http://showdownmonta.../new-chair-lift
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On Saturday, September 9, 2006, Showdown Montana Mountain Staff, under the direction of Jim Hoxter, Mountain Manager, set 11 lift towers and 12 cross-arms for the area’s new beginner chair lift. Heliquest, based in Edmonton and Boulder, assisted with a K-MAX helicopter beginning at approximately 11:00 am.
The K-MAX helicopter is capable of lifting up to 5,000 pounds at Showdown’s altitude, and has two rotors which each turn in a different direction. The 23 lifts that took place in the estimated 5 hours of work on Saturday ranged in weight from 2,500 to 3,400 pounds each. Work began from the top down with the towers, followed by the cross-arms.
The Sluice-Goose Caboose is the first new lift to be installed at Showdown since 1978. Together with a 150-foot conveyor lift, the Caboose is replacing the area’s rope tow and poma lift. The lift was purchased from Alta Ski Area in Utah in 2004, where it was known has the Collins Lift. Refabrication under the plans drawn up by Gmuender Engineering, based in Carson City, Nevada, has taken Showdown Staff most of the summer. George Willett, President of Showdown, estimates the project to be completed by November 15, at a cost of approximately $400,000.
Lift Stats:
Yan Lift, originally installed as the Collins Lift, Alta Ski Area, Utah
12 towers (11 support, 1 downhold), plus bottom drive and top return terminal
Length 3,151 feet; Elevation gain of 634 feet
127 double chairs at 8-second intervals on 1.25 inch cable
Bottom elevation 7,283 feet; Top elevation 7,916 feet
Capacity: 960 people per hour
Lift Speed:400 feet per minute