252 replies to this topic

[SkiDaBird]

Mike12164, on 02 March 2016 - 02:16 PM, said:

Interesting how many people here are giving ride time as a reason for replacement, really there are only a handful of reasons to replace an older lift:

1. Needs more capacity (ie triple->quad or quad->six pack)
2. Old lift has reached the end of its useful life and is too costly to maintain
3. Lift is on a beginner slope and needs to be made more user friendly.

Personally I think if lines are short and the thing still works just go with it, spending million of dollars to get maybe one more run in a day just doesn't seem worth it.

Capacity wouldn't hurt at 7 and 9. I know from personal experience that even though that was on of my favorite parts of the mountain, I spent my time on 12, 14 and 15 because of how frustrating it was to be on the lift for that long. Aspen did a study a few years ago and found that anything longer than 7 minutes should probably be high speed, and somewhere like Telluride, I do think it makes sense.

[boardski]

If the technology is still usable, once it is replaced with a gondola, lift 10 could be relocated to replace lift 9 (at Telluride), maybe lift 9 could replace lift 7 since it is the oldest lift. Seems like replacing lift 8 would be a fairly low priority since it does not operate full days anyway unless it needs it due to age. When I visited Telluride during Winter Break, I noticed lift 9 gets lines at the bottom and stops and slows some for misloads, 10 got busy at times also yet 7 nor 8 ever had lines, they are just older chairs. I did find myself spending limited time on 9 due to lines and stops and slows for misloads even though it serves terrain I normally enjoy. I definitely am in favor of that upgrade.

This post has been edited by boardski: 02 March 2016 - 06:40 PM

[julestheshiba]

why do you think they want to replace 8 and 7 they are old but SLIs last a really long time it seems. Also 8 is a really short lift and would definitely not need to be an express lift. I just wish ski resort owners could see these conversations.

[boardski]

Hopefully 7 and 8 would not be a priority. Neither need to be replaced except IIRCC, 7 has downloading so they have to slow it every time a loaded chair comes through the bottom station, maybe they want a lift which is set up more efficient for it. I couldn't tell you why 8 should be replaced, it definitely seemed like an OK lift to me.

[NHskier13]

snoloco, on 01 March 2016 - 06:01 PM, said:

I haven't skied Attitash, NH, but their Summit Triple is over 6,000 feet long which means a 12-15 minute ride on a fixed grip. That lift should be upgraded to a high speed quad. Not sure where the triple could be relocated to that is under their parent company Peak Resorts. Maybe sell it to Killington to build a new South Ridge Triple

Honestly, I don't know why they build a high speed lift halfway up and the triple to the top
But it's probably because 2800 would be a bit much capacity for a few of steeper runs when joined in by a double...

[snoloco]

The capacity doesn't have to be 2,800. Usually HSQ's are 2,400. There's 3 runs off the summit as of now and the double feeds people in a bit further down. Still, it would be a major upgrade over a 6,000 foot triple.

[snoloco]

snoloco, on 04 March 2016 - 06:31 PM, said:

The capacity doesn't have to be 2,800. Usually HSQ's are 2,400. There's 3 runs off the summit as of now and the double feeds people in a bit further down. I would think upgrading from 1,800 to 2,400 pph wouldn't be a big deal.. Upgrading a 6,000 foot triple to a HSQ would be a major upgrade and probably bring more people to the mountain.

[Smacpats]

SkiDaBird, on 01 March 2016 - 05:19 PM, said:

http://www.snowsbest...uride-colorado/

If you don't want to watch the video, the lift upgrades mentioned are 7,8,9 and 10. That's spot on for what Telluride needs, especially 9. The terrain in that part of the mountain is amazing, but 13 minutes is a long lift.

FINALLY! ITS BEEN SO LONG! What would be next after that though? Apex express? Village six pack?

[Smacpats]

RibStaThiok, on 01 March 2016 - 11:08 PM, said:

I'll be sad to see the 2 SLI's at Telluride go :( But it is a beautiful resort. I appreciate BIll Jensen's candor and calm demeanor and professionalism. He's a classy guy.

Maybe not even replace oak street, after coonskin gets replaced by a HSQ you would be able to ski down telluride trail to plunge.
They should install one of them going from the top of village to the top of apex, or from the top of gondi to the top of village, or both (for the hell of it, the SLIs are pretty cool):

This post has been edited by Smacpats: 05 March 2016 - 04:26 PM

[Smacpats]

floridaskier, on 27 January 2015 - 08:02 AM, said:

The tram at Snowbird isn't going anywhere, it's their biggest marketing selling point and they've done some upgrades of late

Backbowlsbilly, on 26 January 2015 - 06:01 PM, said:

I can see how taking Peruvian would be much faster than the tram, but I only went to Snowbird once so I was giddy to lap that thing being a Colorado tourist, where we don't have any trams like that to speak of. You are completely right about a lift up the tram line too, no way would that work.

