139 replies to this topic

[Conrad]

julestheshiba, on 08 May 2016 - 06:12 PM, said:

Actually all websites about ski lifts say quantum leap was modified with a Borvig drive and housing. Note The Signature Borvig Drive. Also Peters website (https://liftblog.com/) says "Relocated from South Ridge, converted to a triple, and Borvig drive added". I always trust Peter.

On my page "A Maine Ski Lift Enthusiast" a mechanic from Sunday River (or a mechanic who knew a mechanic at Sunday River) confirmed that it is not a Borvig drive and that it has no Borvig components, despite what websites say.

[Yooper Skier]

Conrad, on 09 May 2016 - 02:31 PM, said:

On my page "A Maine Ski Lift Enthusiast" a mechanic from Sunday River (or a mechanic who knew a mechanic at Sunday River) confirmed that it is not a Borvig drive and that it has no Borvig components, despite what websites say.

Yup, Quantum is one of the lifts I wrench on. 1981 Hall double that was moved by Poma in 1992 to make way for the detach and had triple chairs added. It's original double chairs now reside on Jordan Double (lift 13, 1994 CTEC). The steel motor room enclosure does resemble a Borvig's, but the carriage and everything bolted to it (except for the hydraulic tensioning that Poma added) is Hall. The motor room enclosure itself may be Borvig for all I know. I could never get a straight answer from my tribal ancestors regarding that. If it is, then it was a custom, one-of job for this lift.

[NHskier13]

The bottom of the lift looks like the spruce chairlift at the same resort, though.
However if you look at the supports they are not the same, maybe the housing is borvig built on an old hall structure?
Either way I'd trust the person who works on it more than a webpage that doesn't have sources, there is room for incorrect information in that.

[julestheshiba]

That is true

[sheave]

So is there an almost original Thiokol left (outside of Colorado)? I'm a bit confused now. :)

Not sure if lost ski areas are also a topic for this forum, but I would be also interested in visiting some, especially when the lifts are still standing (like in Marble, CO or the Riblet double in Gatlinburg - so it must not be a ski area). I know New England is a paradise in this regards, but there must be some more lifts rusting between Washington and Vermont.

[RibStaThiok]

There are no Thiokols in Colorado. Wildcat @ Snowbasin is Thiokol, it just has a CTEC/Doppie skin over the original bottom and top terminals.

Also in Utah: Someone correct me if these are outdated and no longer there.
Powder Mountain- Sundown Lift (May have been replaced?) 1971 Thiokol http://www.skilifts....own/sundown.htm and the Timberline Lift (should still be there) 1972 Thiokol Tripple http://www.skilifts..../timberline.htm

Nordic Valley (aka Wolf Mountain) had 2 Thiokol doubles installed in 71 & 72, and a Borvig double installed in 75. One of those has since been removed and replaced with a FGT CTEC I believe from Deer Valley?

Sundance- Flathead lift- 1975 Thiokol- http://www.skilifts....ad/flathead.htm

This post has been edited by RibStaThiok: 09 May 2016 - 10:25 PM

[SkiDaBird]

Sundown got replaced in 2014 by a SkyTrac. Timberline is still there, along with hundreds of stickers. Sunrise at Solitude is was built in 77, I'm not sure if it's a CTEC or Thiokol, but the design is appears Thiokol. Chickadee at Bird is a Thiokol, but it has been modified.

[NHskier13]

I forgot to mention two places possibly worth looking at if you're in NH ; both are a little ways from Sunapee, however.
Mt. Whittier NH, has an older gondola still standing, but the cabins are not on the line and there are a few standing outside. Supposedly it was a really nice difficult area way back when.

King Ridge had an interesting feature in that it was the "upside down ski area" Skiers had to drive to the top, but there was no lift ride to get to your first run. My mother told me stories of the area all the time. As far as I know, though, the only lifts still standing are some terminals, tower footings, and towers, and some trails are overgrown.

This post has been edited by NHskier13: 10 May 2016 - 08:08 AM

[julestheshiba]

Homewood at Tahoe has a old Thikol with a CTEC return terminal http://www.skilifts....ellis/ellis.htm

[thunderbird]

RibStaThiok, on 09 May 2016 - 10:24 PM, said:

Nordic Valley (aka Wolf Mountain) had 2 Thiokol doubles installed in 71 & 72, and a Borvig double installed in 75. One of those has since been removed and replaced with a FGT CTEC I believe from Deer Valley?

Pretty sure the three standing lifts at Nordic Valley are:

1. Apollo - 1970 Hall (originally called Viking)
2. Bridger - 1971 Thiokol (originally called Troll; rarely used)
3. Crockett - 1982 Yan (originally Sterling at Deer Valley; installed at NV in 2007)

I don't think they ever had a second Thiokol or a Bovig, but I could certainly be mistaken.

This post has been edited by thunderbird: 10 May 2016 - 02:39 PM

[liftmech]

julestheshiba, on 08 May 2016 - 06:12 PM, said:

Actually all websites about ski lifts say quantum leap was modified with a Borvig drive and housing. Note The Signature Borvig Drive. Also Peters website (https://liftblog.com/) says "Relocated from South Ridge, converted to a triple, and Borvig drive added". I always trust Peter.

