74 replies to this topic

[WBSKI]

To edmontonguy, i think the Summit Chair is to be replaced with a HSQ soon, at least thats what i saw on their master plan.

Heres exactly what it says about new lifts.

Quote

The lift system is integral to the Village Master Plan, allowing us to maintain ski-in/ski-out access for all new resort homes and hotels.

Installation of two new high-speed lifts to begin over the next few years


•  The Summit Express – a new high-speed quad lift which will eventually replace the Summit Double Chairlift.
•  The "Silver Woods" Express – a new high speed quad which will open up new ski and snowboard terrain from below the existing Vance Creek Express.

This post has been edited by WBSKI: 18 June 2005 - 03:19 PM

[boardski]

floridaskier, on Jun 13 2005, 07:05 PM, said:

Ruby was a pain from the day it was built. It felt like an insanely long ride, even though it might have been 8 minutes or so. The new HSQ is really short but it was definetly worth it. Everyone seems to agree on that one, nobody liked old Ruby. It was the only way out of the Empire area, so the fixed quad only lasted from 1998 to 2001. It's DV, they can do stuff like that. It'll enjoy a nice long life as the new Majestic lift at Brighton where it belongs

Silver Strike, I think the development at the bottom of it paid for it. What might have happened was that DV made them put in a lift as part of the right to build there. It doesn't serve any new terrain, except for the two or three little runs that were built to get to it. I would have thought DV would cut a run from the bottom of Northside to the bottom of Silver Strike, because Northside gets crowded, but they didn't

Homestake, while it's also a fixed quad that doesn't do a very good job of getting people back over to the front side, isn't as important as Ruby. You can ski down to Crown Point (the way I always do it) or download Silver Lake express, both of which are always empty when Homestake gets crowded
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I skied at Brighton on Presidents' Day weekend and noticed that the Majestic Quad also stops and slows A LOT! Everytime I looked over at it it was stopped. It will be interesting to see if they upgrade it to HS in future years.

[boardski]

SkiBachelor, on Jun 18 2005, 10:31 AM, said:

However, by making Sunshine into a HST won't save ASC any money and it would basically just cost more. The reason for this is because the only thing that Steamboat would be able to reuse would be the carriers. Everything else like the tower heads would have to be replaced. However, by making the lift a super low HSQ (1800), it would actually be cheaper since there wouldn't need to be so many detachable grips. I guess each TD-104 grip costs like $5000 and that's more than the actual carrier. Plus, I'm pretty sure that the terminal would already be a HSQ terminal since Garaventa CTEC's last custom triple terminal had some issues.

Sorry for being so picky about something that's not that big of a deal. I just know that a hsq would be cheaper and a better solution since it can easily be upgraded to a higher capacity later.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was unaware of the issues they had with the custom HST terminal. I am now convinced a HSQ would be better for Sunshine. Maybe the carriers can be used somewhere else at another area. They could move the lift to replace Bashor or Preveiw or one of the other lifts they are wanting a FGT for. I was a little surprised they did not change Sunshine to a HSQ last Summer and use the old FGT for replacing Burgess Creek. They must have been too strapped to purchase a HSQ. I do think the Sunshine project should be done before the Christie project however but who knows what will happen. Apparently proposels are being reveiwed about the base redevelopment. Doesn't sound like any changes until Summer 2006 at the earliest.
Thank you for the information about HST vs HSQ, it was quite interesting.

[liftmech]

Continuing the devil's advocate position:
There is no reason, however, to build a custom terminal for a triple when the carriers would easily fit in a quad footprint. Maybe it would be cheaper to build a brand-new quad, I don't know. But perhaps reusing some of the existing parts could cut costs a bit. I'm pretty sure those sheaves can be used on a detach since they're '85 vintage. Food for thought.

[yardsale]

I think Teton Hole is doing something too!

[yardsale]

I guess, i must uv heard it like that at remla er somthen

[KZ]

Here is what I could find on the new chair 7 at kirkwood, from the kirkwood times:

Attached File(s)

•  kwood.jpg (348.36K)
  Number of downloads: 31

[heavenly_romer]

Cool, although I never really ride chair 7, I guess it will make skiing the northern side of the mountain easier. When are they replacing chair 11?

[KZ]

Probably not for awhile. I don't think it is in their plan for the next 10 or so years, do they really need to replace it? Anyways here is their entire plan for upgrades and new lifts for the next 10 or so years: http://www.mykirkwoo...m/emigrant.html

Personally the big problem is that they are upgrading capacity on the backside of the mountain with 4 going detachable and the new chairlift to "99 Steps" but the current chair 3 will likely be way overloaded. Some people do opt to ski back to the frontside via Thunder Saddle but the intermediate (>65% on the backside) has to take chair 3 back. As it is the only original double left on the hill (turning for its 33rd season this fall) it isn't the most reliable link. I think it needs to be upgraded to a fixed quad because it is short and it has the capacity when it's needed. The mountain looks like it will be developed pretty well but I like how they are keeping the northern portion the way it is with plenty of easily accessible backcountry with a small hike.

