128 replies to this topic

[DonaldMReif]

liftmech, on 08 March 2013 - 07:01 PM, said:

There aren't any true safety bars on any lift that I'm aware of, save one or two brand new ones here or there.

I just consider those types of climbs places where a bar would make me feel a little less afraid. My idea of considering it "scary" is when the top terminal is right after you crest one of these steep climbs where you can't see what's past it until you're at the top of the rise. The Northwoods Express counts because you have the steep climb up the cliff at tower 19, then tower 20. Then there's a three-tower breakover at the top of the cliff, you go over a crossroad connecting Mountaintop Express traffic to the North Face, then enter the upper terminal.

And the Mountaintop Express lift's signature cliff is definitely easier to ride over with a footrest equipped bar. Have to just wonder what that six pack's going to look like when they build it next year. I'd imagine that they might use a couple of combi-towers instead of an in-line depression tower where tower 6 is.

[missouriskier]

liftmech, on 08 March 2013 - 07:01 PM, said:

There aren't any true safety bars on any lift that I'm aware of, save one or two brand new ones here or there.

I agree, and can easily see how someone could slip out under a lowered bar. With both feet on a footrest, I guess it would be much less likely, though.

Personally, I don't use safety bars at all unless someone else on the chair wants it down, or I want to rest my skis on the footrest, which is rare. It just adds a false sense of security, and they don't exist in Missouri, so I have to be responsible for keeping myself in the chair. I did pull the bar down once on Casper at Jackson Hole because I wanted to use the built-in trail map.

To reply directly to this topic in general:

When I was much younger, like under 12 or so, there were lifts that scared me a little - if they went up a steep incline. I don't really remember feeling that way about Resolution at Copper after the first time I rode it. It seems that I have not been on a chairlift that scared me several years. I am much more comfortable skiing steep slopes now, so that may have something to do with it.

[SidBurn]

Morningside lift at Steamboat because of the wind towards the top
The old Timberline lift at WP for the same reason

[Conrad]

I happened to come across a photo of this lift on remontees-mecaniques. Wow!


This one is from Wikipedia:

This post has been edited by Conrad: 17 April 2013 - 08:34 AM

[liftmech]

Wow. Member ex-liftie says you'll never see her on that lift

[DonaldMReif]

liftmech, on 18 April 2013 - 04:46 AM, said:

Wow. Member ex-liftie says you'll never see her on that lift

Don't expect me to either.

[teachme]

Any change it is not as steep as it looks? Camera perspective?

[Dr Frankenstein]

I don't know. Zoom compression may or may not be to blame here, but the average slope is still over 40% according to remontees-mecaniques.net.

...I kind of want to ride it.

This post has been edited by Dr Frankenstein: 01 May 2013 - 07:49 PM

[6207]

Lift Kid, on 09 August 2006 - 06:26 AM, said:

Tea cup express @ Vail can get kind of windy at times. Also, the old Miner-denver double (removed this summer) at Buck hill, MN. That lift was falling apart. The sheaves moved side to side at times. Also, the tension system didn't work properly and was replace with a hand crank boat winch so the lift was always low in between the towers.

Lift Kid,
The winch you are referring to was used to adjust the height of the counterweight. It does not control the rope tension. The rope tension was to Miner Denver specifications. When you add more people to the lift the rope will typically sag more in between the loaded towers. As for the sheaves moving side to side ?????. The lift was 37 years old and as all older not updated lifts,it did have its gremlins. As far as Miner Denver lifts go, it was still in pretty good shape when it came out. Many parts from this lift were donated to Copper Peak Ski Jump and have been put into service. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's unsafe or not maintained properly.

[HandsomeRob]

Chair 23 at Mammoth was pretty terrifying for me.

[Conrad]

Source: http://translate.goo...html&authuser=0

[Razvan]

Try these ropeways: manganese mining town Chiatura, in Georgia (the ex-Soviet republic).

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[Razvan]

Find the RPD controls!

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[Razvan]

Then (the fifties) and now:

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This post has been edited by Razvan: 25 September 2013 - 01:32 AM

[Razvan]

One for the next year wallpaper calendar:

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[Razvan]

http://www.tumblr.co...hiatura?page=12

[Razvan]

http://saktransporti...08/ropeways.htm

[Razvan]

Main source of info: http://englishrussia...e-ropeway-city/

[ss20]

Interesting enough that the cars have no brake system, if something happens a car will just go down on the rope. It happened in Tbilisi in 1990: it was the biggest Soviet ropeway catastrophe with twenty people dead, 15 wounded. (Amos Chapple | Rex Features).

[Razvan]

The Soviet Union too.