Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Tram/Gondola vs. Chailift

profile picture
CartelCrew
Posts: 46 - Karma: 37
What is your preference?
Dec 11 2012 3:57PM
1 0
profile picture
a_burger
Posts: 5231 - Karma: 20,593
Depends on the length of the lift. More then a mile long I wouldn't mind a gondola for bad weather. Otherwise I don't care


Dec 11 2012 4:01PM
0 0
profile picture
last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
Chondola bitches

Click for larger image
Dec 11 2012 4:04PM
0 0
profile picture
a_burger
Posts: 5231 - Karma: 20,593
This, always go with chair during the day and Gondola during the night (unless theres a line)
Dec 11 2012 4:06PM
0 0
profile picture
freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
At Stratton i find im taking American Express to URSA to skip the gondola line where they pack you in like sardines.
Dec 11 2012 4:06PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61478 - Karma: 122,086
Gondolas are fun but its also annoying as fuck to take your skis off. Lifts are convenient and easy.
Dec 11 2012 4:08PM
0 0
profile picture
shredsticks
Posts: 108 - Karma: 33
Not a tram fan man.

But seriously it attracts all the tourists who all think its the coolest thing in the world, so the wait is always obnoxious but then again they usually go to the best terrain on the mountain. So its always a win lose kinda thing.

I'd prefer chairlifts. first windy cold ride up knocks the hangover right out of me.
Dec 11 2012 4:08PM
0 0
profile picture
.bo.
Posts: 448 - Karma: 133
.
Dec 11 2012 4:15PM
0 0
profile picture
MAPLE_SYRUP
Posts: 1910 - Karma: 68
Gondola so I can claim my farts
Dec 11 2012 4:22PM
0 0
profile picture
jwv
Posts: 560 - Karma: 1,190
I've always wondered,can you choose if you ride a chair or a gondola?
Dec 11 2012 4:22PM
0 0
profile picture
uhrel
Posts: 164 - Karma: 64
chairlifts all day, just the fact that i can keep my skis on makes it so much better than a gondola
Dec 11 2012 4:27PM
0 0
profile picture
DERS.
Posts: 6299 - Karma: 1,293
yeah you get on at different places/different lines. at least thats how it is with the chodola in telluride

Click for larger image
Dec 11 2012 4:28PM
0 0
profile picture
Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,661
somewhat on topic.

Is it pronounced gon-dola, or gondahla? I've never even been to a resort with one and i've heard both these pronunciations. Just wondering
Dec 11 2012 4:32PM
0 0
profile picture
WVskiing
Posts: 3007 - Karma: 1,949
GONDALA=HOT BOX
Dec 11 2012 4:33PM
0 0
profile picture
skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
Not a big fan of trams/gondolas. They can be nice for longer rides (whistler village gondola comes to mind) but I don't like taking off my skis, and the thing that can really chap my ass is it gets warm and stuffy in there. Shit melts and you get all damp, then you step out and all that melt freezes.
Dec 11 2012 5:03PM
0 0
profile picture
Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
T bars and POMAs FTW.  Have you ever laughed for the entire time you've waited in line at anything else?  I love T bars and POMAs because the whole time you're waiting it's like a FAIL compilation video or something.  Endlessly hilarious.  The High T at Breck should put in webcams if you ask me, I'd watch it all day just for the endless lols. 
Dec 11 2012 5:08PM
0 0
profile picture
Quak
Posts: 16 - Karma: 27
Chairlift because im lazy and can't be bothered to take my skis off. Also there are now a lot of resorts with the pull down glass top you can use in bad weather, best of both worlds.
Dec 11 2012 5:18PM
0 0
profile picture
CartelCrew
Posts: 46 - Karma: 37
I like chairs, but having the option is key. The "Orange Bubble" at The Canyons does it right here. This chair also has heated seats and you can go bubble or no bubble. Key.

My disclaimer is that I ride in the Cottonwoods and have only been on tis chair a few times because PC does not have the snow or terrain. The ride was quite pleasant though.



