299 replies to this topic

[Outback]

NoPainNoJane, on Apr 23 2009, 12:12 PM, said:

Is Jackson going to leave the double in Rendevous Bowl this summer or is it going to be removed? If removed, any plans to install it somewhere else on the mountain?

Yes but not now.
Great logical location................guess where?
No local answers please!

[Peter]

$7M gondola project aimed for January 2010 completion
By Tom Ross - The Steamboat Pilot
Sunday, April 26, 2009

Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. Vice President of Mountain Operations Doug Allen, right, discusses plans for the new gondola that will run from Wildhorse Meadows to Gondola Square with City Planning Director Tom Leeson, from left, Ski Corp. Vice President of Resort Services Mike DeGroff, Ski Corp. Public Relations Director Mike Lane and Resort Ventures West Principal and Chief Financial Officer Brent Pearson.

Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. Vice President of Mountain Operations Doug Allen, right, discusses plans for the new gondola that will run from Wildhorse Meadows to Gondola Square with City Planning Director Tom Leeson, from left, Ski Corp. Vice President of Resort Services Mike DeGroff, Ski Corp. Public Relations Director Mike Lane and Resort Ventures West Principal and Chief Financial Officer Brent Pearson. Photo by John F. Russell
Meeting this week to discuss plans to build a new people-mover gondola were Resort Ventures West Chief Financial Officer Brent Pearson, from left, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. Vice President of Mountain Operations Doug Allen, RVW Development Manager Mariana Ishida and City Planning Director Tom Leeson.

Meeting this week to discuss plans to build a new people-mover gondola were Resort Ventures West Chief Financial Officer Brent Pearson, from left, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. Vice President of Mountain Operations Doug Allen, RVW Development Manager Mariana Ishida and City Planning Director Tom Leeson. Photo by John F. Russell
At a glance

■ The new gondola will be public

■ Initial uphill capacity will be 1,800 riders an hour, expandable to 2,400, not quite matching the existing gondola’s 2,800.

■ Gondola cabins will carry eight passengers, with a three-minute trip time

■ Ski Corp. shuttle vans gradually will phase out

■ Goal is construction this fall with opening as soon as January 2010

Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs could have a new people-mover gondola by early next ski season.

Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. officials and Wildhorse Meadows de­­velopers confirmed this week that they are close to finalizing a cost-sharing deal that would allow construction of a new, eight-passenger public gondola this fall. The goal is to open the gondola as soon as January 2010. It would link a remote parking lot and new luxury condominium hotel with the base of Steamboat Ski Area.

“Now is the best time to get it done,” Wildhorse principal Brent Pearson said. “We’re working well with everyone, but we’re not done yet. We’ve got a lot of things to work out between ourselves.”

Pearson also is chief financial officer for Resort Ventures West, developer of the soon-to-open Trailhead Lodge. A similar gondola has been a part of the original proposal for Wildhorse and has been promised to buyers. However, Resort Ventures West and Ski Corp. have been discussing the latter’s invitation to partner in a high-capacity gondola since 2005.

The fully enclosed gondola now poised to move forward comes with an estimated cost of $7 million.

Initial uphill capacity on the new gondola will be 1,800 riders an hour, with the ability to upgrade volume to 2,400 an hour with the later addition of more cabins. The trip will take three minutes.

In comparison, the existing Steamboat gondola has an uphill capacity of 2,800 per hour, and the new Christie Peak Express can carry 3,200 riders per hour. Ski Corp.’s fleet of shuttle vans transports 750 people per hour.

City Planning and Com­munity Development Director Tom Leeson confirmed that City Manager Jon Roberts has cleared him to fast-track the development permit process for the new gondola. The lead time for manufacturing several key components of the new gondola makes it necessary for Resort Ventures West to have its permits in place by early June in order to meet the aggressive timetable.

“It’s not going to be business as usual,” Leeson said. City planners will begin processing the permit application even as the developers work to refine the design.
In the beginning

Resort Ventures West originally estimated it would spend $3 million for a lower-capacity, pulse gondola such as the gondola ride in Glenwood Springs. It would have been public, but the uphill capacity would have been geared toward meeting the needs of Wildhorse residents and guests. The slower gondola would have stopped to load and download every time one of four cabins arrived at a station.

Ski Corp. Vice President of Resort Services Mike Van DeGroff said the long-term goal for the high-capacity gondola would be to virtually replace the current fleet of ski area vans used to ferry skiers and visitors from the Meadows Parking Lot to the Gondola Transit Center.

The transition would take place over time, DeGroff said, and an undetermined number of vans would be kept as a backup to the gondola.

The lower gondola terminal would be situated between the eastern boundary of the Meadows lot and Trailhead Lodge, scheduled to open in Wildhorse Mea­dows this summer. The upper terminal would be just outside a public plaza in the new One Steamboat Place condominium complex, a location designed to provide a natural pedestrian path for skiers to the existing Steamboat gondola.

Ski Corp. Vice President of Mountain Operations Doug Allen said he expects the new gondola to clear up congestion at the Meadows lot and in the vicinity of the Gondola Transit Center.

