Skilifts.org / SORT Forum

Drove over the pass to visit Aspen today, and took a ride on the Silver Queen. I also snapped a few photos of other lifts whilst (and at the same time) we were wandering around.

Top terminal of the gondola- 1986 Poma with the 'egg' cabin and double TB grip.

Another view of the top, as one leaves the terminal.

A cabin, with the top terminal of the new Ajax lift in the background.

A double tower on a single lattice base, one of several on the lift.

Looking down the line across a particularly long span.

Next up, the Gent's Ridge lift. This is a vintage (read old) Alpha quad, probably around 1984-85. It serves some shorter runs on the east side of the mountain.
The pink child is Hannah, who apparently wants to follow in Pa's footsteps as she was headed directly for the Queen's motor room. It was all I could do to get her onto the lift instead of inside it.

The line. Note the kite stuck in chair #72.

The Bell Mountain lift. This is a strange Riblet/Poma hybrid with a Riblet drive terminal, chairs, and sheaves, and Poma towers and return terminal.
The top fixed drive.

The line.

The Shadow Mountain lift, an SLI. I wasn't able to go up to the terminal as my counterparts had stuff strewn all about the deck and had roped it off for the weekend. I believe this is a combined drive-and-tension setup, possibly with a custom enclosure.

The line.

And finally, the remains of the original Shadow Mountain lift. I'll hazard a guess that this was an American Steel and Wire product. I'm quite surprised that it's still in place- it actually appears to have been painted recently, and I suppose it's used as a quasi-museum piece.

...and one more.
I didn't get any photos of Ruthie's (too far from the gondola), Ajax (a typical LPOA product anyway) or Little Nell (also a typical Poma product, this one a fixed-grip Alpha quad right in town). Also- FIS appears to have been removed since I was there last- anyone know if it's being replaced or if it's just gone forever?

it's getting repleaced with a lp double this summer

Why does Gent's Ridge have 3 footrest bars? Very odd design. Some strange lifts over there, i must say those poma cabins are hideous, straight from the 80s, not even an attempt to hide that. Nice pictures john, i really like the old lift. Very nice condition. Any idea on its age?

Looking down the line across a particularly long span.



I hate that area of that lift. I try not to go on that lift when there is wind. just beciase of that span.

Jeff, have you ever been to The Canyons?

The old shadow mtn lift was built by Heron...one of his first lifts. it went up much higher than the current SLI lift.

I found the map on your site, Brad, that showed the old Shadow lift. That must have been one long ride... I was half right in my guess as to the manufacturer, being as Heron morphed ASW into Heron Engineering.
The odd footrest on the Gent's Ridge lift is Poma's first quad footrest. I've seen that style only on lifts older than 1985, and some areas are replacing them with the less cumbersome new style. Summit at Winter Park is about half-and-half right now, and looks odd that way. Having used them before- they suck. The overhead clearance is such that even a short (5'6") person like myself gets hit in the back of the head when the bar comes down.

NO i have not been to the canyons.... Why do u ask?