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The Chairlift Thread

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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
Lets face it, chairlifts are awesome. They make our lives as skiers so much easier and without them we'd all be a bunch of "earn your turns" TGR bro brahs (no offense to those who do prefer the backcountry mentality}
I've seen a few threads throughout the years on here about them but I thought it would be nice to have one where we can talk about all things lift related. I know a lot of people on here have been liftys and there are a few other lift mechanics on here as well.

So yea, chairlifts man. What are your favorite lifts you've ridden? Anyone's home resort putting in a new one this summer? Which ones scare the absolute shit out of you? Any random questions about how they work or regarding a specific encounter?

To get this shit started here are some neat lift photos





Jul 24 2015 8:05PM
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-InfamousMax-
Posts: 136 - Karma: 377
I wanna have such an ancient chairlift, like in your first picture, back!
Jul 24 2015 8:10PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5232 - Karma: 20,634
-InfamousMax-I wanna have such an ancient chairlift, like in your first picture, back!


there still is one in sun valley, I think it's like the 3rd one ever built



my favorite type of lift are the old school riblet doubles, unfortunately we only have like 2 here on the east coast

Jul 24 2015 8:41PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
w_skierthere still is one in sun valley, I think it's like the 3rd one ever built



my favorite type of lift are the old school riblet doubles, unfortunately we only have like 2 here on the east coast



Man I bet when they replace that lift those chairs will sell for a hefty sum. Center post riblets are awesome too, we have one at my mtn and a co-worker and I are restoring one of the old chairs that failed NDT to sell, those fuckers go for like 2k on eBay
Jul 24 2015 8:46PM
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robbinJAHood
Posts: 1202 - Karma: 3,075
there's a chair at timberline in WV that feels like you're sitting down on a lego lol
Jul 24 2015 11:48PM
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LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
I remember that it was a big deal in middle school if you got to sit next to your crush on those classic two seater chairs. The whole casual arm around the shoulder gig. It's not the same on those 4 person lifts, where's the privacy?! But for real, those bring back to some good times in the midwest.
Jul 25 2015 12:09AM
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Daski
Posts: 658 - Karma: 2,348
LynxNationI remember that it was a big deal in middle school if you got to sit next to your crush on those classic two seater chairs. The whole casual arm around the shoulder gig.


Remembering this in 6th grade. 12 year old me thought it would be sick to screamin seamen on the chairlift, caught my tips getting off, sending me and the girl face-first into the snow. Good times
Jul 25 2015 2:32AM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
w_skierthere still is one in sun valley, I think it's like the 3rd one ever built



my favorite type of lift are the old school riblet doubles, unfortunately we only have like 2 here on the east coast



Yes, the first 3 ever chair lifts were in sun valley, I'm not sure what which number that one that is still up tho. I've seen it in person and it's a cool piece of history in our community. Stoked to live in Idaho
Jul 25 2015 3:21PM
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Hoodliving
Posts: 1033 - Karma: 1,873
Oh man I gotta love the old school riblet chairs at Skibowl always sketchy feeling upper bowl is a sketchy blast, and I always loved smacking the towers with your board or skis going by.
Jul 25 2015 4:25PM
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whiskers
Posts: 205 - Karma: 354
Anyone who has ever been to Whitecap Mountain in Upson, Wisconsin knows about their legendary peak to peak chair.
Jul 25 2015 5:28PM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
the old center pole chairs are awesome. alta's is awesome.



and not a center pole, but park city's jupiter lift, which is a fixed double, is one of my favorites as well.

Jul 25 2015 5:56PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
brotoand not a center pole, but park city's jupiter lift, which is a fixed double, is one of my favorites as well.