Dec 11 2012 5:43PM
0 0
profile picture
CartelCrew
Posts: 46 - Karma: 37
Click for larger image
Dec 11 2012 5:45PM
0 0
profile picture
FreeskiThe603
Posts: 861 - Karma: 1,409
i fucking hate trams!! they just cram as much people on like cattle and it just smells like sweat and BO!! there fucking awful
Dec 11 2012 5:51PM
0 0
profile picture
Funnel
Posts: 7812 - Karma: 1,489
Chairlifts are so much better in any case besides inclement weather, and even then, it has to be pretty bad weather to make the gondola worthwhile. It drives me insane at Mammoth when I'm trying to ski off the top and I've gotta pop my skis off and get on the gondola, but the wind just makes the gondola the only feasible option.
Dec 11 2012 6:12PM
0 0
profile picture
theschneidler
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 355
I don't have an option other than chair and t-bar, and the t-bar is only open on a couple days per year.
Dec 11 2012 6:18PM
0 0
profile picture
volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
gotta get those GNAR points
Dec 11 2012 6:51PM
0 0
profile picture
volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
I've been on 23 on a few windy days and immediately regretted not taking the Gondi from McCoy.
Dec 11 2012 6:54PM
0 0
profile picture
skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
orange bubble is boss.

granted it takes you NOWHERE. but the concept is spot on.

absolutely despise trams, sure they are cool, but then you realize how packed they are, and once you get to the top is a 125 person gong show.

much prefer chairlifts and not having to take my skis off.
Dec 11 2012 6:59PM
0 0
profile picture
paige.
Posts: 1932 - Karma: 924
Definitely depends on the length of time the ride takes.

There's that chair at Sunpeaks that takes about 45min assuming that it doesn't stop on you. I have gotten off at the midstation several times because I was so cold from the first 20min of exposure.

Anything sub 10 minutes or with shelter from trees or something I prefer a chair.
Dec 11 2012 7:24PM
0 0
profile picture
bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
since we dont have any gondolas, ima say chairlifts.

but ganjolas are quite fun;)
Dec 11 2012 7:26PM
0 0
profile picture
One.2
Posts: 674 - Karma: 3,310
BUBBLE CHAIRS
Dec 11 2012 8:16PM
0 0
profile picture
No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,962
I failed on the t-bar a few years ago getting on. it was pretty funny
Dec 11 2012 8:33PM
0 0
profile picture
JzD.
Posts: 1615 - Karma: 153
Gotta love the lifts. Things happen on them that you just can't explain to people who wernt there
Dec 11 2012 8:42PM
0 0
profile picture
bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
I always opt for the lift over the gondola at keystone.
Dec 11 2012 8:43PM
0 0
profile picture
Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
Dude, that's no joke. I literally saw a girl on a snowboard almost kill herself on the high t at breck. she tracked right in to one of the lift support beams and got stuck....t-bar kept going and built up all kinds of pressure....she finally breaks loose and gets slung shot like 30-40 feet in the air....fell straight to her back. fucking GNAR!
Dec 11 2012 8:46PM
0 0
profile picture
No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,962
or you could park by Peru express and only have to walk like 50 yards instead of over like a half mile of uneven cobblestone to get to the gondola/Summit express
Dec 11 2012 11:54PM
0 0
profile picture
PeppermillReno
Posts: 4787 - Karma: -586
Gondolas are OK. TRAMS SUCK.

I loathe the one at Snowbird. Ruins the mountain fuckin thing. That place is rich too they could afford to make it a gondola, trying to look hardcore like the folks next door.

The Cannon tram is pretty annoying too. Especially since I think they refuse to run it during the week now.
Dec 12 2012 2:08AM
0 0
profile picture
GayWolf420
Posts: 37322 - Karma: 118,969
The bird trams HardxCore, man. How could you say that?

