469 replies to this topic

[Peter]

According to Sugarloaftoday.com, Sugarloaf may be putting in 2 new lifts next summer, one top to bottom lift and a parking lot access lift.

[poloxskier]

coskibum, on Oct 15 2007, 03:18 PM, said:

the cheyenne mtn zoo in colorado springs is getting some flavor of a chairlift for sightseeing. its scheduled to go in next summer

Heres some more info about the Zoo skyride in regards to tramway business and variances. Looks like it will be a fixed grip quad, and based on the variances requested it looks like it will travel from the main entrance and gift shop up to the higest point of the zoo by the carousel which will give a great view of Colorado Springs. For those not familiar with the zoo its constructed on the lower slopes of Cheyenne Mountain on the south end of Colorado Springs just below NORAD and their parking lot is adjacent to the former Broadmoor Ski Area.

Quote

3. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s request for a permanent variance for relief from Rule 4.1.1.3.2.1 Structures for the new SkyRide lift (CZ-001)

The Board reviewed the May 23, 2007 letter from Tracey Gazibara, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, requesting a permanent variance for relief from Rule 4.1.1.3.2.1 Structures for the new SkyRide lift (CZ-001).
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is going to be constructing a fixed grip quad chair lift for the spring 2008 season. The current plans for the lift will have seven (7) structures along the lift line that will be within the air space of the SkyRide lift (CZ-001).

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo requested permanent variances for relief from Rule 4.1.1.3.2.1 Structures in order to allow the following structures to be within the air space of the SkyRide lift (CZ-001).

A. The new Fire Tower/Elevator, which is currently under construction. It will house a stairway and an elevator and provide a scenic view from its upper platform.

B. The Big Back Yard Barn, which houses a few small animals.

C. The Treehouse, which is a small building raised on stilts and houses several live insect displays.

D. The Colobus Café, which is a snack shop and houses public restrooms.

E. The Mountain Outfitters building, which houses public restrooms, is utilized as a storage area, and handles the pony rides operation.

F. The Thunder God gift shop and snack bar.

G. The Rocky Mountain Goat Barn, which houses the zoo’s goats while they are not in their outside pen area.

A. Scott Mitchell moved to grant a permanent variance to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for relief from Rule 4.1.1.3.2.1

Fannye Belle Evans seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

[SkiBachelor]

Aspen Skiing Company is waiting for approval from the U.S. Forest Service to replace its Upper and Lower Tiehack lifts at Buttermilk with a high-speed quad. No forecasted construction dates have been given, but it could happen this summer if permits are finalized soon.

Aspen Skiing Company also wants to replace its Sheer Bliss and Big Burn lifts at Snowmass with new high-speed quads.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20071219...949/0/FRONTPAGE

[Peter]

The Tacoma News Tribune mentioned in their Northway opening day article that Crystal was planning on building their Bullion Bain quad in 2008.

[Snoqualmie guy]

I thought it was going to be a Yan double.

[RibStaThiok]

Drats.. those old Tiehack Poma's (both are hybrids, Lower has some Riblet parts on her if I remember correctly) are cool old lifts, will be sad to see them go but would definitly be sweet having a High Speed Quad there.

At Snowmass I can understand them wanting to replace the old Riblet double Sheer Bliss, but Big Burn is a Poma HSQ put in in the late 80s, is it in bad shape or something? Last time I rode her about 4 years ago it was a smooth quick ride up...

[Peter]

Snoqualmie guy, on Dec 30 2007, 03:26 PM, said:

I thought it was going to be a Yan double.

They wisely scrapped that plan and went for a new Doppelmayr CTEC quad.

[P01itiC4lR3B31]

Skier, on Dec 30 2007, 03:51 PM, said:

They wisely scrapped that plan and went for a new Doppelmayr CTEC quad.

Is it going to be a HS of FG?

[Peter]

I'm not sure.

[afski722]

Nub's Nob in Michigan will be adding a new Fixed Grip Triple on Pintail Peak this summer.

The new Gray Lift will be directly adjacent to the current Black Lift.

The lift will be a Superior-Riblet, made from mostly Riblet parts.

[Kicking Horse]

RibStaThio, on Dec 30 2007, 04:46 PM, said:

Drats.. those old Tiehack Poma's (both are hybrids, Lower has some Riblet parts on her if I remember correctly) are cool old lifts, will be sad to see them go but would definitly be sweet having a High Speed Quad there.

At Snowmass I can understand them wanting to replace the old Riblet double Sheer Bliss, but Big Burn is a Poma HSQ put in in the late 80s, is it in bad shape or something? Last time I rode her about 4 years ago it was a smooth quick ride up...

I heard from a few techs at Snowmass that the Burn has had some major issues in the last 2 years. And they also wanted to install a HSS in it's location?