Yeesh that one looks like a yan, those things are a maintenance nightmare. Our headwaters chair is the same style and that damn thing is the biggest pain to work on
Jul 25 2015 6:40PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8851 - Karma: 35,358
YoungDaphYeesh that one looks like a yan, those things are a maintenance nightmare. Our headwaters chair is the same style and that damn thing is the biggest pain to work on


I love riding the Headwaters chair.
Jul 25 2015 7:31PM
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Skates_skis
Posts: 210 - Karma: 681
mantoastOh man I gotta love the old school riblet chairs at Skibowl always sketchy feeling upper bowl is a sketchy blast, and I always loved smacking the towers with your board or skis going by.


The upper bowl lift is so sckechy. The first time I rode that lift I was night skiing and it was foggy.
Jul 25 2015 8:24PM
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Hoodliving
Posts: 1033 - Karma: 1,873
SimonjksThe upper bowl lift is so sckechy. The first time I rode that lift I was night skiing and it was foggy.


It just about takes you out everytime you load it also. But damn is the terrain fun! Ive jumped off the red chair main run right up over the crest and had ski patrol chase it. Oh good times hope they get snow this season
Jul 25 2015 10:55PM
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MNSkiers
Posts: 1154 - Karma: 7,533


grip an rip
Jul 25 2015 11:34PM
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John18_6
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MNSkiers


grip an rip


sit down tow ropes are the future
Jul 26 2015 12:26AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37326 - Karma: 119,015
brotothe old center pole chairs are awesome. alta's is awesome.



and not a center pole, but park city's jupiter lift, which is a fixed double, is one of my favorites as well.



jupe is all-time. One of the best lifts in utah and the most fun to work.
Jul 28 2015 1:10AM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
Some favorites of mine, just really special or iconic for me.

Snowbird tram


The old Peruvian double at Snowbird


Alta's Supreme Chair


Stratton's gondola (the old cars)


There's more, but that's what I've got for now.
Jul 28 2015 2:34AM
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fortyvalve
Posts: 1442 - Karma: 1,573
Powder Mountain's poma lift. This was the only shitty pic I could find but it's a surface lift that drops you off where you can hike to cat skiing areas.



A second is Juniper at PC as already stated, but another one that I really enjoyed was the Olympic Tram at Snowbasin, nice views and great inbounds skiing

Jul 28 2015 9:26AM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
Anyone got cool pics of the lift construction going down in jackson this summer?
Jul 28 2015 10:43AM
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4788 - Karma: -575
Great thread!

OP how come chairlifts aren't run faster? It seems to be rare to sit on a detachable quad and feel like the lift ops are running it above 60%.


I honestly think the fixies with the moving carpets are nearly all the time faster than the detachables.

I understand cranking down a notch in crowds or wind but these things are definitely capable of going faster why is it such a rarity to get on a lift that is nice and speedy?



What are the fastest chairlifts (not trams/gondolas) anyone?
Jul 28 2015 10:48AM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
PeppermillRenoGreat thread!

OP how come chairlifts aren't run faster? It seems to be rare to sit on a detachable quad and feel like the lift ops are running it above 60%.


I honestly think the fixies with the moving carpets are nearly all the time faster than the detachables.

I understand cranking down a notch in crowds or wind but these things are definitely capable of going faster why is it such a rarity to get on a lift that is nice and speedy?



What are the fastest chairlifts (not trams/gondolas) anyone?


The average detachable lift runs at 4.5 meters per second during the winter and 3.5 mps in the summer so foot traffic can unload easier. Most lifts max out at 5 or 6 mps but it is very rare to run them at that speed with a loaded line because it puts immense strain on the motor, brakes and sheave assemblies. If a lift is running at full speed with every chair loaded and there is an emergency stop, the rollback would be intense. It may feel as though the fixed grips go faster but very few go faster than 2.5 mps because any faster around the bullwheel would be damaging to the chairs.
The fastest lifts go up to 12 mps but those aren't used in the ski industry due to the adverse weather that ski lifts have to endure. Those super speedy ones are commonly seen in cities overseas and are typically gondolas used to cut down on traffic and whatnot
Jul 28 2015 11:06AM
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CheddarJack
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MRG single chair.



