56 replies to this topic

[SkiBachelor]

Those pictures you took last year of the HSQ carriers in the boneyard looked like to have been the brand new model that LE came out with ithe year before it closed up shop. I presume Frenchmans came with those carriers while Sun Valley probably had plans to install Yan newest carrier design on all its detachable but only got around to installing them on Christmas. However, after the Quicksilver incident and how Sun Valley retrofitted its lifts the fallowing year, it probably just decided to install the Doppelmayr EJ carrier design just to be safe.

Sun Valley should just give those things away since there probably aren't any plans to ever use them. I bet Schweitzer would like to have them for its YAN detachable.

[Peter]

It looks like the old single has had some restoration done, with the bullwheel sheaves painted silver. There is also a new plaque that confirms this Rudd Mountain lift is not the first, but third chairlift in the world.

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[Limelight]

Wow, they really cleaned that lift up! Compard to the pics I took a couple of years ago, it looks much better now. I'm glad they put some work into it. Nice pics of the Cold Springs lift too.

[skier14]

Wow i didnt se the new work on the rudd mt lift. I was there a month ago and it wasnt painted. maybe the valley maint. painted her up. That plaque was there a month ago though.

skier why do we keep those yan chairs? i think its in case something on a chair breaks and since they are not manfactured anymore its easy to keep them there, but i could be totally wrong. I know stuff disapears like the bubble chair from whistler and even lift maint doesent even know about it. Our head honchos like sell things and not tell us.

[Peter]

Wow, while I was in Sun Valley I managed to photograph a ton of lifts in just 4 days:

Top and bottom of Dollar
Top and bottom of Half Dollar
Top and bottom of Quarter Dollar
bottom of the old single
top and bottom of River Run
top and bottom of Frenchman's
top and bottom of Exhibition
top and bottom of Lookout Express
top of Flying Squirrel
top and bottom of Sunnyside
top and bottom of Christmas
top and bottom of Challenger
top and bottom of Seattle Ridge
top and bottom of Cold Springs
bottom of Mayday
bottom of Lookout
bottom of Greyhawk

If anyone wants pics of any of them, let me know

This post has been edited by Skier: 19 August 2006 - 01:00 PM

[Peter]

Another question: Why does Mayday have new sheave assemblies and tensioning while none of the other Yan fixed grips have been retrofitted? It looks kind of odd with the only Yan sheaves left at the top station.

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[liftmech]

Depends upon what style of sheaves were on the lift. The older steel box assemblies are almost bombproof while the later-model aluminum ones had a tendency to break. I say 'had' because almost all of them have been replaced, mainly with Doppelmayr equipment.

SVmech17- you know more about this one?

[skier14]

liftmech, on Aug 26 2006, 12:48 PM, said:

Depends upon what style of sheaves were on the lift. The older steel box assemblies are almost bombproof while the later-model aluminum ones had a tendency to break. I say 'had' because almost all of them have been replaced, mainly with Doppelmayr equipment.

SVmech17- you know more about this one?

If you read the master plan it shows that Mayday will be replaced close to 50 years from now so our maint. manager decided to replace the assemblies with ones we can easily replace. Its still a pain in the a** having to replace those dopp. ones (have to take a tall rope lifting bar in the work chair).

From what i have seen in the boneyard and what i have been told the sheaves were the same ones as the rest of the yans we have (2,6,hd,d). We still have most of those old assemblies in the bone yard with the sheaves still on them. We keep them as replacments for 2,6,hd, and d.

[SkiBachelor]

From the lastest master plan that I saw on Sun Valley's website, the Mayday lift is supposed to be replaced within the next 9 years with a detachable.

But Sun Valley's Master Plan looks pretty weird. All the lifts on Dollar Mountain including the Elkhorn lift are planned to be replaced with detachables and a cabriolet built from Sun Valley to Dollar Mountain. First plans for Sun Valley are to replace the Exhibition lift with a gondola and later adding a second stage to it which would replace the Christmas Express and run to the top of Bald Mountain.