It's not my favorite way of getting up at bird. But I don't mind it. Springtime gets bad though. The aroma of PBR, weed and body odor can get real strong sometimes.
Dec 12 2012 2:32AM
0 0
profile picture
Funnel
Posts: 7812 - Karma: 1,489
I've been there too. You get on and you know you're in for what might feel like one of the longest chair rides of your life, painfully slow, scary high, and swinging around in the wind. With that said, 23 is a legendary chair, I hope it's never replaced because of the aura that chair has.
Dec 12 2012 3:55AM
0 0
profile picture
250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
while i kind of agree with that i absolutely hate riding that fucking thing. you cant even really sit down, its like barstool height seating around the perimeter and its always packed full with so many people. the gondis like creekside and blackcomb are the best, where its just two opposite rows of seats and they arent able to cram in extra people standing up.
Dec 12 2012 4:18AM
0 0
profile picture
PeppermillReno
Posts: 4787 - Karma: -586
Ya thats sort of the point its them trying to be hardcore when they don't need to. Put a gondola there or even a high speed quad.

Also makes the bird a mountian with awkward lifts when it doesn't need to be that way.


Jay Peak is another mountain with an annoying tram that you need to wait for to rip top to bottom.
Dec 12 2012 5:43AM
0 0
profile picture
90053
Posts: 2565 - Karma: 3,728
old school nut cracker rope tows was in nz this summer and some are as fast as high speed chairs not even kidding takes awhile to get used to but you can get so many laps in
Dec 12 2012 6:27AM
0 0
profile picture
volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
I agree entirely. So many good times. I miss the old chair 9 too.

But when it's windy by mammoth standards I'll head for the gondi.
Dec 12 2012 10:28AM
0 0
profile picture
Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933
Those things look so damn scary. How do they even work?
Dec 12 2012 10:34AM
0 0
profile picture
KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
gondola all day err day. I don't wait in lines because of a VIP we ski with that cuts all the lines every da so gondola is a nice break and get to lap it with no breaks.
Dec 12 2012 10:42AM
0 0
profile picture
CartelCrew
Posts: 46 - Karma: 37
Tram at Snowbird is the worst. I have been riding it the last few weeks since the top of the mountain is currently inaccessible any other way. Can't wait to get back in the saddle on Little Cloud.
Dec 12 2012 4:16PM
0 0
profile picture
oil.
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,254
ha screw lift lines
Dec 12 2012 4:18PM
0 0
profile picture
.squirrely.
Posts: 7563 - Karma: 7,545
tow ropes hot laps fo dayzzz
Dec 12 2012 4:22PM
0 0
profile picture
250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
if a lift has to be tram style where the cable actually stops, a telepherique like this would be my choice. No cramming into some jam packed tram. i must say though that this one in particular is one of the sketchiest lifts ive road

Click for larger image
Dec 12 2012 4:26PM
0 0
profile picture
belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
My experience with the bird tram is 50/50. I've been at snowbird when its been empty and just ripped top to bottom tram laps all day and had a fucking blast. I've also made the mistake of sitting in the line on a powder morning when I coulda just been lapping peruvian.

Also i think it was last year when I was in a tram that got stuck, swaying in "high gusts" 100 feet up from the flats of the cirque, quite scary
Dec 12 2012 4:40PM
0 0
profile picture
skibeest
Posts: 419 - Karma: 103
I'd rather get stuck on the URSA express at the top when it is blowing cold than ride the Stratton gondola. I don't think there is a more uncomfortable method of transportation.
Dec 12 2012 8:18PM
0 0
profile picture
250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
oh yea stratton has one of those too, and i think tremblent does also? fucking intrawest and their shitty gondolas
Dec 13 2012 3:18PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,581
Short double chairs right up the side of a park, no longer than the top/bottom of it.

Dec 13 2012 3:19PM
0 0
profile picture
remster
Posts: 898 - Karma: 261
Nutcrackers. Quickest way up the hill, often result in a munched glove or occasional lost finger...


Dec 13 2012 3:29PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)