Mmmm now that's some serious chairlift porn
Jul 28 2015 11:11AM
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PeppermillReno
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YoungDaphThe average detachable lift runs at 4.5 meters per second during the winter and 3.5 mps in the summer so foot traffic can unload easier. Most lifts max out at 5 or 6 mps but it is very rare to run them at that speed with a loaded line because it puts immense strain on the motor, brakes and sheave assemblies. If a lift is running at full speed with every chair loaded and there is an emergency stop, the rollback would be intense. It may feel as though the fixed grips go faster but very few go faster than 2.5 mps because any faster around the bullwheel would be damaging to the chairs.
The fastest lifts go up to 12 mps but those aren't used in the ski industry due to the adverse weather that ski lifts have to endure. Those super speedy ones are commonly seen in cities overseas and are typically gondolas used to cut down on traffic and whatnot


Thanks!


Got any clue which ski area runs there lifts the fastest in the USA or what's the fastest lift in the country if that sort of thing is kept track of?
Jul 28 2015 11:20AM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
PeppermillRenoThanks!


Got any clue which ski area runs there lifts the fastest in the USA or what's the fastest lift in the country if that sort of thing is kept track of?


Its pretty standard throughout the US to run lifts no faster than 4.5 mps. Its pretty hard to determine which lifts are the fastest because they almost never run at maximum speed
Jul 28 2015 11:40AM
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cdip
Posts: 1563 - Karma: 2,449
The park chair at blue is a really old double. But she gets the job done and allows for hot lapping....
Jul 28 2015 12:17PM
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cdip
Posts: 1563 - Karma: 2,449
MNSkiers


grip an rip


A mini park with a rope tow would be so sick to have at a local mountain. Maximum hot lapping... Hit a feature grab the rope and repeat in seconds.
Jul 28 2015 12:19PM
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AngryGramps
Posts: 243 - Karma: 707
Schlasmans at Bridger Bowl, takes you through the gnarliest terrain, and its all open to shred. used to be the Peruvian at Alta as well, which is pretty dope
Jul 28 2015 4:25PM
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eheath
Posts: 61504 - Karma: 122,324
I grew up on small chairs, mission ridge WA, all two seaters, got spoiled at mt batchelor for 2 years on quads and skied from 12-18 at bridger bowl on all double red chairs like this:

Jul 28 2015 4:30PM
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OregonDead
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Jul 28 2015 4:54PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
eheathI grew up on small chairs, mission ridge WA, all two seaters, got spoiled at mt batchelor for 2 years on quads and skied from 12-18 at bridger bowl on all double red chairs like this:



Man when Bridger started replacing all their old chairs like that everyone in Bozeman wanted one. Always love rolling up to a random spot and seeing a red center post chair hanging up, little piece of history.
Jul 28 2015 5:06PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,620
Badlands double chair from Blue Mountain in Ontario.

My old home. :)

Jul 28 2015 6:27PM
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Andrew_M
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"so yea, chairlifts man." Gotta love newschoolers
Jul 28 2015 7:04PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
Andrew_M"so yea, chairlifts man." Gotta love newschoolers


I swear I was sober when I made this thread

And by sober I mean totally not sober but who cares. I love chairlifts whew
Jul 28 2015 7:56PM
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Slush
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 12,942
Not to rain on the old chair lifts vibe, but anyone else riden the sunburst six chair at okemo? IT'S AMAZING!



Heated synthetic leather seats, bubble to keep it warm and cozy. Riding this thing is like riding a couch up the mountain. Seriously, the seat angle is different from most chairs, you get lay back and warm up. Better than a gondola



Inside your own personal bubble





6 people COMFORTABLY fit inside!
Jul 28 2015 10:25PM
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ChristianMingle
Posts: 629 - Karma: 1,202
cdipA mini park with a rope tow would be so sick to have at a local mountain. Maximum hot lapping... Hit a feature grab the rope and repeat in seconds.


