Skilifts.org / SORT Forum

RibStaThio, on May 27 2008, 11:28 PM, said:

Powderhorn could use one due to the length of the lifts. It would be nice if they could upgrade the FGQ to GS but its probably old enough now that they would just replace it. The double chair (West End) seems to run a little faster with minimal stops and slows so it could probably soldier on for quite a while longer unless the owners win the Powerball and feel like replacing both of the longer chairs. If they replaced the beginner double like some areas are doing, I think some of us would have to picket.

I think A-Basin and Loveland should stay fixed grip only. Those resorts (along with Alta) are two of my favorite places, and I wouldn't want to see them change too much. Waiting in the line for Exhibition can suck, but I've only rarely had to wait in a long line for Lenawee, and if you don't go below the mid-mountain area you only have to wait in the Exhibition line once a day. Of course I haven't skied either place on a really busy day, maybe it does get busy enough to warrant faster lifts.

Powder Mountain does have a detachable quad now, the Hidden Lake Express.
This post has been edited by AlphaBet: 28 May 2008 - 12:54 PM

To be honest, A-Basin and Loveland have really attracted the non-resort crowd. The skiing is amazing, and the snow is phenomenal. It just has the "old Colorado" feel. No huge developments, or real estate, and no massive detachable ski lifts or gondolas. I absolutely love getting away from the big ski resort atmosphere when I go to A-Basin or Loveland!

tbh here, Powderhorn does not need faster lifts.

I agree that Loveland doesn't need any high speed lifts. It really is never crowded, and aside from chair 2, the lifts aren't too long. But A-Basin does!!! As long as Colorado Passes are still valid there, there will be 3k + skiers on their white ribbon of death early season. Now as I'm typing this, I realize that a HSQ wouldn't improve that situation, only make it worse, but at least you wouldn't wait 45 minutes to get your chance at killing yourself. I've also seen some really long lines at Pali, but I'm fine with that. Powderhorn seems like it could benefit from a detachable lift, but only because both of the lifts are sooo long.

Does anyone think that Eldora needs a detachable running up its main face? It seems like it would have done this by now because of its close proximity to CU Boulder.

my thoughts on the washington ski areas

Silver Fir at Summit !!!
Jupiter at Stevens Pass

As far as Snoqulamie goes I think Hyak needs one the most.

Saddleback as a replacement for the Rangeley double chair. It's the primary workhorse out adjacent to the lodge and there are new and upgraded lifts going in on the upper mountain and other areas away from the lodge. It's only 4700', so you're talking about reducing ride times from maybe 8-9 minutes to 4-5 minutes, but it's pretty important given its location and the classic cruising terrain it serves.

Eldora doesn't really need one because they have a triple and a double running the same line. That's plenty of capacity there. Also they're a low overhead ski area, so a detachable is probably not within their budget, especially since they're doing fine without one. They don't pull that many skiers/riders from CU Boulder. Most students that I know there still either have a Copper/Winter Park pass or a Colorado Pass.

SkiBachelor, on May 28 2008, 11:50 PM, said:

Also,

The City will not allow them to get a HS lift until the road is upgraded going up to the ski area. So with that the road has to be upgraded first.

:)

What city? Eldora is privately owned and operated. Mary Jane's access road is still gravel and they've had a detachable lift there for years.

As for extending Norway further up the hill- there's a reason there's hardly any snow up on that ridgeline; namely that the wind pastes it on Lenawee Peak. Keeping the top station where it's at uses the ridge a a sort of windbreak.

Callao:

"Brian Head.
In a world that increasingly believes in diversity, the same should apply to an area with all Yan lifts. Of course, this has changed with the adding of two D-CTEC triples lately, but hey? Why not add a third element?"

Well, we got a bridge over the highway and subdivision expansions instead. Our numbers went down and we're working a 75% schedule for the summer. Go figure.

Andoman, on May 27 2008, 07:58 PM, said:

I'd also like to add the becker lift at snowbasin. I like skiing off this lift because nobody else really rides it much, but that wind coming out of strawberry basin kick your a$$ on that lift. I know speed would make it worse but a shorter ride would help.

Just for capacity problems and as a refresher for me, a HSQ has the same capacity as a FG quad, is that right? I can't think why it would have a higher capacity (chair every six seconds), but some are implying they do. ??

Emax, on May 30 2008, 09:23 AM, said:

75% this summer? Emax, what exactly does that mean? 75% of normal summer work load and 75% of normal pay? Hopefully just the work load . . .

I talked to Troy Catwyk (GM of Cedar Breaks Lodge) and he said that this winter's numbers at the hotel were alarmingly "down", especially on weekdays. So much for new terrain.

Andoman, on May 30 2008, 05:13 PM, said:

Naah Becker and Porky will be there for quite a few more years yet... Wildcat and Middlebowl are older then the B&P Twins. With Littlecat being replaced this year and a new lift in the works for the Strawberry area, I think S-Basin will do just fine. Becker is a sweet smooth ride up, I can take the wind.

RibStaThio, on May 31 2008, 01:45 AM, said:

I do agree the chair is a very smooth ride. I've also heard about the plans for a chair out of strawberry up towards dan's I believe? That would be cool especially when they shut down the gondolas. Gosh I love the strawberry area, I spent 3 days there this year, had tickets for the basin and powder and didn't even leave snowbasin.

It certainly is a great resort! I'll be back in the Ogden Valley area next month and will be paying some visits to the Basin, Powder Mtn, and Wolf Mtn, along with a drive up Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, and Park City, if I have time.

RibStaThio, let me know you don't have time to go to Brighton/Solutide. I will plan to do that next month since the snow still stand there and the ground becomes mud. Best is July...dry ground so I can hike up.
This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 31 May 2008 - 07:35 PM

Callao, on May 30 2008, 11:22 PM, said:

You are correct. Both fixed and detachable quads can have the same capacity, although in practise a fixed quad has less because of (generally) loading difficulties.