[skier14]

"Bald Mountain Master Plan

As a logical extension of the 1989 Bald Mountain Master Plan, Sun Valley has released a ten year mountain master plan which includes ski area expansion, mountain access upgrades and expanded snowmaking installations. The plan will be implemented in three phases.


Bald Mountain - Phase 1 (gif image)

Construct Guyer Ridge ski trail
Re-align and grade Olympic Lane
Construct new Seattle Ridge ski trail
Approval of snowmaking on Frenchman’s terrain
Addition of snowmaking – Olympic Lane, Upper and Lower Broadway, Guyer Ridge, Upper Cozy, Upper Hemingway, Christmas Bowl and Brick’s Island.
Install River Run Gondola
Remove Exhibition
Remodel Roundhouse and expand operating period
Adjust permit area to include Guyer Ridge (62 acres) and currently skied Broadway Face (27 acres).
Terrain Park on lower Greyhawk


Bald Mountain - Phase 2 (gif image)

Install Seattle Ridge South (Turkey Bowl) Detachable Quad Chairlift
Construct Seattle Ridge South (Turkey Bowl) Novice/Low Intermediate Trails including Fire Road
Install Seattle Ridge South (Turkey Bowl) Snowmaking
Adjust permit area to include Seattle Ridge South (Turkey Bowl) Beginner Terrain (72 acres)
Replace Cold Springs with Detachable Quad Chairlift
Replace Mayday with Detachable Quad Chairlift
Remove Lookout Transport Lift
Upgrade and expand or replace Lookout Restaurant


Bald Mountain - Phase 3 (gif image)

Replace Christmas detachable quad chairlift with Gondola
Install detachable quadruple chairlift on Pod G
Install electrical power and communications to the top of the new lift in Pod G
Construct Pod G ski trails
Install snowmaking on Pod G
Replace Challenger with a Gondola "

http://sunvalley.com...ey/info/mp.aspx


I found the updated master plan. It looks like mayday could be replaced sooner than 9 years. I was originally told that it was a 50 year plan, and mayday was still in the phase two.
By the looks of it we are still awhile away from a river run gondola let alone replacing mayday with an hsq. Its a rumor, but my money says dollar mt will get an hsq before baldy gets a gondola.

PS SkiBachelor where did you get that master plan that includes dollar? im interested in seeing it

[SkiBachelor]

There was a big write up in the Ketchum Newspaper about 2 years ago and in the article it gave a synposis of what's to come like the Cabriolet, and replacing all the lifts on Dollar Mountain and even mentioned that Elkhorn would be replaced with a detachable.

I think a Cabriolet between the two ski areas is great along with replacing the dollar lift with a detachable. However, it might also be a good idea to replace either or quater or half dollar with a detachable so there is a lift for the beginners.

[skier14]

SkiBachelor, on Aug 26 2006, 10:10 PM, said:

There was a big write up in the Ketchum Newspaper about 2 years ago and in the article it gave a synposis of what's to come like the Cabriolet, and replacing all the lifts on Dollar Mountain and even mentioned that Elkhorn would be replaced with a detachable.

I think a Cabriolet between the two ski areas is great along with replacing the dollar lift with a detachable. However, it might also be a good idea to replace either or quater or half dollar with a detachable so there is a lift for the beginners.

Rumor once again says half and quarter would be taken out and the dollar hsq would have a mid station at mid mt. And then Elkhorn would be rebuilt with the currentl dollar lift (not rumor lift maint manager quote)
I havent heard a rumor about a cabriolet though. I did here about a farfecthed idea to run a gondola from the village to dollar to river run lodge. but this i think is a way out there idea

[SkiBachelor]

Here is the master plan for Dollar Mountain.

