220 replies to this topic

[thebigo]

Cannon will be installing the long anticipated mittersill double chair next year. Many regulars have mixed opinions but it is tough to argue the improvements at cannon over the last decade.

Quote

MITTERSILL UPDATE...

We’ll open and manage that terrain area this year as a lift-accessed backcountry portion of Cannon’s terrain (via the Tramway and Cannonball Quad).

The trail crew has done some thinning and brush cutting for ease of access, but nothing to change the culture or skiing & riding experience over there. With no snowmaking, limited grooming, very limited patrolling and extensive rescue time, the area will carry a designation of “Extra Hazardous.”

We’ll run a weekend/holiday shuttle service from the base of Mittersill to Peabody/Notchview.

We plan to have the new Mittersill Double Chair installed and operational by mid-late December 2010.

source:http://cannonmt.com/new.html

Quote

John DeVivo reported that the project had been scoped and spec’d by Cannon Mountain, the NH BPW and DoppelmayrCTEC at $3,065,401.

source: http://www.nhparks.s...0109minutes.pdf

[Peter]

The 2009-2010 The Canyons trail map says "Lookout Mountain Lift coming 2010-2011." It had been planned as a detachable quad, is that still the plan?
http://www.skimap.or.../1257892697.pdf

[floridaskier]

Skier, on 10 November 2009 - 02:40 PM, said:

The 2009-2010 The Canyons trail map says "Lookout Mountain Lift coming 2010-2011." It had been planned as a detachable quad, is that still the plan?
http://www.skimap.or.../1257892697.pdf

Going by the recent past, look for a fixed quad, preferably from somewhere else on the mountain. Deer Valley's Little Chief triple will be on the market soon, and they seem to like thirdhand lifts from DV. Or maybe they have some quad chairs left around from the Red Hawk to Sunrise transition. In all seriousness though, every one of those lifts on the left side of the mountain (Peak 5, Dreamscape, Day Break, Dreamcatcher) was planned to be a detachable and wasn't. Hopefully new ownership will buck that trend. They even went cheap on the Cabriolet - it was supposed to be an automated tram system with a midstation, but ended up as a CTEC gondola.

Edit: I couldn't attach the image, but there's a map showing high speed quads for lifts that approximating what turned out to be:
- Peak 5, a new fixed quad
- Iron Mountain, remains to be seen
- Dreamscape, a used fixed quad that was taken from an extremely useful location as the Raptor lift, leaving Golden Eagle alone by itself to never operate
- Dreamcatcher, a new lift with chairs taken from the old Red Hawk lift, which went from being a quad that never operated to a double that never operates 500 yards to the left
- a lift near Day Break that actually went somewhere, ending higher up on the mountain. Day Break ended up being the used Quincy triple from Deer Valley, which itself was the used Wasatch triple from DV too
- a lift in the dead area that is now the Colony that actually followed the fall line
- and two more lifts right above Peak 5 and to the right of 9990 that don't seem to go anywhere interesting.

I'm holding out hope for an Iron Mountain high speed quad still. It would show the new owners cared about skiing

[Snostyle]

Here at Mountain Creek (Vernon Valley/Great Gorge) , we'll be replacing our Sojourn double that runs between our South Peak and Granite peak. Looks like we will be going with another double from Partek. (they are only 10mins down the road) We'll be re-using the tower tubes and replacing everything else.

[aimbrig]

that map that you speak of was just a vision.

I dont think you have once said anything positive about the canyons.....

floridaskier, on 10 November 2009 - 06:59 PM, said:

Going by the recent past, look for a fixed quad, preferably from somewhere else on the mountain. Deer Valley's Little Chief triple will be on the market soon, and they seem to like thirdhand lifts from DV. Or maybe they have some quad chairs left around from the Red Hawk to Sunrise transition. In all seriousness though, every one of those lifts on the left side of the mountain (Peak 5, Dreamscape, Day Break, Dreamcatcher) was planned to be a detachable and wasn't. Hopefully new ownership will buck that trend. They even went cheap on the Cabriolet - it was supposed to be an automated tram system with a midstation, but ended up as a CTEC gondola.

Edit: I couldn't attach the image, but there's a map showing high speed quads for lifts that approximating what turned out to be:
- Peak 5, a new fixed quad
- Iron Mountain, remains to be seen
- Dreamscape, a used fixed quad that was taken from an extremely useful location as the Raptor lift, leaving Golden Eagle alone by itself to never operate
- Dreamcatcher, a new lift with chairs taken from the old Red Hawk lift, which went from being a quad that never operated to a double that never operates 500 yards to the left
- a lift near Day Break that actually went somewhere, ending higher up on the mountain. Day Break ended up being the used Quincy triple from Deer Valley, which itself was the used Wasatch triple from DV too
- a lift in the dead area that is now the Colony that actually followed the fall line
- and two more lifts right above Peak 5 and to the right of 9990 that don't seem to go anywhere interesting.

