27 replies to this topic

[snoloco]

I would say that the lift I have ridden with the most length for least vertical has to be the Sojourn Double at Mountain Creek. It is 4,800 feet long and covers just 550 vertical feet over that length. It is only a transfer lift to connect South and Granite Peak and most of the route is completely flat until it climbs a short and steep hill at the end. To show just how flat it really is, the South Peak Express at the same mountain is definitely not a steep lift, but covers 1,000 vertical feet over a run of 5,600 feet.

Does anyone else know of some lifts that cover very little vertical over a long run.

[DonaldMReif]

The Zendo Chair at Breck is this. Just 317 vertical feet over a horizontal distance of a half-mile. There is some climbing, but it's only a transfer lift to get you over to the Kensho SuperChair.

This post has been edited by DonaldMReif: 18 January 2015 - 01:19 PM

[boardski]

The mothballed lift #5 at Loveland is very flat but a mile long. It goes from the base of Loveland Basin to a location slightly above the beginner lift at Loveland Valley and crosses a road. I would love to see it run one day but would like to see lift 2 split into an upper and lower lift and lift 10 installed first. It was kind of a fun, unique ride though when it ran.

[skier2]

Spirit Express II at Spirit Mountain in MN rises about 520 feet in 4,000 feet length, making it pretty flat. The Alpine Double at Boyne Mt also comes to mind although I don't have the lift's stats.

[2milehi]

Outpost Gondola - you lose some elevation when you get to North Peak.

[RibStaThiok]

the skyrides at amusement parks?

[woofydoggie]

Campgaw NJ's lift 2.
Length 1486 Vertical 239

[DonaldMReif]

Quicksilver Super6 - 5,637 feet long, 680 foot vertical rise.

[Yooper Skier]

Jordan Double (Lift 13) at Sunday River - transport lift from Aurora Basin to Jordan Bowl over a ridge. 1735 x 35.

[Peter]

Some simple math with all of the SAM lift install data yields these as the top 10 flattest lifts...

1. Peak 2 Peak at Whistler
2. Fandango Platter at YC
3. Over Easy Gondola at Stowe
4. Spruce Lake at Holiday Valley
5. Texas Skyway at Texas State Fair
6. Gondola Village Parking at Telluride
7. River Crossing at YC
8. Village Gondola at Sugar Bowl
9. Riverfront Gondola at Beaver Creek
10. Homer Platter at Big Sky

This is based on feet of length per foot of vertical. The steepest lift is Allen Peak Tram at Snowbasin at 1.1 while Peak 2 Peak is 121. Note this does not take into account any ups and downs in the middle of the line as it is only the average between the two terminals.

[Lift Dinosaur]

Where does the Outpost Gondola, with negative vertical, fit in?
Dino

[DonaldMReif]

Per the trail map, the top of Dercum Mountain is at 11,640 feet. The altitude at the top of the Santiago Express lift is 11,660 feet. Google Earth suggests there's points around the Summit House with an altitude of 11,650 feet and the same at the top of North Peak. It's about a 200 foot vertical drop from where the Santiago Express and Wayback lifts offload to the Outpost Restaurant (which is at about 11,460 feet according to Google Earth). So there's about a 200 foot change in altitude on the Outpost Gondola between the Dercum Mountain terminal and the North Peak terminal.

[Aussierob]

Beat me to it Peter. P2P is very long and very Flat (on average)

[Peter]

Lift Dinosaur, on 18 January 2015 - 06:42 PM, said:

Where does the Outpost Gondola, with negative vertical, fit in?
Dino

6.3' length per vertical foot...416th flattest lift

[Lift Dinosaur]

Peter, on 18 January 2015 - 07:30 PM, said:

6.3' length per vertical foot...416th flattest lift

So the fact that it's negative doesn't compute. It's still an elevation change per vertical foot ?
Dino

[SkiDaBird]

Looking at the 10 Peter posted, they are all transit lifts or platters. None are actual terrain pods which appears to have thrown a few people off.
Peter thanks for actually providing numerical data, much appreciated.

This post has been edited by SkiDaBird: 18 January 2015 - 11:55 PM

[machskier]

At over 11000' line length, I would think the slidebrook express at Sugarbush would have to fit in this discussion somewhere.

[Walt Askier]

The Interconnect lift at Boyne Highlands - I don't have stats but it's about a mile long and rises less than 500'. Not sure if it counts as a transfer lift - it takes you from the main area to the back side, but you ski back to the main area so I'd think it counts as a regular lift.

Another nomination is the transfer rope tow at Alta that takes you from the Collins to the Albion base area.

[Conrad]

Snubber Triple at Sugarloaf. Length of 5,460 with a vertical drop of 428 ft. It isn't a transport lift, but its primary purpose is to serve condos.

[Peter]

machskier, on 19 January 2015 - 04:38 AM, said:

At over 11000' line length, I would think the slidebrook express at Sugarbush would have to fit in this discussion somewhere.

#255

Walt Askier, on 20 January 2015 - 12:08 PM, said:

The Interconnect lift at Boyne Highlands

#609

Walt Askier, on 20 January 2015 - 12:08 PM, said:

Another nomination is the transfer rope tow at Alta that takes you from the Collins to the Albion base area.

#15

Conrad, on 20 January 2015 - 01:46 PM, said:

Snubber Triple at Sugarloaf. Length of 5,460 with a vertical drop of 428 ft. It isn't a transport lift, but its primary purpose is to serve condos.

#40