[CAski]

Well, here is something about Squaw Valley from First Tracks Online. It is more a description of what is not happening though:

Quote

Ski Improvements Underway at Squaw Valley USA

Olympic Valley, CA (Wednesday, July 13, 2005) -


Squaw Valley USA is focusing on environmental improvements and guest experience enhancements for the 2005-2006 winter season.

“We want to keep the Squaw Valley experience as pure and enjoyable as possible this winter,” explained Squaw Valley President Nancy Wendt. “We are investing millions in facility renovations and safety improvements to our Cable Car and we are creating a mid-mountain demo center that will enhance the guest’s on mountain experience.”


Environment Tops Priority List

“It is my feeling that all the really attractive places in the world will become less attractive, because of the out-of-control growth in population, which could overwhelm them,” explained Alex Cushing, Founder and Chairman of Squaw Valley Ski Corp. “This is why there will be no further development for an indefinite period, except for environmental projects. Our emphasis, will, instead, be in beautifying what we have.”

Summer environmental sustainability and beautification projects during 2005 includes extensive revegetation efforts designed to prevent future erosion and keep the mountain green, drainage improvements, culvert repairs and maintenance to the Gold Coast wetland. The Ski Corp also continues efforts to eliminate noxious weeds that can compromise established and diverse plant communities. In addition, staff continues substantial water quality monitoring within the watershed in order to ensure the ongoing health of the Squaw Valley ecosystem.


New Demo Center

Squaw Valley USA’s base area facilities already offer four separate ski and snowboard rental locations. This season, the number of options increases with the addition of a new on-mountain Demo Center located at the top of the Funitel in the Gold Coast Lodge. This new site offers a convenient location for guests to demo the latest skis from K2, Atomic, Volkl, Rossignol and Salomon. The facility is just steps from several lifts that access terrain for all abilities, from beginner to advanced, making it fast and easy to try numerous skis in one day.

“The location is perfect for anyone that wants to try out new gear without having to go all the way to the base of the mountain,” said Wendt.


Smooth Grooming

Three new PistenBully winch grooming machines have been added to the resort’s massive fleet of over thirty. The new machines offer state-of-the-art grooming technology that is safer, more powerful, more economical, and more comfortable for operators. In addition, the machines utilize more advanced technology and electronic systems that have made the vehicles more reliable while reducing emissions and fuel consumption. All of these technological improvements will further enhance the resort’s ability to maintain and prepare acres of terrain each day.


New Shopping & Dining

The new Village at Squaw Valley USA continues to evolve this season with the addition of a handful of new purveyors including the new Trilogy Spa, an Atlas Men’s Clothing Store, Granite Chief Sports, a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Creamery and the Auld Dubliner Irish Pub & Restaurant. The list of restaurants and shops in the Village now adds up to 28, bringing the resort total to 19 restaurants, fifteen eateries, 22 bars where guests can get a drink, and 43 shops, plus two spas.

Great, looks like no improvements there for a long time. "This is why there will be no further development for an indefinite period, except for environmental projects." Given Cushing's environmental record, I don't buy it. What is the real motivation? Is it to cut expenditures? Is it because Squaw Valley is in a lawsuit for destroying water quality and can't do anything legally at the moment? I don't know.

[mcjones55]

Sultan update.
All towers have been flown in. The bottom terminal has some steel up, the top terminal concrete work was just finished. They are still moving dirt from a separate non DV project on Royal street down to the bottom of sultan, that should be finishing up soon. They were originally going to use a trackhoe to pull the low side of the old sultan road up, but since the royal street project still has fill that they want to get rid of we are just going to fill the road in with new dirt.
The new sultan will have a 90degree load and rotate clockwise same as the old one. All of the new sultan is brand spanking new, The old sultan has been shipped to Sierra at Tahoe.
Steins way now ends at the bottom of sultan, the sunny pitch of steins is now called star. We are gaining about 400 vertical ft.

[SkiBachelor]

I wonder what Sierra at Tahoe is going to do with the lift? Maybe upgrade El Derado to a triple?

[KZ]

Very interesting indeed. Maybe they will finally upgrade short stuff. I doubt El Dorado will be upgraded because there is rarely a line but I could be wrong. Maybe an expansion to the backcountry to the east? That sure would be nice.

[heavenly_romer]

I emailed heavenly to ask if they really were replacing north bowl and olympic, and I got a reply saying no. Bah! I really wanted to see those chairs go. Oh well, next summer...

[KZ]

Some new pictures from kirkwood:



http://kirkwood.com/...tcexpress2.html

Looks like construction is on track. I may be up there next weekend so I'll get some photos.

They also got their first dusting on the 25th.