Google Earth Accuracy

[BeefyBoy50]

I'm wondering how accurate google earth's vertical measurements are. On the one hand, it shows Jay Peak's summit at 3,774 feet despite countless measurements and the actual resort's website claiming that it is 3,853 feet high. On the other hand, I was looking at windham on google earth, and things seemed to add up. Windham always seemed to ski a bit short to me as compared to its "1600 foot vertical" or 1550 foot vertical on the main face, and looking at measurements on google earth, the top of the main face is 3,020 feet and the bottom of the mountain is just under 1,700 feet- so it gives a little more than 1,300 feet of vertical. Are both of these google earth measurements accurate, or one, or neither? I don't think that the 3,853 feet claim of Jay Peak would be false as its on so many websites, but google earth does seem to be accurate everywhere else.

 

[BeefyBoy50]

Jay peak is 3,858 feet* for anybody out there who's so technical to point out my earlier mistake

 

[Blizzard of Wahhs]

I know it's a bad winter but can't you at least pick up pog collecting or parkour? Seriously, who gives a ****. it's called triangular reference, take several and average them. If you're wrong then you buy the next round. Profit.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Google Earth's elevation data sometimes has a bit of innaccuracy when a peak is sharper. If you notice, Jay's summit looks more rounded than it does in reality.

 

[pro2860]

I think that many mountains overstate their vertical...I ski at Greek Peak and they state their vertical at 952'. Actual vertical is more like 750'

 

[from_the_NEK]

I think that many mountains overstate their vertical...I ski at Greek Peak and they state their vertical at 952'. Actual vertical is more like 750'

While that is common there are also inaccuracies in Google Earth's elevation data. In the Jay Peak example, USGS topo maps, and various other sources state the 3,853 elevation.

 

[Skier4life]

As long as there's a lift that takes me up there...

 

[SIKSKIER]

But I think that the inacurracies are consistant.What I mean by that is if your looking at the vertical drop of a mountain,I think its pretty close.Which brings me to something that really bugs me.Saddleback claims 2000 vertical drop.The most I can measure is 1700 ft.That's really a stretch if its accurate.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I just wanna know how much you get paid to drive around with that big camera on top of your car.