"Mini park" haha. Come out to the midwest and it's every park on the hill!
Jul 28 2015 10:36PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
SlushNot to rain on the old chair lifts vibe, but anyone else riden the sunburst six chair at okemo? IT'S AMAZING!



Heated synthetic leather seats, bubble to keep it warm and cozy. Riding this thing is like riding a couch up the mountain. Seriously, the seat angle is different from most chairs, you get lay back and warm up. Better than a gondola



Inside your own personal bubble





6 people COMFORTABLY fit inside!


I have a doppelmayr shirt for work that says "ride the orange bubble" haha
Jul 28 2015 10:46PM
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EvanMeyer
Posts: 3819 - Karma: 3,399
PeppermillRenoThanks!


Got any clue which ski area runs there lifts the fastest in the USA or what's the fastest lift in the country if that sort of thing is kept track of?


they run crest express at brighton decently fast it seems, but I also lived on the east coast before I moved out there so I was just used to the lift stopping at least 3 times a ride anyway haha
Jul 28 2015 11:47PM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
Haha center post singles. Stevens Pass still has three and all are heavily used (bummer they repainted big cheif). The coolest chair at stevens is two chairs in one, Double Diamond and Southern Cross,where both directions are used with a double off-load at the top and it continues over to the other side. only other up and over i've ridden is chair 3 at baker. golden peak at vail is kinda like that but not quite. (the old dino lift at hyak never ran since i started skiing.



Jul 29 2015 1:01AM
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.jif
Posts: 441 - Karma: 1,013
Hot laps all day long. Basically a rope tow without having to hold on, so it doesn't reck your gloves.
Jul 29 2015 1:30AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51529 - Karma: 161,038
Some of those are cool and all but I doubt they have the history of this gem. Unfortunately just got torn down a few weeks ago.



The same chairlift used to carry the load from wagons up the notoriously steep and deadly Lolo pass on the Oregon trail. Built in 1827, it serviced around 1,600 travelers. Decommissioned in 1839 as newer technology became available. The lift sat dormant for over 50 years until the Harvey County Historical Museum, located in Burns, Oregon resurrected the lift for it's display on American Pioneering. In 1963 the chairlift was purchased by a newly opened ski center in Queensbury NY. " I think it's amazing to be able to save a piece of history and put it back into use"- replied Cady Stanton when interviewed at the grand unveiling. Here you will still finding it today, making it the oldest and longest operating chairlift in the United States. Local teacher and long time community member Brenda Wallisch had this to say to New York Times reporters,"I think it's amazing we're able to share this artifact with our children today. It really helps to give them hands on experience with learning about history. They're able to not only see, but experience the hardships faced by travelers nearly 200 years ago. You just can't get that kind of impact from a text book alone". And so the ski lift remains. You can visit the ski center on West Mountain Road in Queensbury, NY 8a.m.-4p.m. 7 days a week and take a ride on your own little piece of history.

https://www.newschoolers.com/membernewsread/A-Piece-History-West-Mountain#PY9yXVW9l8EI3oay.97
Jul 29 2015 4:27PM
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.ZT.
Posts: 5679 - Karma: 2,792
SlushNot to rain on the old chair lifts vibe, but anyone else riden the sunburst six chair at okemo? IT'S AMAZING!



Heated synthetic leather seats, bubble to keep it warm and cozy. Riding this thing is like riding a couch up the mountain. Seriously, the seat angle is different from most chairs, you get lay back and warm up. Better than a gondola



Inside your own personal bubble





6 people COMFORTABLY fit inside!


Hotboxed that lift with some friends before a competition at Okemo this winter. Good times!
Jul 29 2015 4:39PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5232 - Karma: 20,634
theabortionatorSome of those are cool and all but I doubt they have the history of this gem. Unfortunately just got torn down a few weeks ago.



