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The first parts of the Skytrac Triple has arrived here in Taos Ski Valley, NM. This picture is it down the road it arrived at sundown in TSV. Can't wait to see it start going up!!!  Skytrac Truck 1.jpg (63.37K)
Number of downloads: 160
This post has been edited by Nate214: 01 April 2014 - 06:42 PM

That was quick-- I imagine you guys haven't even started taking down its predecessor?

John, If i remember right this lift is in a completely new location above the existing Kachina bowl quad. Nate may have mentioned it elsewhere but Skytrac is planning to hull the top bull wheel up the peak at the end of the season

vons, on 02 April 2014 - 03:52 PM, said:

Are they planning to take it up by snowcat or some other way? That peak is pretty steep so I imagine that this might be the most challenging project for them so far. It is certainly an exciting addition for Taos.

missouriskier, on 02 April 2014 - 04:33 PM, said:

I'm sure it will be a heli.

Sound like 1 or 2 cats pulling and one pushing gonna be interesting to see how they track up Mainstreet. Yes this is a new location. There was issues with the weight and altitude for the return bullwheel. Will require the much more expensive Heli if they can't get the bullwheel up there. 4 more days till we close then it is go time for hauling the bullwheel up while there is still snow.
This post has been edited by Nate214: 02 April 2014 - 07:18 PM

Here is a few photos of Kachina Peak  Kachina.jpg (22.13K)
Number of downloads: 192  kachina2.jpg (265.17K)
Number of downloads: 240  kachina3.jpg (281.66K)
Number of downloads: 172

Looks like fun. Haven't skied your place yet, but it's not too bad a drive....

Can't wait to lap this lift and hit all the Kachina chutes

liftmech, on 03 April 2014 - 04:41 AM, said:

Same for me.

A couple Photos of yesterday Snowcat cutting the snow road to haul the bullwheel up 6,800 lbs on a 1,800 lbs sled 8,600 total lbs to haul up gonna be interesting!!  IMG_20140408_104729.jpg (448.43K)
Number of downloads: 256  IMG_20140408_104818.jpg (461.15K)
Number of downloads: 237

They made it up the knob on the left still a ways to go

Interesting. Thanks for the photo update.

Update!! The bullwheel has successfully been hauled to the top terminal location for the Kachina Peak Lift. Check out the Taos Ski Valley Chamber of Commerce page on Facebook they have posted a few albums on there with good pictures of the progress. https://www.facebook.com/tsvchamber

Pictures for you. The 13.5ft diameter 6,800 lb Skytrac bullwheel now sits at 12,481ft waiting for construction of the new triple Mainstreet lift. The sled weighed 1,800lbs for a total 8,600lb haul up 1,078 ft vertical Kachina peak. The Haul was a great success and had a little protest written in the snow.  kachinab.jpg (35.69K)
Number of downloads: 197  kachinab0.jpg (32.6K)
Number of downloads: 257  kachinab1.jpg (24.49K)
Number of downloads: 247  kachinab2.jpg (29.23K)
Number of downloads: 250  kachinab3.jpg (33.27K)
Number of downloads: 243  kachinab4.jpg (45.57K)
Number of downloads: 199

From my understanding Kachina Peak will be third highest lift in America at 12,481'. Currently Breckenridge is 12,840', Loveland 12,700', A basin 12,472'
This post has been edited by Nate214: 18 April 2014 - 09:27 PM

I am 99% sure that this is a bottom drive and that bullwheel that they brought up was the return bullwheel. Am I correct?

snoloco, on 19 April 2014 - 02:50 PM, said:

Correct

Nate214, on 18 April 2014 - 09:17 PM, said:

Who would be against having easy access to terrain without needing to hike?!

snoloco, on 20 April 2014 - 02:13 AM, said:

More people will probably go up to Kachina now that there is a lift there instead of hiking so keeping it a hike would mean less people and better conditions. However, that's what people said about Imperial and you can find good snow up there for days after a storm in Lake Chutes and on upper Peak 7. I'm all for lifts that eliminate hikes to expert terrain but I can see why some people wouldn't want it. Some of my favorite terrain is hike to like Keystone's bowls, Winter Park's Cirque, and Whale's Tail at Breck and those hikes are fun because they set the terrain apart.

Back on topic, I'll try to go up to Beaver Creek and Breck to get pictures of the new lifts that are going in this summer. Breck has a webcam directly focused on the Colorado Superchair but Beaver Creek doesn't have one on Centennial so I'll try to fill in some gaps if I can.