Phase 1

The first phase of the Dollar Mountain redevelopment commenced during thesummer of 2004. This development included the replacement of the Dollar MountainCabin with the new Dollar Mountain Daylodge, formalizing the parking, regrading ofthe Quarter Dollar slope, installation of new beginner carpet lifts, and the installationof a tube lift and hill.

1. Replace Dollar Mountain Cabin with new state-of-the-art facility
2. Reconfigure parking lot
3. Install new beginner carpet
4. Replace Quarter Dollar chairlift with new detachable quad chairlift
5. Construct tubing hill
6. Install permanent snowmaking on the Quarter Dollar trail and tubing hill
7. Construct snowboard half pipe on Graduation

Phase 2

1. Replace Dollar Mountain lift with detachable quad chairlift
2. Install permanent snowmaking to the Sepp’s Bowl and Face of Dollar
3. Move the bottom terminal of Half Dollar to facilitate the grading required tonew Dollar chairlift

Phase 3

1. Replace Half Dollar mountain lift with detachable quad chairlift
2. Install permanent snowmaking to the Graduation and Half Dollar Bowl
3. Sun Valley to River Run Gondola with an angle-station on Telegraph Hill nearthe top of the Half Dollar Chairlift and an off-load station at the top of HiddenValley
4. Hidden Valley Terrain Park, serviced by the Dollar-Hidden Valley section ofthe gondola

Phase 4

1. Replace Elkhorn chairlift with a detachable quad chairlift
2. Install permanent snowmaking on Joint Venture and Elkhorn Bowl

A summary of the Dollar Mountain Master Plan phasing is listed in Table 2

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:kElz-Y...t=clnk&cd=1

If you click the link above and scroll down to Table 2, at the bottom of the table there is a listed Access Gondola to be built in phases 3 and 4 for dollar mountain.

[skier14]

Wow this plan looks more official!! Sounds like for dollar all that is left after this summer is hsq quarter and halfpipe. What i dont get is we put a new haul rope of quarter this year. Not to mention the fact that nobody in lift maint has any idea whats in the master plan. Apparently even my manager has no idea, as he suggested that dollar would replace elkhorn. Thanks

[Limelight]

I've got to admit, after looking at the master plans for Baldy, I'm really confused why the Sun Valley Company has chosen to add lifts and expand in some of those areas.

Yes, I just had to use Google Earth again. I looked at the topographical master plan charts, and tired to match the area and new lift plans as close as I could with Google Earth.

Take a look at the area they want to add a new HSQ plus terrain (Chair 16). Not sure why they would build a rather short HSQ in a small valley with really short terrain. The hillside to the left of the lift line would be cleared to add runs, but as you can see they would be very short runs. And as a second thought, why not develop the large amount of terrain farther to the left (Cold Springs Valley/Seattle Ridge) where there is a much steeper and longer hillside?

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Also, taking a look at the future Lift 17 (Turkey Bowl) area, I'm wondering why they would build a lift to access a area that would require a ton of snow making in order to remain open during poor snow years, and most of the spring skiing months? The bowls to the right as well as all South facing slops are often closed due to lack of snow. Again, the terrain on the right side of that ridge leading down to the Cold Springs valley would seem to offer a much better option.

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The one good idea, was the addition of the River Run Gondola.


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[skiersage]

Skier, on Aug 19 2006, 04:41 PM, said:

Another question: Why does Mayday have new sheave assemblies and tensioning while none of the other Yan fixed grips have been retrofitted? It looks kind of odd with the only Yan sheaves left at the top station.

Another to put newer sheaves on a lift like mayday would be to sacrifice the sheaves of one lift to make spare stuff for the other lifts. I am not sure if is the reason that sun valley did this but it would make sence seeing as though there are the four other lifts on bald mountain plus the two yans on dollar. Now those lifts will have a surplus of spare sheaves and mayday has sheaves that a readily available via Doppelmayr.