The same chairlift used to carry the load from wagons up the notoriously steep and deadly Lolo pass on the Oregon trail. Built in 1827, it serviced around 1,600 travelers. Decommissioned in 1839 as newer technology became available. The lift sat dormant for over 50 years until the Harvey County Historical Museum, located in Burns, Oregon resurrected the lift for it's display on American Pioneering. In 1963 the chairlift was purchased by a newly opened ski center in Queensbury NY. " I think it's amazing to be able to save a piece of history and put it back into use"- replied Cady Stanton when interviewed at the grand unveiling. Here you will still finding it today, making it the oldest and longest operating chairlift in the United States. Local teacher and long time community member Brenda Wallisch had this to say to New York Times reporters,"I think it's amazing we're able to share this artifact with our children today. It really helps to give them hands on experience with learning about history. They're able to not only see, but experience the hardships faced by travelers nearly 200 years ago. You just can't get that kind of impact from a text book alone". And so the ski lift remains. You can visit the ski center on West Mountain Road in Queensbury, NY 8a.m.-4p.m. 7 days a week and take a ride on your own little piece of history.

https://www.newschoolers.com/membernewsread/A-Piece-History-West-Mountain#PY9yXVW9l8EI3oay.97


lol
Jul 29 2015 5:18PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
theabortionatorSome of those are cool and all but I doubt they have the history of this gem. Unfortunately just got torn down a few weeks ago.



The same chairlift used to carry the load from wagons up the notoriously steep and deadly Lolo pass on the Oregon trail. Built in 1827, it serviced around 1,600 travelers. Decommissioned in 1839 as newer technology became available. The lift sat dormant for over 50 years until the Harvey County Historical Museum, located in Burns, Oregon resurrected the lift for it's display on American Pioneering. In 1963 the chairlift was purchased by a newly opened ski center in Queensbury NY. " I think it's amazing to be able to save a piece of history and put it back into use"- replied Cady Stanton when interviewed at the grand unveiling. Here you will still finding it today, making it the oldest and longest operating chairlift in the United States. Local teacher and long time community member Brenda Wallisch had this to say to New York Times reporters,"I think it's amazing we're able to share this artifact with our children today. It really helps to give them hands on experience with learning about history. They're able to not only see, but experience the hardships faced by travelers nearly 200 years ago. You just can't get that kind of impact from a text book alone". And so the ski lift remains. You can visit the ski center on West Mountain Road in Queensbury, NY 8a.m.-4p.m. 7 days a week and take a ride on your own little piece of history.

https://www.newschoolers.com/membernewsread/A-Piece-History-West-Mountain#PY9yXVW9l8EI3oay.97


that is too damn cool. Bummer it got torn down
Jul 29 2015 7:36PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51529 - Karma: 161,038
YoungDaphthat is too damn cool. Bummer it got torn down


It's actually a good thing. It wasn't THAT sketchy, but the triple they're also replacing you seriously thanked 8 different gods everytime you made it to the top. It wasn't an if you're going to die but when. That shit was a death trap. Also chairs had fallen off the lifts before. Shit was too legit.

This was the one thing they needed to spend money on for the last 20 years. Thankfully after going bankrupt and being bought out, this was one of the first goals they had, and maybe 3 seasons after being back in business, both lifts are getting replaced by a triple from a larger mountain that they're splitting.

So they'll come out with 2 new lifts. Also I was a tiny bit full of shit on that article but it makes it sound a tad more interesting.



I learned at a ski area that was all Tbars originally so I have a soft spot in my heart for those.

Oak had 3 tbars, no other lifts. Indian lake ski area had 1 tbar, no other lifts. Went to gore occasionally(they had a jbar and a unch of other lifts) but couldnt afford it really.

When I worked at oak again for a couple seasons the park I had was on a tbar lappable trail. Was cool riding a tbar all day again. Nostalgia'd out a bit.





I def agree with this thread though. New lifts are awesome, they're more efficient, less likely to break down, parts are easier to acquire, they fit more people, but sometimes there's a magic to some of these old lifts that you just can't get anywhere else.