“We think it will provide a better opportunity for our guests,” Allen said. “It’s nice to see it getting closer to fruition.”

Allen said he could identify the successful bidder on the construction of the gondola as soon this week. He has been in talks with Leitner-Poma, of Grand Junction, and Doppelmayr Garaventa U.S.A., which has a manufacturing plant in Salt Lake City.
Fast climber

The gondola will be aided by a new technology developed in Europe that will help it climb more steeply immediately upon leaving the lower terminal. That will help it climb rapidly to the elevation of Mount Werner Circle before crossing the road and traversing a 150-foot-wide easement between The West condominiums and the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel, Allen said.

Allen added that the new gondola cabins are likely to be built by a Swiss company, CWA Constructions. Al­­though they will closely resemble the cabins in the existing Steamboat gondola, at 192 centimeters, the new cabins will allow a 6-foot-tall person to stand up inside.

Some of the urgency at­­tached to ordering and installing the new gondola this year is attributable to the economic downturn, and the potential for reduced costs with highly motivated lift manufacturers in a competitive bidding environment. Both parties to the construction also acknowledged that the current availability of financing is a factor, but they declined to elaborate.

DeGroff added that plans to expand the Meadows lot this summer, the completion of Trailhead Lodge and the pending completion of construction adjacent to Gondola Square all contribute to the desirability of pursuing an aggressive timetable for gondola construction.
Planning hurdle

Leeson said the biggest hurdle from a planning perspective is ensuring that the new upper terminal allows the Gondola Transit Center to function well.

The upper terminal would be moved from the originally planned location within One Steamboat Place because of the new gondola’s added size and weight. The change means a triangular median at the entrance to the transit center, where the first parking stall will be removed.

“We want to ensure that turning motions into the transit center are still workable,” Leeson said.

The lower terminal will be moved closer to the Meadows lot by about 200 feet from the previously planned location, immediately north of Trailhead. That will make a shorter walk for skiers and riders.

DeGroff said plans are in the works to create a drop-off lane allowing families to exit their automobiles on the east edge of the parking lot close to a new pedestrian bridge that would span wetlands.

DeGroff said there are no short-term plans to begin charging for parking in the Meadows lot. The gondola also will be free to riders, Ski Corp. spokesman Mike Lane said.

[Splicer]

East Ridge relocate. So I guess I'm not allowed to spill the beans "eh" Outback?

[Outback]

Splicer, on Apr 26 2009, 01:57 PM, said:

East Ridge relocate. So I guess I'm not allowed to spill the beans "eh" Outback?

We can discuss it over lunch at the top of the gondola without riding it.................oops....might of spilled those beans...hint.

[Peter]

This alignment or something similar?

Attached File(s)

•  0809wintermap.jpg (1.5MB)
  Number of downloads: 101

[Crystal Coach]

How about White Pass? I don't see it on the list for this Summer but this link: http://www.skiwhitep...ction/index.cfm makes me think those lifts will be turning next winter. What do you think?

[Peter]

Everywhere official says "the first lift will be open in time for the 2010-11 ski season." However, it does appear that the lifts will be largely completed this summer.

[Peter]

An updated list. I removed Hyak becauase Boyne canceled that one. Also removed Edelweiss Valley, Quebec because there is nothing on their site about it. Added the East Ridge relocate at JH, Stagecoach at Moonlight, and the 2 lifts at White Pass because it is obvious that they are being built this summer regardless of when they will be opened. I am hoping the Nakiska high speed quad happens, there is nothing about it anywhere but here. It looks like the SAM Lift Construction Survey is going to have a record low of around 12 new lifts.

1 Gunstock, NH Doppelmayr CTEC Quad
2 Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA Doppelmayr CTEC Pulse Gondola Highlands Express Gondola
3 Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Bear Paw
4 Red River, NM Doppelmayr CTEC Triple Red
5 Steamboat, CO Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 Wildhorse Gondola
6 Sun Valley, ID Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 River Run Gondola
7 Whistler Blackcomb, BC Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Timing Flats
8 White Pass, WA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Basin
9 White Pass, WA Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Hogback Express
10 Marmot Basin, AB Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad Tranquilizer Express
11 Nakiska, AB Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad
12 Roosevelt Island, NY Leitner-Poma Tram Roosevelt Island Tram
13 Berkshire East, MA Used Triple Diamondhead Express
14 Moonlight Basin, MT Used Doppelmayr Double Stagecoach
15 Jackson Hole, WY Used Doppelmayr CTEC Double
16 Eaglecrest, AK Used Riblet Double Mid Mountain
17 Bruce Mound, WI Used Superior Tramway Triple
18 Sleeping Giant, WY Used Yan Triple

Google Map here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&...amp;t=h&z=4

[SkiBachelor]

When I talked to the Summit lift maintenance crew a week a half ago at PNSAA, they said it was still on.

