Yo, you guys have probably already heard about this, but I'm pretty stoked about it. Here's the press release:
Mt. Hood Meadows will debut its fifth high speed quad  the Vista Express  this season. The lift, a Poma Omega 1100 high speed detachable four passenger lift, is more than a mile long and can reach speeds of 1200 feet per minute. It was named for the spectacular views passengers will enjoy as they are transported to the southern boundary. Mt. Hood towers above the lift, but the expansive panorama to the south which includes Mt. Jefferson and the 3 Sisters, inspired the name. It is the only new lift being constructed in Oregon this summer.
The new three million dollar lift will provide access to what is currently underutilized terrain at the south end of the resort’s permit area, commonly known as “The Badlands.� The lower terminal of the new lift is located between the top terminal of the Buttercup lift and the bottom terminal of the Easy Rider lift. The upper terminal reaches an elevation of 6,571 feet, second only to Cascade in top terminal elevation.
Vista Express will service a variety of terrain, plunging expert, cruising intermediate and gradual beginner trails. Both the lift and the terrain are well suited for coaching all levels of lessons expanding the available terrain used by the EpiCenter -Snowsports Learning Center. Thanks to the prevailing wind the terrain naturally snow loads and offers some exceptional powder tracks. The lift will also service the new “Vista Park�, a freestyle terrain park located above the resort’s popular “South Park� and “Super Pipe� terrain features. Each uplift on the Vista Express will provide freestylers the opportunity to hit two parks and the Super Pipe, which will also give passengers entertainment on their ride up. The Vista Express is manufactured and installed by Poma  the same company which built the resort’s four other high speed quads. It has a total length of 5,494 feet (more than a mile), a vertical rise of 1,121 feet and a capacity to transport 1,963 passengers per hour. It will hang 113 chairs, half of them will be taken off the line each evening to remove them from exposure above timberline, a feature unique to detachables which makes this lift location possible.
Stacie: 'Aren't you going to open your gift?'
Wayne: 'If it's a severed head, I'm going to be very upset.'
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