I guess it's a long the same lines with the base area and anything else at a mountain. The lodge might be old, and outdated, they might not have a big hotel with a pool, but sometimes that's what makes these places special. It's not always about being a 5 star resort, and sometimes that magical vibe of these mom and pop places is lost on the road to achieving that.

It's a tough one in my opinion. Places are struggling out there. Some of the places we grew up with are teetering on the edge or even gone for good already. It's hard to argue with an area wanting to modernize and bring in more capital, but in your heart there can be a selfish wish for things to stay the same. Maybe that's just life in general.

Idk. I love going to some of these places that have great skiing but till have that old school charm.

/deep thoughts while I eat my potatoes.
Jul 29 2015 7:50PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5232 - Karma: 20,634
theabortionatorIt's actually a good thing. It wasn't THAT sketchy, but the triple they're also replacing you seriously thanked 8 different gods everytime you made it to the top. It wasn't an if you're going to die but when. That shit was a death trap. Also chairs had fallen off the lifts before. Shit was too legit.

This was the one thing they needed to spend money on for the last 20 years. Thankfully after going bankrupt and being bought out, this was one of the first goals they had, and maybe 3 seasons after being back in business, both lifts are getting replaced by a triple from a larger mountain that they're splitting.

So they'll come out with 2 new lifts. Also I was a tiny bit full of shit on that article but it makes it sound a tad more interesting.



I learned at a ski area that was all Tbars originally so I have a soft spot in my heart for those.

Oak had 3 tbars, no other lifts. Indian lake ski area had 1 tbar, no other lifts. Went to gore occasionally(they had a jbar and a unch of other lifts) but couldnt afford it really.

When I worked at oak again for a couple seasons the park I had was on a tbar lappable trail. Was cool riding a tbar all day again. Nostalgia'd out a bit.





I def agree with this thread though. New lifts are awesome, they're more efficient, less likely to break down, parts are easier to acquire, they fit more people, but sometimes there's a magic to some of these old lifts that you just can't get anywhere else.

I guess it's a long the same lines with the base area and anything else at a mountain. The lodge might be old, and outdated, they might not have a big hotel with a pool, but sometimes that's what makes these places special. It's not always about being a 5 star resort, and sometimes that magical vibe of these mom and pop places is lost on the road to achieving that.

It's a tough one in my opinion. Places are struggling out there. Some of the places we grew up with are teetering on the edge or even gone for good already. It's hard to argue with an area wanting to modernize and bring in more capital, but in your heart there can be a selfish wish for things to stay the same. Maybe that's just life in general.

Idk. I love going to some of these places that have great skiing but till have that old school charm.

/deep thoughts while I eat my potatoes.


At first I thought you were trolling with one of those fake news articles but there is no way that lift is from 1827, It looks like it's made 100% from Riblet parts. Riblet's first few installations were based on Mining tramways it already built but thats the closest to anything in the article.
Jul 29 2015 7:59PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51529 - Karma: 161,038
w_skierAt first I thought you were trolling with one of those fake news articles but there is no way that lift is from 1827, It looks like it's made 100% from Riblet parts. Riblet's first few installations were based on Mining tramways it already built but thats the closest to anything in the article.


They posted a picture of someone riding the chairlift there in like 1950. Black and white photo. Saw it at 3am and my fingers typed up a fresh new history for it.

Sure it might not be 100% true, but is anything in the history books? I may have embellished a tiny bit, but I feel I've added to it's historical significance.

Rest in peace you beautiful, sketchy chairlift.
Jul 29 2015 8:02PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
theabortionatorIt's actually a good thing. It wasn't THAT sketchy, but the triple they're also replacing you seriously thanked 8 different gods everytime you made it to the top. It wasn't an if you're going to die but when. That shit was a death trap. Also chairs had fallen off the lifts before. Shit was too legit.