[Outback]

Skier, on May 11 2009, 11:59 AM, said:

An updated list. I removed Hyak becauase Boyne canceled that one. Also removed Edelweiss Valley, Quebec because there is nothing on their site about it. Added the East Ridge relocate at JH, Stagecoach at Moonlight, and the 2 lifts at White Pass because it is obvious that they are being built this summer regardless of when they will be opened. I am hoping the Nakiska high speed quad happens, there is nothing about it anywhere but here. It looks like the SAM Lift Construction Survey is going to have a record low of around 12 new lifts.

1 Gunstock, NH Doppelmayr CTEC Quad
2 Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA Doppelmayr CTEC Pulse Gondola Highlands Express Gondola
3 Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Bear Paw
4 Red River, NM Doppelmayr CTEC Triple Red
5 Steamboat, CO Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 Wildhorse Gondola
6 Sun Valley, ID Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 River Run Gondola
7 Whistler Blackcomb, BC Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Timing Flats
8 White Pass, WA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Basin
9 White Pass, WA Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Hogback Express
10 Marmot Basin, AB Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad Tranquilizer Express
11 Nakiska, AB Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad
12 Roosevelt Island, NY Leitner-Poma Tram Roosevelt Island Tram
13 Berkshire East, MA Used Triple Diamondhead Express
14 Moonlight Basin, MT Used Doppelmayr Double Stagecoach

15 Jackson Hole, WY Used Doppelmayr CTEC Double

16 Eaglecrest, AK Used Riblet Double Mid Mountain
17 Bruce Mound, WI Used Superior Tramway Triple
18 Sleeping Giant, WY Used Yan Triple

Google Map here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&...amp;t=h&z=4

You sure on JH this summer?

[Peter]

You guys sounded pretty sure about East Ridge a few days ago, that's the only reason I added it.

1 Gunstock, NH Doppelmayr CTEC Quad
2 Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA Doppelmayr CTEC Pulse Gondola Highlands Express Gondola
3 Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Bear Paw
4 Red River, NM Doppelmayr CTEC Triple Red
5 Steamboat, CO Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 Wildhorse Gondola
6 Sun Valley, ID Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 River Run Gondola
7 Whistler Blackcomb, BC Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Timing Flats
8 Marmot Basin, AB Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad Tranquilizer Express
9 Nakiska, AB Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad
10 Roosevelt Island, NY Leitner-Poma Tram Roosevelt Island Tram
11 Berkshire East, MA Used Triple Diamondhead Express
12 Moonlight Basin, MT Used Doppelmayr Double Stagecoach
13 Eaglecrest, AK Used Riblet Double Mid Mountain
14 Bruce Mound, WI Used Superior Tramway Triple
15 Sleeping Giant, WY Used Yan Triple

Google Map here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&...amp;t=h&z=4

[LuvPow]

There is also a new short FG Leitner Poma going in at a small area in Eastern Canada.. can't recall the name though. I'll remember eventually...

[Peter]

mjturley34, on May 12 2009, 11:51 AM, said:

The thing some folks think they're sure about is the location of the re-install, not the exact time frame ? It is much cheaper to decide where to put it than it is to move it there.

Got it. As for location, I think it's obvious it will end at the top of the gondola, will it start from the bottom of Thunder or somewhere higher up on Amphitheater?

[sseguin613]

The quad at Edelweiss Valley seems fairly sure. The lifties last season said it was going to replace the last double chair. And the Drive terminal is in the field next to the parking lot. No reason it would be there if it wasn't going to be installed. They even said it came from Vermont. Which would make it the kidderbrook quad.

There isn't any info and P.R. for MSSI isn't saying anything but going by it being there and the lifties believing that it was going to replace another chair, sounds pretty solid its going to happen.

[Peter]

sseguin613, on May 12 2009, 02:24 PM, said:

The quad at Edelweiss Valley seems fairly sure. The lifties last season said it was going to replace the last double chair. And the Drive terminal is in the field next to the parking lot. No reason it would be there if it wasn't going to be installed. They even said it came from Vermont. Which would make it the kidderbrook quad.

There isn't any info and P.R. for MSSI isn't saying anything but going by it being there and the lifties believing that it was going to replace another chair, sounds pretty solid its going to happen.

I have no doubt that it will happen eventually, it's just a matter of when. Lifts can sit in parking lots for a long time and lifties are not always the most reliable source of information. I'm going to leave it off the list until something official comes out, let me know if you see any construction or press release.

[lastchair_44]

Skier, on May 12 2009, 12:03 PM, said:

Got it. As for location, I think it's obvious it will end at the top of the gondola, will it start from the bottom of Thunder or somewhere higher up on Amphitheater?

Bottom of Thunder, line will go up over the Granny Chutes and the lift will terminate just below the restaurant from what I've heard.

[yosemitemtb]

Badger Pass is still planning on replacing the Badger fixed grip double this summer, but I don't believe the contract has been signed yet. I've been on vacation for a couple of weeks, so I'm a bit out of the loop lately.

[Lift Dinosaur]

LuvPow, on May 12 2009, 01:01 PM, said:

There is also a new short FG Leitner Poma going in at a small area in Eastern Canada.. can't recall the name though. I'll remember eventually...

Mt. Packenham, Ontario; Leitner-Poma Fixed Grip Quad - Mika Express

Dino