252 replies to this topic

[alexboesen]

alexboesen, on 27 February 2014 - 06:29 PM, said:

Of the two ideas, I think a Gondola to the top of Solar and leaving Solar alone is a much better idea.

From a placement perspective the new Gondola could terminate at the current Catskinner terminus. Catskinner could then be replaced with a HSQ starting at the intersection of 'Connector' and 'Last Resort' and ending near the exit of Green Line adjacent to the top of Jersey Cream.

[DonaldMReif]

alexboesen, on 27 February 2014 - 06:34 PM, said:

Breckenridge - One more to add is a HSQ on C Chair with an extension up towards the top of Mercury.

I guess, in theory, you could do that.

Here's a map of the Peak 9 lifts.
 Proposed Lift C extension.jpg (178.34K)
Number of downloads: 92

If Lift C became a high speed quad and was extended uphill, you could theoretically place its upper terminal next to the upper terminal of Lift E, though you'd then need to widen the little trail that runs over and enters the Mercury SuperChair's unload area to reduce congestion. The ski patrol hut might also need to be removed.

[SkiDaBird]

alexboesen, on 27 February 2014 - 06:28 PM, said:

Chair 9 (Plunge Lift) at Telluride needs to be upgraded to a HSQ.

Shedhorn at Big Sky Resort needs to be upgraded to a HSQ.

I was at Big Sky this summer and it looks like Shedhorn would not be fun if the weather weren't ideal so I like that idea. I'l be in Telluride next weekend so I'm assuming I will be agreeing about Lift 9 then.

[DonaldMReif]

Not necessarily replace, but I think Breckenridge could have improved Peak 6 if Zendo was built as a fixed grip quad with a loading carpet belt and gates, so as to allow for a slightly faster line speed. The ride time on Zendo should not be longer than the ride time of the Kensho SuperChair.

[SkiDaBird]

DonaldMReif, on 28 February 2014 - 09:44 PM, said:

Not necessarily replace, but I think Breckenridge could have improved Peak 6 if Zendo was built as a fixed grip quad with a loading carpet belt and gates, so as to allow for a slightly faster line speed. The ride time on Zendo should not be longer than the ride time of the Kensho SuperChair.

Enlighten me real quick, why would I take Zendo instead of Independence to Wanderlust? I just don't quite get it.

[DonaldMReif]

Wanderlust is a cat track. Also, it's not well marked. There's only one sign that is clearly visible for Wanderlust as you get off the Independence SuperChair, to the right of the warming hut. It involves a bit of an uphill bit and then a narrow cat track. Zendo happens to be easier to get to and is more visible.

There are reasons why you would be taking Zendo over to Peak 6 instead of using Wanderlust to go directly from the Independence SuperChair to the Kensho SuperChair. Namely; Zendo is more visible. But you also have to use Zendo to go directly to Peak 6 if you are coming from the Rocky Mountain SuperChair, via the Peak 6 Parkway, which diverges from Pioneer and crosses Wirepatch and Lincoln Meadows to reach Zendo.

This post has been edited by DonaldMReif: 01 March 2014 - 08:36 AM

[alexboesen]

I would also add the High Alpine lift at Snowmass. Seems like a HSQ with a capacity of 1800 pph should do. Hopefully they will extend it high enough so there will be downhill access to both upper Green Cabin and Hanging Valley.

[DonaldMReif]

If I were to upgrade High Alpine, I'd be doing it with this alignment.

 High Alpine extension.jpg (226.2K)
Number of downloads: 113

 High Alpine from South.jpg (230.5K)
Number of downloads: 99

Theoretically, if this were the alignment of a high speed quad, it would be a 7.5 minute ride, but it could also lead to the cutting of additional blue runs in the unused space between Slider and Turkey Trot, to the benefit of people who lap the Alpine Springs lift. Such an alignment would also allow you to lap the Headwall without having to go all the way back down to Alpine Springs, and render it possible for you to move from the Two Creeks and Elk Camp lifts back over to Sheer Bliss and Big Burn while relieving traffic at Alpine Springs.

[liftmech]

I'd keep High Alpine as is. It's not much of a hike to the Hanging Valley anyway, and the ride time is decent.

[SkiDaBird]

Lift 9 at Telluride is really long...a High Speed would be very nice there.

[DonaldMReif]

@liftmech - I guess an easier alternate would be to upgrade Alpine Springs to a high speed six pack and use the quad to upgrade High Alpine. Alpine Springs probably could use such an upgrade because when you look at the map, you have to use Alpine Springs to transition from the west part of the mountain (Sam's Knob, Village Express, Coney Glade, Big Burn and Sheer Bliss lifts) over to the Two Creeks and Elk Camp lifts and their trails. Going from Two Creeks or Elk Camp back over to the west, you have two options: A) you can go down to the base to take the Village Express lift, which is most ideal if you're intending on going over to Sam's Knob or Campground. B) To go back to the Big Burn area, ride Alpine Springs, then take Granite and ride the Sheer Bliss lift; or you can take Green Cabin back to the Coney Glade lift, ride that, then take Lunchline over to the Sam's Knob lift. Obviously, this means that much like the Mountaintop Express, Alpine Springs both has trails you can lap from it, and also gets used as a transition lift.

This post has been edited by DonaldMReif: 08 March 2014 - 06:51 PM

[machskier]

Sounds like your Sugar Bush request will be getting done with a FGQ.
As for Sunday River, no chance Locke is getting replaced anytime soon as it is early season then weekend/holiday/event use only. Spruce could use speed but mgmt wants to hold capacity at current level on that lift. The one I want replaced is the Barker HSQ with a HSS.

slider729, on 19 February 2014 - 09:33 PM, said:

Killington - Snowdon mtn needs replacement/ upgrade to HSQ - with the right modifications to the Killington base lodge area and parking lot it would be better utilized.