This was the one thing they needed to spend money on for the last 20 years. Thankfully after going bankrupt and being bought out, this was one of the first goals they had, and maybe 3 seasons after being back in business, both lifts are getting replaced by a triple from a larger mountain that they're splitting.

So they'll come out with 2 new lifts. Also I was a tiny bit full of shit on that article but it makes it sound a tad more interesting.



I learned at a ski area that was all Tbars originally so I have a soft spot in my heart for those.

Oak had 3 tbars, no other lifts. Indian lake ski area had 1 tbar, no other lifts. Went to gore occasionally(they had a jbar and a unch of other lifts) but couldnt afford it really.

When I worked at oak again for a couple seasons the park I had was on a tbar lappable trail. Was cool riding a tbar all day again. Nostalgia'd out a bit.





I def agree with this thread though. New lifts are awesome, they're more efficient, less likely to break down, parts are easier to acquire, they fit more people, but sometimes there's a magic to some of these old lifts that you just can't get anywhere else.

I guess it's a long the same lines with the base area and anything else at a mountain. The lodge might be old, and outdated, they might not have a big hotel with a pool, but sometimes that's what makes these places special. It's not always about being a 5 star resort, and sometimes that magical vibe of these mom and pop places is lost on the road to achieving that.

It's a tough one in my opinion. Places are struggling out there. Some of the places we grew up with are teetering on the edge or even gone for good already. It's hard to argue with an area wanting to modernize and bring in more capital, but in your heart there can be a selfish wish for things to stay the same. Maybe that's just life in general.

Idk. I love going to some of these places that have great skiing but till have that old school charm.

/deep thoughts while I eat my potatoes.


I love going to ski areas with older machinery. My home mtn in Colorado is Loveland, all fixed grip lifts and still family owned. One of the only places to ski on the i70 corridor without heinous lift lines.

Big Sky is making some big plans to update some of the older lifts (granted they've said this for the past 5 years I've been here) and it's kind of sad but some of our lifts need to go in the worst way. My crew is currently doing the summer maintenance to one of our oldest lifts, installed in 1973 manufactured in 1968. Fucker is a nightmare to work on and it has some serious issues but sounds like it really might be getting replaced next summer with a high speed quad. We have 6 lifts that are over 40 years old and one of my good friends who shoots photos for the resort told me that they won't use any of his shots with old lifts in them which is just asinine.
Jul 29 2015 8:03PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5232 - Karma: 20,634
theabortionatorAlso I was a tiny bit full of shit on that article but it makes it sound a tad more interesting.



fuck me I should have read your whole post first


But yeah it really does suck that ski areas are so ready to throw away their old lifts and a lot of money in the process to build new High Speed lifts. Suddenly then you have more people on the trails at once and then you gotta widen the trails and then the whole hill is the same.

Sugarbush did it right with the Castlerock lift, the replaced an old double that was falling apart with a new one, but kept the chair spacing really far apart so they wouldn't have to widen the trails there.
Jul 29 2015 8:05PM
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Daph
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w_skierfuck me I should have read your whole post first


But yeah it really does suck that ski areas are so ready to throw away their old lifts and a lot of money in the process to build new High Speed lifts. Suddenly then you have more people on the trails at once and then you gotta widen the trails and then the whole hill is the same.

Sugarbush did it right with the Castlerock lift, the replaced an old double that was falling apart with a new one, but kept the chair spacing really far apart so they wouldn't have to widen the trails there.


Luckily a lot of old double lifts are built on and access terrain that makes it super difficult to put a bigger lift on. We have a double riblet that will be replaced in the next few years that only accesses expert terrain and the unload station is in a very sketchy and narrow area. The resort wanted to put a high speed quad in and they ran it past us and my foreman shut them down hard. Told them there is no room at the top for a detachable terminal plus we can't snowmobile to the top which makes startup on a high speed or responding to mechanical issues common to them virtually impossible. And it gets suuuper windloaded so the terminal would just fill with snow all the damn time
Jul 29 2015 8:10PM
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