SVmech17, on Aug 26 2006, 07:46 PM, said:

If you read the master plan it shows that Mayday will be replaced close to 50 years from now so our maint. manager decided to replace the assemblies with ones we can easily replace. Its still a pain in the a** having to replace those dopp. ones (have to take a tall rope lifting bar in the work chair).

From what i have seen in the boneyard and what i have been told the sheaves were the same ones as the rest of the yans we have (2,6,hd,d). We still have most of those old assemblies in the bone yard with the sheaves still on them. We keep them as replacments for 2,6,hd, and d.

To be honest, I don't think that Yan lifts were designed to last 50 years. And I say this because I remember Janek made a statement saying that he built 20 year lifts. We will have to see I guess.

SVmech17, on Aug 26 2006, 11:55 PM, said:

Wow this plan looks more official!! Sounds like for dollar all that is left after this summer is hsq quarter and halfpipe. What i dont get is we put a new haul rope of quarter this year. Not to mention the fact that nobody in lift maint has any idea whats in the master plan. Apparently even my manager has no idea, as he suggested that dollar would replace elkhorn. Thanks

It may have been pointless to replace the haul rope on quarter dollar but then again these plans have a tendency of getting pushed back a few years every once and a while. Little cat at snowbasin (another sun valley resort) comes to mind. That lift has been on the chopping block for a couple of years now and so far no progress has been made (to my knowlege).

This could very well be the case with both the dollar mountain and bald mountain plans. But with that said I have no way of knowing either way.

Here is another idea for you guys. Does anyone know if they are planning to re use any of the HSQs at bald mountain? Since the Doppelmayr retrofits, the lifts are still close to todays instalation standards. If they are gonna replace any of them with gondolas then relocation may be possible.

[skier14]

skiersage little cat will be replace either next year or the year after for sure.

As for lift 16 i think it would be a great area and it isnt too short its a little bit smaller than frenchmans. plus its on the north side so it wont need as much snow. As for turkey bowl its just another green circle area for rich skiers who cant ski so earl holding wants to make sure to expand their area.

And my opinion on the gondola is.... 1 it should be built soon tired of hearing about it and not seeing it. 2 it should be built to the top with a turn station at roundhouse and a gondola storage space at the top of the mt. Also included they should take out lift 3 christmas and reuse the parts for the cold springs quad. But im the little fish in the system so my ideas and suggestions are nothing. o well

[Limelight]

SVmech17, on Aug 27 2006, 09:36 PM, said:

skiersage little cat will be replace either next year or the year after for sure.

As for lift 16 i think it would be a great area and it isnt too short its a little bit smaller than frenchmans. plus its on the north side so it wont need as much snow. As for turkey bowl its just another green circle area for rich skiers who cant ski so earl holding wants to make sure to expand their area.

And my opinion on the gondola is.... 1 it should be built soon tired of hearing about it and not seeing it. 2 it should be built to the top with a turn station at roundhouse and a gondola storage space at the top of the mt. Also included they should take out lift 3 christmas and reuse the parts for the cold springs quad. But im the little fish in the system so my ideas and suggestions are nothing. o well

Okay, I might be able to see Lift 16 as being an ok spot though still not very steep.

I fully agree that Turkey Bowl is ment for those rich and fluffy skiers who can't ski for sh!t, its just a shame that they would wast a lift in that area when there is MUCH, MUCH better terrain out there. Its just one more example on how Baldy used to be a skiers mountain, but has been slowly turned into a playground for the rich and pampered.

I like the idea about the Gondola, and the Roundhouse turn station. That would make more sense.

[Peter]

Where would be better terrain? The problem is lack of snow on so many areas on the mountain. Then they would need snowmaking to go with any expansion which is harder to get approved by the forest service.

[Limelight]

The south facing areas are the areas with the most snow problems. For the most part, the north facing areas do very well during the season. There are some great north facing areas that would both hold more snow, and offer longer runs.


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Still they may need snow making especially during spring skiing, but its much better then a south facing slope like the "Turkey Bowl".