[skier2]

I realize why it might be beneficial for Nubs Nob to have 2 lifts right next to each other on the backside where there is funky terrain (like with the orange and the brown chairs), but why dies pintail need another lift. It isn't ever busy as it stands because the access trail is flat and the lift is a quad.

[afski722]

skier2, on Jan 1 2008, 12:45 PM, said:

I realize why it might be beneficial for Nubs Nob to have 2 lifts right next to each other on the backside where there is funky terrain (like with the orange and the brown chairs), but why dies pintail need another lift. It isn't ever busy as it stands because the access trail is flat and the lift is a quad.

During peak weekends & holidays the Black Lift gets very crowded (like during the past week!) Last weekend, it would be typical to see 10-20 minute lift lines at the Black Lift. The beginners love Pintail Peak, which has helped to take a number of skiers off of the rest of the area. During the week, and early/late season only 1 lift is needed back there (similar to how the Yellow/Blue/Brown only run on weekends & holidays).

With the recent slope widenings back there as well as the lodge at the top, there is plenty of hill capacity but not enough lift capacity.

As a secondary reason, there is moderate concern if the Black lift were to have a mechanical issue then there is no alternative to get people out or keep the area open. Hence, why there is a large sleigh (to be pulled behind a snowcat hidden back in the woods in the event that they needed to get people back out the the front.

[skierdude9450]

SkiBachelor, on Dec 30 2007, 03:41 PM, said:

Aspen Skiing Company is waiting for approval from the U.S. Forest Service to replace its Upper and Lower Tiehack lifts at Buttermilk with a high-speed quad. No forecasted construction dates have been given, but it could happen this summer if permits are finalized soon.

Aspen Skiing Company also wants to replace its Sheer Bliss and Big Burn lifts at Snowmass with new high-speed quads.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20071219...949/0/FRONTPAGE

Would this be two seperate high speed quads? The two lifts basically parallel each other, so it seems like a waste to replace both.

[egieszl]

skierdude9450, on Jan 1 2008, 10:10 PM, said:

Would this be two seperate high speed quads? The two lifts basically parallel each other, so it seems like a waste to replace both.

This is not a waste. The two lifts serve different terrain and different purposes. This is a huge area of Snowmass and the entire area is larger than many ski areas. Redundancy is critical as is meeting the demand.

Big Burn is the most popular lift at Snowmass and is the second oldest detachable lift (1997).

Sheer Bliss is the last of the 16 minute long center pole doubles and completely under utilized.

If they upgrade Sheer Bliss it will reduce demand on the overcrowded Big Burn chair, help spread out the skiers/riders across all of the trails and be another option for moving across the mountain. It will also reduce the crowds on the mid-section of Green Cabin.

However, at this point I would rather see them put in the Burnt Mountain quad than replace Sheer Bliss. The Elk Camp Gondola is a dead end that has gotten very busy and offers very little terrain and lifts to go to.

[floridaskier]

I heard that Snowbasin is talking about installing some sort of lift next year to get from the bottom of the Strawberry gondola back to the base area if the gondola has to go down for high winds, which apparently happens pretty often. This was from a guy on the chair up there

I searched the topic and I can't find if this was posted before, but PCMR may be replacing the Motherlode triple with a high speed quad next year. They opened up a new glade this year over there and the Park Record made it sound like they were waiting to see if the new area was popular or not, then they would decide whether or not to replace the chair, but they would probably have to have the order in by now, so who knows. If they do it, the new chair would probably be a Doppelmayr CTEC with torsion bar grips like First Time and 90 degree loading (or what I would do, replace King Con with a new six pack and put the old King Con HSQ in at Motherlode)

[RibStaThiok]

[quote name='floridaskier' date='Jan 4 2008, 06:43 AM' post='70036']
I heard that Snowbasin is talking about installing some sort of lift next year to get from the bottom of the Strawberry gondola back to the base area if the gondola has to go down for high winds, which apparently happens pretty often. This was from a guy on the chair up there

If thats the case, they could put in a rope tow that goes from Strawberry up to the Penny Lane Trail, or a lift that goes up to the top of Becker.. I suppose Snowbasin could always get one of the old lifts being replaced in Sun Valley (Sun Valley owns Snowbasin) and bring it over but I doubt they will be doing this. I doubt we'll be seeing any more lift expansion up at Snowbasin for a very long time. As it stands right now, Wildcat and Middle Bowl are only operating on the weekends and high traffic days and the plans to replace the Little Cat Double are toast for now.

[SkiBachelor]

Tremblant has plans for installing a new lift this summer. No idea on the type or manufacturer.

http://www.tremblant...ap/index-e.html

[Nick303]

Lift up to Tucker on Copper is in the master plan as well.

[Peter]

Master plans mean nothing, they are just projects that may happen sometime.