49 replies to this topic

[vons]

The summit daily reported that breck is working on approval of a new HSQ to go from the top of lift 6 to the top of peak 8. This lift would provide access to all above treeline expert terrain. The lift could be in as soon as next summer.

personally, though I hate the hike, I don't like a chair to the top. too many people who shouldn't be there and talk about tracked out

[SkiBachelor]

Would that really work out? It looks like there would be some nice powder in that bowl but it seems like a hsq could ruin the terrain. But who knows, it might be a low capacity hsq like the Palmer Express at Timberline which has a hourly capcity of only 1800.

[vons]

The article said it is an extremly low capacity HSQ the line spacing is 300 feet

[floridaskier]

So it'll go up the opposite side from where the t-bar is now, or is the t-bar coming out?

[Kicking Horse]

I think they are nuts for putting a HSQ in...... If it's going where i think it is....

I think a Fix Quad would do the job just fine. or a HSD

[liftmech]

I'll scan in the proposal from the paper later (it'll wake people up right now ) but it is as follows:
600 PPH high-speed detachable quad
940' vertical
Lower terminal just below the patrol hut at the top of 6-chair
Upper terminal at the knoll below the summit of Peak 8
Highest lift in North America, surpassing Loveland's Chair 9 by 140 feet (summit elevation of the lift is 12,840)

The spacing and capacity is envisioned as a 'kill two birds with one stone' approach; the lengthy spacing will help with wind, and it will keep traffic down on the upper mountain. I assume Breck will store the carriers every night as Bachelor does on their Summit lift. And, unless serious thinking changes occur in the shop over there, the lift will be a Poma. Breck also hope the lift will pull some traffic away from the T-bar (which is not coming out). There are, of course, locals who like Imperial Bowl the way it is, but there will always be people opposed to such a project (see my post about Crystal Mountain )

[Kicking Horse]

That's nuts......

I guess breck wants to be #1.

[crazyskier91]

I think that the lift would be great for taking people up and opening up that terrain and more importantly for getting people away from the T-Bar. I don't get why they are starting it at the top of 6 though, it just seems like it would make moresense to replace chair 6 and oput in a mid station. One of the points in the article was that people could get up there who underestimate the terrain, my solution: one of the big signs saying "Experts Only" that they have on the T-Bar. the lift may go in in a couple of years so i'll be able to keep a close eye on it. We bought a house in Breck last week and we are moving in sometime next summer.

This post has been edited by crazyskier91: 29 August 2004 - 02:53 PM

[liftmech]

The only problem with replacing 6 chair is that it has twice as much capacity as the proposed new lift. Add to that the fact that Breck spent a lot of money at Riblet upgrading it the last couple of years- I don't think they want to rip it out just yet. From a maintenance/operations standpoint, the proposed lift would work just fine for what Breck wants; low capacity, access, and reduced weather problems.

[coskibum]

i thought riblet just replaced the old center-pole chairs to the non-cp ones...were there any additional upgrades?

[liftmech]

Random hardware including new sheave assemblies at the portal and T-1, and I think the latest control system (much better than the old ones, and the one I learned electronics from).

[SkiBachelor]

Article about the new lift in the Denver Post:

http://www.denverpos...2568020,00.html

[Kicking Horse]

Link does not work....

[floridaskier]

Yeah, just says 404 Not Found.

[SkiBachelor]

Sorry, here you go:

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,3...2568020,00.html

[Bill]

Quote

Breckenridge gets support for sky-high chairlift

By Jason Blevins
Denver Post Staff Writer


The U.S. Forest Service is supporting a plan for the continent's highest chairlift at Breckenridge ski area, which would access powder stashes now reachable only after a lengthy hike.

In a draft environmental assessment issued this week, the Forest Service's Dillon Ranger District gave a tentative nod to Breckenridge's plan for a $4 million high-speed chairlift that would reach 12,830 feet, making it the highest chairlift in North America.

The new lift would help establish Breckenridge as a hill that can challenge expert skiers, a reputation it has struggled to build in recent years.

And plans to groom sections of the steep terrain could grow the mountain's intermediate offerings.
 
"This is really a new positioning for Breckenridge," resort chieftain Roger McCarthy said. "This is what I call a complete resort with good extreme terrain, fabulous intermediate terrain and the best beginner terrain. The new lift and expansion is really going to round it out."

The new lift accessing some 500 acres of terrain comes as the resort's parent, Vail Resorts, pushes a $50 million plan for new villages, a skier bridge and possibly a gondola connecting the mountain with the town.

The resort developer will begin preselling condo units in its Mountain Thunder Lodge this month. If those sales go well, the company will speed up plans for the development of two new base villages at the ski area as well as a skier bridge that would allow skiers to ski from the mountain to parking lots instead of taking a bus.

The Forest Service's 129-page assessment of the new chairlift addressed dozens of potential environmental impacts, which did not include any tree-removal or wetland issues. Public input on the draft assessment will be gathered before a final decision is issued.

"There is not a tremendous amount of environmental impact," said Rick Newton, district ranger for the Dillon Ranger District. "This is a fairly straightforward proposal."

Local reaction to the chairlift plan is split. But most skiers realize a terrain expansion for the second- busiest ski resort in the country would help spread out skiers, local shop owner John Shand said.

"This could open up Breck and really put us on the map and let the general public realize just how much expert terrain is here," said Shand, co-owner of the Avalanche Sports ski shop. "I understand some of the downsides, with more traffic up in an area that isn't all that busy.

"But I see it as increasing our appeal with tourists, and tourists allow us to live here and ski here. This just brings in more people and hypes the place."

Try and actually post the articles also, since the posts will stay open, the links on that site may not be good for very long.

Thanks.

[Kicking Horse]

I disagree with Breck on adding a lift up there.

they should be working on the parking / bus system.

Before adding MORE LIFT SERVE runs

This post has been edited by pusher: 04 December 2004 - 09:20 PM

[poloxskier]

SkiBachelor, on Aug 26 2004, 01:32 PM, said:

Would that really work out? It looks like there would be some nice powder in that bowl but it seems like a hsq could ruin the terrain. But who knows, it might be a low capacity hsq like the Palmer Express at Timberline which has a hourly capcity of only 1800.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you sure that it's that low? It seemed to move alot of people up the hill when I was there during the summer about 5 years ago. It seemed comprable to most main HSQs.

[liftmech]

Most detachable quads have a capacity of 2400 PPH. So no, 1800 isn't all that low. Breck proposes only 600 for the new lift.

[SkiBachelor]

Yea, I'm sure the lift capacity is only 1800 for the Palmer Express. The carriers are spaced pretty far apart too, but the line speed is 5.08 m/s. I'm not sure why it's spaced out so far though, maybe to give skiers and snowboarders time to load at the midstation or something? But then again, Timberline probably doesn't want to have slope conjestion on the runs that are only open to the public.