I'm holding out hope for an Iron Mountain high speed quad still. It would show the new owners cared about skiing

[Kicking Horse]

Aimbrig,

List @ least 10 good things about the Canyons... I dont think you can...

aimbrig, on 02 December 2009 - 09:05 PM, said:

that map that you speak of was just a vision.

I dont think you have once said anything positive about the canyons.....

[monkey]

Hmm, They used to be known as Park West.....

[aimbrig]

I am biased though, I love the place

Kicking Horse, on 03 December 2009 - 03:55 AM, said:

Aimbrig,

List @ least 10 good things about the Canyons... I dont think you can...

[Peter]

Got an email from Sugarloaf today saying that Boyne and the town of Carrabassett Valley are in talks to team up on a new base to summit Gondola.

Also, Bridger Bowl has posted details of their future lift plans:
http://www.bridgerbo...xtras/whatsnew/

Sounds as though a new triple will go in this summer replacing Bridger and Deer Park.

[liftmech]

Skier, on 21 September 2009 - 09:22 AM, said:

Well I just got an email from the Forest Service saying they have approved 2 new graded cat tracks at Crystal. Presumably related to the lift replacement, the first one will go from the top of High Campbell to the Throne. The second will go from the top of Green Valley a short distance to the Grubstake area.

More info here: http://www.fs.fed.us...ect/index.shtml

I guess the Park Service has backed off on the 'viewshed' issue? For a while they were pretty bad about it. The Chair 3 track won't be much of an issue, but depending on where the one from the top of 6 to the Throne goes, it could be quite visible.

[boardski]

Skier, on 04 December 2009 - 01:12 PM, said:

Also, Bridger Bowl has posted details of their future lift plans:
http://www.bridgerbo...xtras/whatsnew/

Sounds as though a new triple will go in this summer replacing Bridger and Deer Park.

Looks good! It is cool how they tell exactly what they are planning on doing and why they are planning on doing it. Most areas do not get that detailed. I skied/rode Bridger last March for the first time. Had a great day (although 18" new definately helped that). Looking forward to returning soon.

[Tin Woodsman]

aimbrig, on 03 December 2009 - 07:53 PM, said:

I am biased though, I love the place

If you really loved the place, you would be honest about it shortcomings and failings, of which there are many.

FWIW, when I look at the new Canyons map, I don't see the blurb about Lookout Mtn. Only the teaser about Iron Mtn.

[Peter]

This thread is about new lifts for 2010. Let's stop arguing about The Canyons, please.

[Lift Kid]

Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but there is talk of Breckenridge replacing the 5 chair either this summer of the following year with a detachable.

[Lift Kid]

Vail Mountain gets OK for new Chair 5

http://www.summitdai...entprofile=1055


VAIL — Chair five in Vail's Sun Down and Sun Up Bowls could be a high-speed quad as early as next season — something Vail Resorts officials have wanted since 2007.

The U.S. Forest Service issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision Tuesday that approves the upgrade, along with several other proposed upgrades for the ski area.

Skiers commented on the announcement on Facebook.com Tuesday with disappointment.

“Well, Sun Down is really gonna get tracked out now,” wrote Jim Honsberger.

The current lift, a non-detachable triple, needs the upgrade, said Vail Resorts spokeswoman Liz Biebl.

“The Chair five upgrade will increase uphill capacity, which will better accommodate existing and future use of Sun Up and Sun Down Bowls, as well as skier circulation egress from the Back Bowls to the front side of Vail Mountain,” Biebl said Tuesday.

Vail Resorts initiated a National Environmental Policy Act review in September 2007 for projects in its 2007 Master Development Plan Update, which include upgrading chair five to a high-speed quad, installing a high-speed quad lift in Sun Down Bowl, expanding the training and racing terrain on Golden Peak, providing maintained access to West Earl's Bowl, snowmaking on intermediate trails served by chairs 19 and 26 and the construction of a new maintenance facility and restaurant.

Chris Jarnot, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain, said the company hasn't decided when the other projects could happen, but said the chair five replacement should begin construction next summer.

The requested upgrades all fall within Vail's special use permit boundary with the Forest Service, according to the Forest Service's record of decision.

Scott Fitzwilliams, forest supervisor for the White River National Forest, said there's a 45-day appeal period where anyone involved in the impact study process can appeal the approval. The Forest Service would then have its own 45-day period to respond to any appeals, he said. If there aren't any appeals, the project could begin next year, he said.

