3D Color Coded Ski Maps

Tony Crocker

Tony Crocker

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Staff member
http://3dskimaps.com/

This may have been referenced before, but it's pretty good for the areas it has. Needs to be expanded, no AltaBird or anything in Canada for example.

With the colors it only takes a glance to separate the contenders (Jackson Hole, Mt. Baldy) from the pretenders (many). Notice the preponderance of green and blue at most selected eastern areas. But MRG has a definite purple tinge.

A recommended resource for steepness adjustment to Patrick's proposed project.
 
SoCal Rider":tf5yij0h said:
There's a somewhat recent discussion about the site - started by the founder - at EpicSki.
Click to expand...

I think that where I saw it, however it was in the pre-season, so it might not have been the same discussion. I recall seeing in either Epic or TGR.

Being a geographer, I was attracted by the topic.
 
SoCal Rider":15q5gxtn said:
There's a somewhat recent discussion about the site - started by the founder - at EpicSki.
Click to expand...

Here it is...

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?p=698332

Here is a quote from the creator dmgreer.

Hey, numbers don't lie! Actually, the USGS elevation data does tend to underestimate slopes greater than about 22.5 degrees (half of 45). But come on, it's Okemo! No, seriously, in my limited experience my maps do accurately characterize the nature of a ski area, for the most part.
Click to expand...
 
There is some discussion about why the data isn't perfect, specifically by one of the moderators, IIRC.

Also, anyone look at Breckenridge? No wonder it's so snowboarder-friendly. :shock:
 
A very interesting project...especially comparing relative steepness.

It most effective when the mountain is mostly trails - hence the dark 'rated' areas with light shaded woods.

However, areas with open terrain (OR the creator is less familiar with?), the result is not too useful. For example, Squaw Valley - large areas like Broken Arrow, Silverado, Headwall (Palisades, Kitchen Sink, Sun Bowl) are simply omitted/too faint. This contrasts the entire Vail Back Bowls being heavily highlighted. Furthermore, rarely opened hike-to terrain (and some out-of-bounds stuff) at A-Basin that is heavily highlighted too.

This skews the 'Blink'/quick once over color comparison.

It will be interesting to see how he handles places like Alta/Bird, Whistler, etc where almost everything is skiable.
 
http://3dskimaps.com/index.php?path=squ ... =northwest

In this map the High Camp area is the obvious green blotch in the middle. So Silverado should be the purple, red and yellow area just below and slighly left of the green. You can see mostly blue Shirley Meadows below and to the right of High Camp, then Emigrant/Granite Chief to the right of that. This map is fairly accurate in showing what's usually skiable in those areas IMHO.

It would help to have a few sector labels on the maps for orientation. The one above I could figure out fairly easily, but maybe only from skiing there many times. This one http://3dskimaps.com/index.php?path=squ ... oken_arrow is confusing at first glance even to me. The only runs on this map than are actually from Broken Arrow are the skinny orange-to-purple lines center and just above. With good coverage that area is much more expansive as ChrisC says.

This map http://3dskimaps.com/index.php?path=squ ... =southeast of the KT-22 sector is easy to recognize, but doesn't mark nearly as much East Face/Olympic Lady terrain as is actually skiable. So there is some inconsistency, though Squaw is a very difficult area to map in an informative way.

So these maps are not a good use to estimate terrain variety, though they are the best I've seen for steepness. I too eagerly await Alta/Bird and Whistler/Blackcomb.
 
Tony Crocker":sw652pk7 said:
So these maps are not a good use to estimate terrain variety, though they are the best I've seen for steepness. I too eagerly await Alta/Bird and Whistler/Blackcomb.
Click to expand...

I agree, terrain steepness is rarely seen on maps. This is also the best I've seen. I'm also eager to see ones for Alta/Bird and Whistler/Blackcomb. I would also like to see Big Sky/Moonlight, Mammoth, Lake Louise and Sunshine.

Loved the ones from the East like the Loaf, Bush and MRG. I would also love to see 3dmaps for Stowe, Smuggs and Whiteface.
 
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