Mount Snow - North face lifts and the Sunbrook lift. Long slow lifts - although too much capacity at the peak?

Sunday river - Locke peak, spruce peak and whitecap base lifts . Some re alignments would help.

Sugarloaf - Bucksaw on the west side. Proposals included new intermediate trail pod between west mtn base and bucksaw current area. Hsq or even convertible lift (to gondola cabins) to service dinners at bullwinkles would be nice.
King Pine lift with lower base location to catch more area from brackett basin - Go HSQ.

Sugarbush - Valley House Double - Plenty of abilty to absorb crowds on the spring fling side of lincon peak if the base was lower and it was higher capacity.

Cataloochee, NC - Summit double. Replace with a fixed grip quad (only 750' vertical), but current lift has poor loading and queue area, low overall capacity and akward midstation where due to snowmaking interferes with height of chairs crossing over trail (which has to be marked with bamboo).

Sugar Mtn NC, Main summit doubles (2). The slowest lifts on the east coast - Again not impressive vertical so Fixed grip Quad lift may be sufficient.

Canyons lifts mentioned earlier - along with the Snowbasin replacement of Becker.

[boardski]

This is not part of their master plan but after riding Lenawee at A-Basin and encountering multiple stops today, A HSQ would be nice to replace that and the existing triple Lenawee could be moved to replace Pallivicini. Maybe they could build some kind of terminal building on top of Lenawee similar to the one Mammoth has on top of lift 23 if they are worried about the wind on top. There is plenty of terrain off Pallivicini (my apologies if I keep spelling it wrong) to accommodate a triple chair and it would help serve the weekend crowds better. If Lenawee is left as is and Norway is removed (as planned on master plan) this will be a big mistake and there will be nothing but long lines on weekends- not fun.

[Backbowlsbilly]

Lenawee is a pretty new lift so I don't think it will be replaced anytime soon. However, Pali's replacement and the new lift in The Beavers will relieve those crowds when they are built so it's just a matter of waiting until then.

[DonaldMReif]

And the Beavers lift, according to the master plan, is going to be a fixed grip quad.

[SkiDaBird]

Backbowlsbilly, on 22 March 2014 - 11:19 AM, said:

Lenawee is a pretty new lift so I don't think it will be replaced anytime soon. However, Pali's replacement and the new lift in The Beavers will relieve those crowds when they are built so it's just a matter of waiting until then.

Pali will be a double so I don't think it will do anything to change crowds. The thing I don't understand is to access Zuma and Beavers, the FGQs, you will have to take Lenawee or Pali, a triple and double with their own terrain pods.

[snoloco]

Mount Snow should replace the Sunbrook Quad with an HSQ. It is long and slow with a length of almost 4,500 feet long and a speed of 450 fpm. The HSQ could either be a new install or be the relocated Canyon Express or Nitro Express if there is a need replace those with HSS's. I haven't been there after Bluebird was installed, so I don't know what lines on those lifts are like now. An HSQ on the North Face to replace one of the triples would be nice with leaving one triple as a backup. Sundance is also a long Yan triple that is rarely ridden due to it's length. An HSQ or HSS there would reduce crowding on the summit lifts significantly since it goes very close to the summit.

[boardski]

From looking at "The Beavers" expansion area at A-Basin, one would access it easily from top of Pallivicini or with some traversing from top of Lenawee/ Norway. Looks like mostly advanced terrain (similar to Pallivicini). On another note, I was actually taking into account Lenawee's young age (installed in 2001) when I suggested it be relocated to become the new Pallivicini. Since that is not part of the master plan anyway though it will likely stay as is even though there are so many misloads/unloads it is almost faster walking up the hill :-S The nice thing though is Pallivicini is still where the best terrain is and the tourists (those who request/ cause stops and slow-downs) do not seem to be riding Pali. The masses driving up from Denver on weekends use Pali plenty though as the line is normally twice the size of the corrals by 10:30am on a Saturday or Sunday. (I also realize all tourists do not fit the category of "those requesting/ causing stops and slow-downs").

This post has been edited by boardski: 23 March 2014 - 07:15 AM

[missouriskier]

boardski, on 21 March 2014 - 07:24 PM, said:

This is not part of their master plan but after riding Lenawee at A-Basin and encountering multiple stops today, A HSQ would be nice to replace that and the existing triple Lenawee could be moved to replace Pallivicini. Maybe they could build some kind of terminal building on top of Lenawee similar to the one Mammoth has on top of lift 23 if they are worried about the wind on top. There is plenty of terrain off Pallivicini (my apologies if I keep spelling it wrong) to accommodate a triple chair and it would help serve the weekend crowds better. If Lenawee is left as is and Norway is removed (as planned on master plan) this will be a big mistake and there will be nothing but long lines on weekends- not fun.

I still haven't figured out why this wasn't included in the master plan. It seems so strange to remove Norway, and then replace Pali with another double, so that if Lenawee would be down for some reason, then the only access to most of the area would be through Pali.

I would upgrade Lenawee to a high-speed quad, move the triple to Pali, and keep Norway so as to have a robust lift system that can still function even with a failure of one of the lifts.

[boardski]

Exactly, and if they are worried about too many people in the Pallivicini pod, the chairs could be spaced a little further apart but not too much. Pallivicini is not only a die-hard expert skier/ rider pod but also an access lift. If intermediate levels and above use Pali to access the mountain, they are able to have a decent run down to the upper lift(s) instead of riding Black Mountain and having only a short, flat traverse before boarding another lift.

This post has been edited by boardski: 24 March 2014 - 06:18 AM