Here's a first (as far as my experience)...an airstrip shot from satellite on Google Earth that is clearly wrong. I'm assuming that whoever does the thankless job of verifying the location of the satellite photo strips missed this one. I noticed this 2 years ago when I was cruising around on GE. I thought the sat shot of Chamberlain Basin (U79) didn't look right, so I flew over it the next trip to Moose Cr. Sure enough, it is not the Chamberlain Basin airstrip. I'm not sure what airstrip it is, but it's clearly not U79, (have a look at the aerial photos on Shortfield for comparison). I sent a msg to GE, but no response and no fix.

Anyone else had this experience?

The only thing I can think of, is that the Google Earth picture is old and just hasn't been updated, yet. The strip on Google Earth doesn't show the clearcut north of the field. Do you know if those trees have been cut recently? Within the last 5 years or so? Other than that, looks like the same strip to me.

I think they are the same place. The photos on shortfield.com are much newer and a lot of trees have been removed. The strip has been extended to the west quite a ways too. The west end of the strip on Google earth is now about mid field in the Shortfield photos.

Isn't this in the Frank Church Wilderness? seems like removing all those trees would not be allowed there.

Edit: no trees removed, just a photo missmatch or something fouled up with Google earth.

Bittsel is correct. I noticed it this fall when I was showing my hunting partner where we would be headed. I didn't just type in U79, but rather zoomed in based on the general location in the state and then based on the drainages. I knew I was in the right spot on the map, but thought I was "lost" because it isn't obviously isn't chamberlain - not a complete photo anyway. If you look where the creek breaks off to head toward the Stonebraker ranch, the creek just sort of stops. Same with the west side of the main runway. If you look just to the northeast, there's another piece of the runway sorta floatin nowhere near where the secondary runway is. Fo those who aren't familiar, Chamberlain has two runways intersecting in an upside down T when viewed north up. Seem like the long one is better than 4,000ft.
Thanks for pointing it out bittsel.

Matt 7GCBC wrote:Bittsel is correct. I noticed it this fall when I was showing my hunting partner where we would be headed. I didn't just type in U79, but rather zoomed in based on the general location in the state and then based on the drainages. I knew I was in the right spot on the map, but thought I was "lost" because it isn't obviously isn't chamberlain - not a complete photo anyway. If you look where the creek breaks off to head toward the Stonebraker ranch, the creek just sort of stops. Same with the west side of the main runway. If you look just to the northeast, there's another piece of the runway sorta floatin nowhere near where the secondary runway is. Fo those who aren't familiar, Chamberlain has two runways intersecting in an upside down T when viewed north up. Seem like the long one is better than 4,000ft.
Thanks for pointing it out bittsel.

I see now. Good eye, Matt. I kind of studied the Google Earth map pretty good. I think I was concentrating in the wrong area. But then again, I never been there. After looking at the pictures on Shortfield.com and Google Earth, it will be on the top of the list of places to go next spring/summer.

Matt 7GCBC wrote:Bittsel is correct. I noticed it this fall when I was showing my hunting partner where we would be headed. I didn't just type in U79, but rather zoomed in based on the general location in the state and then based on the drainages. I knew I was in the right spot on the map, but thought I was "lost" because it isn't obviously isn't chamberlain - not a complete photo anyway. If you look where the creek breaks off to head toward the Stonebraker ranch, the creek just sort of stops. Same with the west side of the main runway. If you look just to the northeast, there's another piece of the runway sorta floatin nowhere near where the secondary runway is. Fo those who aren't familiar, Chamberlain has two runways intersecting in an upside down T when viewed north up. Seem like the long one is better than 4,000ft.
Thanks for pointing it out bittsel.

Okay I see what you're talking about. It hasn't been logged off, the photo has shifted or something on the west and north sides of the east/west runway. I'll edit my post above about removing trees in the wilderness.

This is one of those "Where's Waldo" things - now I can spend my winter looking for other aberrations like this one. BTW - I have heard it's a great place to camp. Fishing in the creek isn't great, but better in some of the lakes. Root Ranch is about 20 miles east and has a webcam, (until it gets buried by snow) - here's the link. http://flyingresortranches.com/cam/index.htm

Chamberlain is in the FCRNR Wilderness and there was a ranger stationed there for years that didn't believe airplanes belonged in non-motorized wilderness, so she made it her mission to make those that flew there feel her disdain. I heard she ticketed a guy once for shaving with an electric razor. She has retired and I understand the new ranger has a more progressive view. Just be conscious that there are those that think airplanes shouldn't have been grandfathered into the wilderness bill and can make it hard if they set their mind to it. There are noise limits that include no touch and go's and flyers do get cited for that occasionally. With that said, I have generally found the Forest Service staff to be friendly and helpful.

bittsel wrote:This is one of those "Where's Waldo" things - now I can spend my winter looking for other aberrations like this one. BTW - I have heard it's a great place to camp. Fishing in the creek isn't great, but better in some of the lakes. Root Ranch is about 20 miles east and has a webcam, (until it gets buried by snow) - here's the link. http://flyingresortranches.com/cam/index.htm

Chamberlain is in the FCRNR Wilderness and there was a ranger stationed there for years that didn't believe airplanes belonged in non-motorized wilderness, so she made it her mission to make those that flew there feel her disdain. I heard she ticketed a guy once for shaving with an electric razor. She has retired and I understand the new ranger has a more progressive view. Just be conscious that there are those that think airplanes shouldn't have been grandfathered into the wilderness bill and can make it hard if they set their mind to it. There are noise limits that include no touch and go's and flyers do get cited for that occasionally. With that said, I have generally found the Forest Service staff to be friendly and helpful.

Thanks for the heads up! When I make it up there next year, I'll do my best to be on my best behavior .

This might be some good info to include on Shortfield.com

The aerial photography used by Google Earth of Chamberlain Basin is procured and released by the Farm Service Agency, a branch of the USDA. The date of photography currently on Google Earth is 2004. I notified the FSA of the error at Chamberlain some time ago and they said the photography was "out of warranty" and there was no fixing it. The good news is that the entire state of Idaho was flown again this past summer (2009) and I have been able to look at both the Idaho and Valley county photos and am happy to report that both are of much better quality than the 2004 photography. There is no error at Chamberlain, and the Big Creek airfield is clear of clouds. A didn't see a cloud in the sky on the Valley County photo. I don't know when the current photograpy will be put up on Google Earth, but I suspect they are working on it and it won't be long. When the photography is put up and you find errors, contact the Farm Service Agency at http://www.apfo.usda.gov and they may be able to fix the error while the photography is still in warranty.

I just checked the new imaging on Google Earth, (2010), and Chamberlain Basin is still misrepresented...I sent a msg to the email address at apto/USDA. We'll see if they fix it.

If you look in the lower left corner of Google Earth, it shows the date of the photo under your cursor. Mine still shows the imagery date of June 16, 2004, so Google has not changed the photography for that area yet. Don't know when it may happen. I'm not sure that the new photography has been released to the public yet.

might be stonebreaker ranch which the ida. f and g own....