[trackbiker]

Well, CONTACT THEM. They've got a link to do that and in fact have been on Epic responding to changes there.

 

Good point. They do seem pretty open minded. I think they are looking for this kind of info. I do disagree with their Killington vertical. While most regulars don't do it, you can ski the whole vertical without stopping. I do it every time I ski there. If you pick some alternate trails from Great Eastern it's a fun run and you can ski it pretty fast. My friends always complain that I do it without stopping. That's the only way I want to do it. Haven't been there since the new owners took over and realigned some trails but I think you can still do it without poling. Hope to get back there this year.

[phillycore]

I've got 9 of the top (until color change) and can make it 11 if I go to Sugarbush and Whiteface....but quite honestly, I could care less about vert.