SkiDaBird, on 26 January 2015 - 04:28 PM, said:

As far as Snowbird goes, it would be rather difficult to run a chair on the tram's liftline. The line is near the tree clump skier's left of the massive cliff.
great-scott_.jpg
Photo credit,
http://unofficialnet...ging-ski-slopes

They are probably going to try to keep it as long as they can, but the question is how long can they? Jackson started the replacement of theirs 11 years ago, and it was only four years older (Unless I forgot). When they finally have to replace the tram though, a 3S would be pretty awesome... ;)

[Smacpats]

boardski, on 02 March 2016 - 06:39 PM, said:

If the technology is still usable, once it is replaced with a gondola, lift 10 could be relocated to replace lift 9 (at Telluride), maybe lift 9 could replace lift 7 since it is the oldest lift. Seems like replacing lift 8 would be a fairly low priority since it does not operate full days anyway unless it needs it due to age. When I visited Telluride during Winter Break, I noticed lift 9 gets lines at the bottom and stops and slows some for misloads, 10 got busy at times also yet 7 nor 8 ever had lines, they are just older chairs. I did find myself spending limited time on 9 due to lines and stops and slows for misloads even though it serves terrain I normally enjoy. I definitely am in favor of that upgrade.

I think part of the reason nobody ever rides 7 nor 8 is because 8 never runs and because the only use of 7 (Considering a gondola that is double the speed of it is next to it) is to be able to get to plunge from the top, although from the gondi you can just ski down to apex and take that up and ski down to plunge and you get a full run in, deeming lift 7 and 8 completely a waste of time. If they put in a new HSQ at plunge and put the current lift 10 at the location of lift 7, it would be so damn helpful and useful.

[liftmech]

Smacpats, on 06 March 2016 - 06:00 AM, said:

They are probably going to try to keep it as long as they can, but the question is how long can they? Jackson started the replacement of theirs 11 years ago, and it was only four years older (Unless I forgot). When they finally have to replace the tram though, a 3S would be pretty awesome... ;)

Snowbird's tram is a Garaventa, which is still fully supported by the Doppelmayr/Garaventa group. They've just recently upgraded the electronics and (if I remember my tour guide correctly) the carriages on both cabins. I agree that it's not going anywhere.

[vons]

Smacpats, on 06 March 2016 - 06:00 AM, said:

They are probably going to try to keep it as long as they can, but the question is how long can they? Jackson started the replacement of theirs 11 years ago, and it was only four years older (Unless I forgot). When they finally have to replace the tram though, a 3S would be pretty awesome... ;)

The tram is shutting down for a couple of months this spring for the installation of new track ropes, which should be the last major refit it will need for awhile. Baised on this I betting the tram is going nowhere for at least 40 more years.

[Smacpats]

liftmech, on 06 March 2016 - 07:24 AM, said:

Snowbird's tram is a Garaventa, which is still fully supported by the Doppelmayr/Garaventa group. They've just recently upgraded the electronics and (if I remember my tour guide correctly) the carriages on both cabins. I agree that it's not going anywhere.

vons, on 06 March 2016 - 10:05 AM, said:

The tram is shutting down for a couple of months this spring for the installation of new track ropes, which should be the last major refit it will need for awhile. Baised on this I betting the tram is going nowhere for at least 40 more years.

Dang, I forgot it's still 100% supported.

[Smacpats]

And after 10 gets replaced maybe a gondi up to the top of 14? (Dots are stations/turns)
Concept 1: http://i.imgur.com/FAB1bCt.png
Concept 2: http://i.imgur.com/lFcLgkn.jpg

This post has been edited by Smacpats: 06 March 2016 - 04:02 PM

[Smacpats]

Smacpats, on 06 March 2016 - 06:12 AM, said:

although from the gondi you can just ski down to apex

I really need to get back to Telluride soon...

[RibStaThiok]

Yes. It sounds like a hidden gem of a resort.

[snoloco]

Duncan Express at Tremblant could definitely use an upgrade to a 6-pack. It had the longest line on the mountain today. Not sure if there's anywhere to recolate the current lift. They could probably sell it off though. It's a 1991 Doppelmayr. Those lifts are really well built and amazingly reliable.

[Smacpats]

Just throwing it out, Thunder and Sublette could use conversions at JHMR. (To HSQs)

This post has been edited by Smacpats: 28 March 2016 - 05:25 PM

[NHskier13]

Not gonna happen, but Aurora high speed lift at Sunday River would be great... although the fixed grip 10-minute ride would deter people from skiing all the snow off I suppose...

Also I dunno what the possibility is, but Jordan Bowl Express could use a modification of the towers near the top. Seriously, from 4 days of skiing, I bet the staff were being real generous when they let it open, the wind was pretty crazy until later in the day, at least when I was there. But also, it may be hard to set it up to be low enough to significantly be sheltered from wind but high enough to ski under? Just a thought...

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