8 replies to this topic

[skierdude9450]

I was wondering if anyone knows the correct technical data for Peru Express at Keystone. I was always doubting that it was longer than Montezuma Express, and now I've proved it. I used Google Earth to determine a vertical rise of about 1530 feet, contrary to 1665 feet given by the install info. (The vertical rise I get with Google Earth tends to deviate 10-15 feet, but nothing like 150.) I also timed the loading interval and determined that it has the loading interval of 2800 p/h, which was the same loading interval as Montezuma Express. Peru Express has 142 carriers, and Montezuma has 168, so logically Peru would be the shorter of the two.

So, does anyone know the correct data for Peru Express?

This post has been edited by skierdude9450: 04 January 2008 - 12:47 PM

[Lift Kid]

I don't think you can measure length by number of carriers. The chair spacing can be different. As for PPH, sometimes the lifts aren't run at full speed.

[skierdude9450]

I also get 1643 feet for the vertical rise of Montezuma Express, when the install sheet says 1589 feet.

[Nick303]

Just an observation but A-basin crammed 180 something chairs onto the Levanee Mountain Chair. The chair spacing is extremely close.

[liftmech]

Lenawee has 50' spacing like most fixed-grip lifts. They look very close because the carriers are beefy. I don't think it's 180, though, but I could be wrong.
I have my doubts, Matt, that you've 'proved' anything. We've seen in the past that install sheets can be incorrect, but I wonder about the accuracy of figuring this out using Google earth. $0.02

[poloxskier]

Although its not exact I'll get a gps read and an altimeter read for reference tomorrow.

[DetroitSkier]

Sorry for just seeing this, skierdude9450...not on as much as I would like. I'm heading to Keystone from Michigan over President's Day weekend, and noticed the same thing you did.

I used www.gmap-pedometer.com to get both vertical rise and rough inclined length for both Peru Express and Montezuma Express. I believe the Lift Installation Surveys had the names added later by the forum's administrators, so it's possible the names were flip-flopped by accident, since they were installed the same year by the same manufacturer. If you switch the data for Peru and Montezuma, they make a lot more sense according to the data I got from GMaps.

I'm not sure that I am correct, but it seems the most plausible. Hope this helps!

[DetroitSkier]

Let me add that using GoogleEarth or GMaps-Pedometer (which uses Google and USGS technology) is not the most accurate due to earth-moving or shaping done after the topo maps were surveyed, or due to slight variations in photo and map overlays done on the websites. This is especially true for Midwest resorts, where significant earth-moving has been done to add vertical.

However, with that much of a gap, and with careful deduction, good judgments can be made using GoogleEarth. I'd say you can get it accurate to +/- 20 vertical feet a majority of the time. I think you found an error here, possibly just the name-labeling mixup on the Installation Survey.

[boardski]

liftmech, on Jan 4 2008, 07:52 PM, said:

Lenawee has 50' spacing like most fixed-grip lifts. They look very close because the carriers are beefy. I don't think it's 180, though, but I could be wrong.
I have my doubts, Matt, that you've 'proved' anything. We've seen in the past that install sheets can be incorrect, but I wonder about the accuracy of figuring this out using Google earth. $0.02

Lenawee Mtn has 161 carriers on it.