New Lifts for the 2024-25 Season

Big Sky: Madison 8 + Lone Peak Tram

Big Sky has been creating a state of the art lift network over the past 10 years and this year is no exception by building their third 8 person heated bubble lift in addition to the 75 person Lone Peak Tram being open for its first full season. The Madison 8 is replacing the old six shooter lift and it plans to decrease ride time by 30%.

But that’s not all, Big Sky has announced plans for a two stage 8 person gondola that will replace the Explorer chair. This gondola will reach the bowl and connect to the Lone Peak Tram, to the learning center, and on mountain dining facilities. It will also enable access to the peak without ever having to click into your bindings.

Powder Mountain: Lightning Ride Chair + Timberline Chair + Raintree Lift + Paradise Quad

Powder Mountain, technically the largest resort in the United States is moving to a semi private model. In addition to this, the new CEO Reed Hastings is building four new lifts, replacing two old ones, and building two new ones. The new Lightning Ridge chair will run from the Timberline Base to the top of Lightning ridge replacing snowcat access. (public). The other public lift is replacing the timberline chair with a fixed grip quad. (public). The new Raintree lift will go up Cobabe Canyon and will be private. Paradise quad will be transformed into a high-speed quad, that will shrink ride time dramatically

Sun Valley: Challenger 6 + Flying Squirrel Express Quad

Sun Valley America's oldest ski resort is welcoming two new express lifts into its fleet. First, the Challenger lift boasts the most vertical rise of any chairlift in America with more than 3,000 feet of vertical. It will have a midstation and will replace the old challenger and greyhawk chairs. In addition, the all new Flying Squirrel Express Quad will be added to make traveling to “Frenchman's” and the gondola easier. This year is shaping up to be a big year for Sun Valley.

Deer Valley: Gondola + Express Quad + Express Six

This one’s a bit of a cheat, because this is part of Deer Valleys plan to double their skiable terrain by 2025-2026, but because they can’t build nine chairlifts and 110 trails in one year they split the project up. I’m unsure if these lifts will run this year, but regardless I’m interested to see if Deer Valleys will manage this expansion. If they complete it fully they will have 5,726 (a full 500 more than Vail) skiable acres which would make them the fifth largest in North America. They would also have 37 lifts and 238 trails!

Bogus Basin: Coach + Bitterroot Chairs

Bogus Basin will replace its oldest chair lifts this year, this mega expansion will double the uphill capacity of the two chairlifts. The bitterroot double will be replaced with a fixed grip quad that will double uphill capacity and make traversing to pioneer lodge significantly easier. The 43 year old Coach Chair will also become a fixed grip quad that will make it taller as well. In addition, for better or worse both lifts will also include RFID gates.

Bear Mountain: Chair 2 + Magic Carpet 1 + Magic Carpet 2

Bear Mountain, California, home of one of the first terrain parks, is rebuilding chair 2 to make it more beginner friendly and to make it easier to access the beginner terrain. In addition, 7 & 14 (both magic carpets) are being realigned to make it easier to access from the base. Chair 2 is currently a triple and will remain as such.

Bear Valley: Koala Quad + Beginner Triple

Bear Valley is on a tear to renovate and replace its aging fleet of Riblet lifts. From replacing the Koala double to the new Koala fixed grip quad to open up Koala Top and some of the intermediate glades at that peak. Fun Fact, the quad came from Taos NM. In addition, the beginner triple will be shortened significantly to become the new Beginner Lift. They’re also installing new chairs on two other lifts as well.

Mammoth: Chair 1

A nostalgic one from Mammoth Mountain. Chair One is going through its 4th stage going from T-bar, double, express quad to the current high speed six pack. Broadway express will alleviate crowding at the base, and help shuttle people to the McCoy station and other upper mountain destinations. This will be Mammoth's third high speed 6 and its sixth high capacity lift.

Copper Mountain: Timberline Express

Another six pack is arriving at Copper Mountain, Colorado. It is on the far west side mostly serving intermediate cruisers. It is replacing the timberline high speed quad and significantly increasing rider capacity to 3,000 skiers per hour. Construction begins this summer. This will be coppers fourth high speed sixth. It also joins stratton, keystone, and the squaw valley side of palisades in having more high speed sixes than high speed quads.

(on the far right above the close area)

Aspen Snowmass: Coneygame

Aspen Snowmass is purchasing a Leinter-Poma high speed six person chairlift to be installed as soon as 2024-25 to replace the oldest high speed quad in America (tied with Telluride). Coneygame will terminate where the Coney Express Quad ended and will begin where the old Burlingame learning double started. The goal of this will be to improve Beginner Capacity, and make it easier for riders to reach the upper mountain.

Jackson Hole: Sublette Chair

Sublette, one of the most popular chairs at the Jackson Hole, is being upgraded to a high speed quad this summer. It will halve ride time and make some of the most challenging trails at the resort more accessible and lappable.

Ski Santa Fe: Sante Fe Express Quad

Ski Santa Fe, one of the only ski resorts in New Mexico, is set to receive its first high speed quad, and its first new lift in 20 years. This brand new high speed quad will cut ride time by two thirds going from 12 minutes to 4 minutes. They say that they’re coming along well and it will be set to open for the 2024-25 season.

Snowbird: Wilbere

Wilbere, one of the original doubles from 1971 will be rebuilt into a fixed grip quad with loading conveyor. This is a nostalgic upgrade for Snowbird, but a good one was the base with conveyor belt system will be moved to the Creekside Base to make it easier to access from the parking lots

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Arizona Snowbowl: Aspen 2

Aspen, an ancient double lift dating back to the 60's, is being replaced with a modern Leitner-Poma fixed grip quad. This lift will service green beginner terrain. However in addition to this the Arizona Snowbowl unveiled their forest service approved master development plan. It includes three new lifts and maxing out their permit with 700+ acres. This will be necessary to continue their growth of 10% annually since 2012.

Summit at Snoqualmie: Wildside

Wildside is one of the greatest parts of the summit, mainly because of the steep fall-line descents, but it’s always been hard to get to. With a new fixed grip quad (replacing the old, decaying triple) realigned to make it easier to access from your car and the slopes and eliminate the painful traverse.

Red River: Copper Chair

Red River is set to replace an ancient center pole riblet double with a brand new Dopplmeyer triple. It will retain the same name as the double. This new lift will have improved safety features as well. In addition, it is a big step in their eastern expansion that the double first served. Chairs are for sale as well while the price wasn’t listed on their websites it mentioned several times that they can be bought.

Mt. Ashland: Lithia Triple Chair

A new addition to the Mount. Ashland’s fleet is the Lithia Triple chair. A brand new Skytrac triple is replacing a poma lift. It will serve beginner and intermediate terrain. To make this lift possible they received a two million dollar gift from the Sid & Karen Deboer Foundation. The lift is part of an effort to make beginner terrain more accessible on the mountain.

(East Coast will probably come out in 2 days)