I'd go with Yooper on this one. He knows. Our site, unfortunately, is incorrect.

[julestheshiba]

liftmech, on 10 May 2016 - 06:09 PM, said:

I'd go with Yooper on this one. He knows. Our site, unfortunately, is incorrect.

I trust a mechanic and I know that this site is incorrect a lot but I thought peter would be right. Unless he is going here for his info.

[sheave]

NHskier13, on 10 May 2016 - 03:12 AM, said:

I forgot to mention two places possibly worth looking at if you're in NH ; both are a little ways from Sunapee, however.
Mt. Whittier NH, has an older gondola still standing, but the cabins are not on the line and there are a few standing outside. Supposedly it was a really nice difficult area way back when.

King Ridge had an interesting feature in that it was the "upside down ski area" Skiers had to drive to the top, but there was no lift ride to get to your first run. My mother told me stories of the area all the time. As far as I know, though, the only lifts still standing are some terminals, tower footings, and towers, and some trails are overgrown.

Mt. Whittier is on my list for a long time now, I hope we make it there this year. Also the chair at Shandaken, NY.

I just found out that the Eagle's Nest chair at Jackson Hole has been removed about a month ago. Another Murray-Latta I can take off my list. :(

Maybe I will ski some areas in Utah next winter to ride one of the Thiokols, but I will not make it there this summer.

[julestheshiba]

sheave, on 10 May 2016 - 07:26 PM, said:

Mt. Whittier is on my list for a long time now, I hope we make it there this year. Also the chair at Shandaken, NY.

I just found out that the Eagle's Nest chair at Jackson Hole has been removed about a month ago. Another Murray-Latta I can take off my list. :(

Maybe I will ski some areas in Utah next winter to ride one of the Thiokols, but I will not make it there this summer.

There is a Thikol at Homewood in lake tahoe

[sheave]

So far I haven't been very successful on my trip. I was focussing on Idaho the last couple of days. Couldn't find anyone at Lost Trail and only saw the Hall double chair. Sun Valley was more interesting when hiking around Proctor and Ruud Mountain (first and second chair from AS&W, the latter still standing). Blizzard Mountain's old platter (built by?) top terminal was only visible from the distance - would be great to ski there some day. The old Stearns-Roger double at Bear Gulch was also only visible from the distance (at least one tower in the woods and tower 1 in the gulch) - the ranger stopped me from going down into the gulch as they had some bears down there the other day (plus heavy rain...). Finally I tried to find someone at Kelly Canyon to get a tour of the old Hjorth Bros. double, but they are all on "vacation" right now.

Devils Nest in Nebraska would be next on my list (as the Beartooth pass is still closed and the lifts won't operate for the season), but I heard the chair was removed a few months ago (and all the area is private property).

Looks like I have to focus on some other stuff for the next weeks. :)

[julestheshiba]

I know that solitude has a really cool 1989 VonRoll CTEC express lift called eagle express. It is one of my favorite lifts. Also to add on Squaw and Alpine are basically "YANTOPIA"

This post has been edited by julestheshiba: 18 May 2016 - 08:12 PM

[iceberg210]

sheave, on 18 May 2016 - 07:46 PM, said:

So far I haven't been very successful on my trip. I was focussing on Idaho the last couple of days. Couldn't find anyone at Lost Trail and only saw the Hall double chair. Sun Valley was more interesting when hiking around Proctor and Ruud Mountain (first and second chair from AS&W, the latter still standing). Blizzard Mountain's old platter (built by?) top terminal was only visible from the distance - would be great to ski there some day. The old Stearns-Roger double at Bear Gulch was also only visible from the distance (at least one tower in the woods and tower 1 in the gulch) - the ranger stopped me from going down into the gulch as they had some bears down there the other day (plus heavy rain...). Finally I tried to find someone at Kelly Canyon to get a tour of the old Hjorth Bros. double, but they are all on "vacation" right now.

Devils Nest in Nebraska would be next on my list (as the Beartooth pass is still closed and the lifts won't operate for the season), but I heard the chair was removed a few months ago (and all the area is private property).

Looks like I have to focus on some other stuff for the next weeks. :)

Sometime I need to head back to Bear Gulch, was there this last winter and didn't see much, then again I didn't go too far either as falling several feet into the snow with each step got old quick. Should have had some snow shoes or something.

The lift at Blizzard originally came from Beaver Mtn in Utah, although I don't know the manufacture. It originally had wood towers so it may well have been effectively a homebuilt, either that or if I had to take a wild guess a CONSTAM. Much of the parts have been replaced over the years with improvised replacements so its' harder than ever to figure out what it originally was.

Best of luck on looking for more lifts etc! Always fun to look through and explore old lost resorts and lifts (when permission and access is available ;) )

[Smacpats]

Chickadee at Snowbird, well is unique to say the least (1971 thokiol with these chairs)

[Smacpats]

sheave, on 09 May 2016 - 08:01 PM, said:

So is there an almost original Thiokol left (outside of Colorado)? I'm a bit confused now. :)

Sunrise triple at Solitude:

[snoloco]

West Mountain, NY has a Thiokol triple chair. Supposed to be replaced by a Poma triple chair although I'm not sure if it'll happen this summer.