Google Earth or USGS TOPO?

[abarnhart]

Just got into hiking peaks and, after browsing a slough of site, registered at this one. Fantastic setup and great data.

And, I have already discovered a discrepancy for a local peak between Google Earth and the appropriate quadrangle.
Red Mountain in Silver Bow County, Montana - http://listsofjohn.com/PeakStats/Climbers.php?Id=24980

Google Earth has it labeled on top of what is an unnamed and unmarked peak on LoJ (Peak 10,039) which is sandwiched between:
Unnamed 10136 - http://listsofjohn.com/PeakStats/Climbers.php?Id=24936
and
Table Mountain - http://listsofjohn.com/PeakStats/Climbers.php?Id=17587

What do I go on? I'll likely snag them all. But, for the sake of argument...

[KentonB]

abarnhart,

I'll defer to those who are more experienced, but just for clarity, even in "Terrain" view of LoJ it shows Red Mountain between Pt 10,136 & Table Mountain, while the USGS Map and MyTopo views show it to be further North along the ridgeline of those peaks. Correct? There does seem to be some disparity.

Even worse, I did a search of the USGS database, and it disagrees with it's own map! It shows Red Mountain to be in Madison County (not Silver Bow) at an elevation of 10,023, corresponding to the point between Point 10,136 & Table.

Unless the USGS database is in error, it would appear that Red Mountain would be an unranked summit between 10136 & Table in Madison County. Not sure what to do about the current Red Mountain in LoJ as it IS listed on the USGS Map & MyTopo as "Red Mountain"... and would be a ranked summit.

Thoughts from others?

[abarnhart]

Kenton,

I forgot to check the terrain view on the LoJ site and you are correct. Interestingly enough, the terrain view corresponds with Google Earth's labeling of the peaks (best I can tell).

Looks like the (slight) majority is leaning towards the 10,023 peak. But, I will also differ to those who know far more about these things than I!

Heck of a fun thing to dig though and sleuth out!

- Adam