The impact study did eliminate a few proposed projects for various environmental concerns. Snowmaking expansions were scaled back to include only the Simba trail because of soil and watershed concerns, the decision said.

The proposal for maintained access to West Earl's Bowl was dropped because of potential impacts to the lynx habitat, and the on-mountain restaurant was relocated from the summit of the mountain to Mid-Vail.

“I think it's important to understand that what Vail originally proposed and what I have approved are different,” Fitzwilliams said in a statement Tuesday, adding that Vail Resorts was willing to make adjustments to its plans because of the environmental concerns.

Fitzwilliams called the approval a “good decision” and said the projects would increase efficiency on the mountain, improve circulation and add on-mountain guest services, all while protecting “important resource values,” he said.

[floridaskier]

I rode up with someone who was staying at the new St. Regis hotel at Deer Valley. Apparently the hotel is telling their guests that the long-rumored Deer Crest high speed quad is a go for next summer, and that it's already been ordered. I'm sure this would be a Doppelmayr CTEC job, probably on St. Regis' dime, and it would replace a CTEC fixed quad built in 1997.

I'm surprised they didn't replace the lift at the same time the hotel opened over there. The current Deer Crest lift is only running at half capacity with a 12 second interval between chairs, and that hasn't been enough to handle the increased traffic over there this year. They seem to be doing a lot more grooming on Deer Crest this year, and a couple times this week the line for the Deer Crest lift has been spilling outside the maze, when I've never seen any line down there before this year. If this isn't the year to replace the lift, it's definitely time to add some more chairs.

[SkiBachelor]

Tyler, be sure to take a lot of pictures of the lift while your there! I don't know anyone else on the forum who would be able to do that.

[Peter]

Maybe you can make it over to The Canyons to take some pictures there too!

[Peter]

A-Basin to replace Exhibition Lift
‘The Legend' will install its first high-speed detachable quad chairlift this summer
By Julie Sutor
summit daily news

SUMMIT COUNTY — Arapahoe Basin will whisk skiers and riders up the mountain more quickly next season.

Summit County's highest ski area announced Tuesday that it will replace its Exhibition fixed-grip triple chair with a high-speed detachable quad this summer.

The new lift is scheduled to start turning at the start of the 2010-2011 season. It will bring guests from the base area to mid-mountain in less than three minutes — half the time Exhibition now takes to do the job. Detachable lifts ease loading and unloading for beginner and intermediate skiers, so ski area representatives expect the new lift to have fewer stops and starts than the current one.

“Each year, we receive hundreds of comments suggesting we make this change,” A-Basin general manager Alan Henceroth said. “Finally, after working on this project for the last five years, we are very excited to christen a new chairlift for the 2010-2011 season.”

Exhibition moves more people than any other lift at A-Basin. It is the first lift to open at the season's beginning and the last to close in all of Summit County in spring or summer. Henceroth describes it as “the real workhorse of the fleet.”

“With its increased capacity, shorter ride time and ease of loading, the new detachable chairlift will be a tremendous benefit to our guests,” Henceroth said.

Exhibition provides access to Black Mountain Lodge and to the mountain's upper chairlifts — Lenawee, Norway and Montezuma. The current lift has been in place since 1978.

The new quad lift will provide easier access to the mid-mountain lodge for special events and weddings year-round.

Exhibition's replacement will be the ski area's third new lift in 10 years. The new lift will have a capacity of 2,000 people per hour, a length of 2,877 feet and a vertical rise of 719 feet. The location of the bottom terminal will not change; the upper terminal will be slightly uphill and to the west of the existing one.

The ski area has contracted Leitner-Poma to build and install the lift, with construction scheduled to begin mid-June. It will not impact this season's tentative June 6 closing date, according to spokeswoman Leigh Hierholzer. The project will cost about $4 million.

The fate of the existing lift is not yet determined, but, “It will be reused or recycled, with very little thrown away,” Henceroth said.

The new lift will not go by the name Exhibition. And who better to name it than those who will ride it?

Henceroth is accepting suggestions via e-mail at alanh@a-basin.net. Whoever dreams up the winning name will receive a 2010-2011 A-Basin season pass or a $300 gift certificate to Arapahoe Sports.

[floridaskier]

SkiBachelor, on 30 December 2009 - 10:34 PM, said:

Tyler, be sure to take a lot of pictures of the lift while your there! I don't know anyone else on the forum who would be able to do that.

I didn't get any pictures of the Deer Crest fixed quad this trip, but there are a few on the main page. I did get a few of the new funicular up to the hotel nearby, and I'll get plenty of the new lift next year. Didn't make it to The Canyons this trip. A Deer Valley mountain host said the same thing about the paperwork already being signed today. I head home tomorrow