Skilifts.org / SORT Forum

Mine is HSQ, Fixed Grips are too slow

My favorite type of lift is a high speed quad. However, I like double chairs for shorter distances(3,000 feet or less).

odd high speed lifts such as doubles or triples

I like all types. Job security, you understand

For me it depends on the application. If the lift is at an older ski area that is marketing an older, "the way it used to be done," idea, than a fixed-grip is naturally the best choice no matter how long or slow. Mad River Glen, VT is a perfect example, they still use their 1948 single chair as the summit lift, and the highest capacity lift in the whole ski area is a double chair. Now if the ski area is trying to have an updated image with everything being state-of-the-art, than naturally I would expect nothing less than HSQs and or gondolas. A great example would be Stratton, VT, which isn't much larger than Peak 9 at Breck, has 4 six-packs and a 12 person gondola to the top.

Carlevaro & Savio.

I liked the old school detachable pomas. When I was a kid skiing santa fe they had two of them one ran at around 550fpm and the big poma ran at 700 it was quite a ride. They where also perfect in that they where self ejecting lifts, not for the weak.

Personaly I like any lift that has some sort of history behind it, one of my favorites was the old Quicksilver at Breck. I also am a fan of any vintage lift. Specificaly any that is close to being removed, like giant steps at vail, I try to get as many of these lifts I as I can so I can ride them as much as possible before they are removed For getting the most runs in during a day I definately like any high speed lift.

I like triple chairs for some applications and high speed quads for others. Triples are great on powder days (at the right resort) because lines stay managable and the snow stays fresher longer. HSQ's are great for longer cruiser runs, like John Paul at Snowbasin or any long run. I just hate how on a powder day at kirkwood everything from wagon wheel to a short traverse into the palisades is tracked in 15 to 20 minutes. Both triples and hsq's have their benefits and disadvantages. I suppose a low capicity hsq would be ideal with a capicity of 1800 or a bit less and a fast line speed. But I can only dream of something like that.

I like sixpacks. They're comfy, smooth, and fast. I like high speed pomas, especially Storm King when it jerks you. Although my mom's grandchilderen are at risk. It could be potentially painful. But one of the best rides is the Eagle Bahn Gondola.

Poloxskier- if you want to get on some lifts that are going to be replaced or destroyed you better get hopping. Timberline at WP's going this year, I'm positive that Rose Bowl at BC is being replaced, and I think Argentine @ Keystone is going in a year or 2.

I have already been on all the existing chairs in Colorado except for some of the new ones this year . My last vintage ride of this season hopefuly will be the JH tram if its open when I go up to Alaska. I enjoy a good vintage ride just for nostalga sake. Argentine isn't going anywhere anytime soon, even though its used mostly just to haul up employees at the start of the day it is much needed during busy seasons, especially spring break.
This post has been edited by poloxskier: 14 March 2006 - 09:47 PM

skierdude9450, on Mar 14 2006, 09:52 PM, said:

I have not heard that Timberline is for sure yet. Does anyone that work for WP know for sure yet?

poloxskier, on Mar 14 2006, 10:45 PM, said:

True, but I don't see the need for it any more. Nowadays, no one skis at the Mountain House. I was at Peru one Saturday during Christmas break at 10 am, and there was a 5 min line max!

I beg to differ, in the last weeks we have had at least 10-15 min lines at mountain house, which is often as long as the Summit Express and Zuma. Many people still ski that part of the mountain especially with the park being on that side of the mountain. Argentine isn't there so much for the whole day, it often is closed at noon or 2PM, its more for the morning since you have so many people that go back to the Outback and North Peak. It is very much needed in the mornings to disperse crowds and also to haul up employees since it is much more economical to run than peru, or so I'm told, and it also wont go anywhere since if Peru goes down the only way out of the Mountain House base is by Bus. The Mountain House base still has a large amount of Lodging and all of the base services are offered out of Mountain House.
This post has been edited by poloxskier: 15 March 2006 - 10:20 PM

And Ski Buses suck.

I might have said six packs a few days ago, but after the problems at PCMR, maybe high speed quads are the best. Fast, comfy, and fun to ride

Favourite chair to ride would have to be Mueller double. Latice towers and center post chairs are things you just don't see anymore. There is a great one a Mount Baldy, BC that was just put in a couple of years ago. Red Mountain also has a great one, and last but not least Kimberely has one though it has new hangers (a relocatoin from Lake Louise).
While I like these lifts I've never worked on one, how are they maintenance?

My favorite lif type is one that never runs. That way, there is no need for extravagant electrical detection schemes to sense mechanical problems that should not occur... ever.

Emax, on Mar 25 2006, 08:02 PM, said:

But then how do we get up the hill?