469 replies to this topic

[skierdude9450]

k2skier, on Aug 16 2008, 09:34 AM, said:

Any news, updates or progress reports on Whistler Blackcomb's Peak to Peak? Just got Powder mag in the mail, big ad spread on the gondola, got the juices flowing. It boasts some records, but it says "for a lift of it's kind". What special traits does it have that's different than other gondola's, especially in Europe?

Well..... It's a 3S gondola, it's 1400 feet off the ground, it has a 9000 some foot span, and while there are three other 3S gondolas in Europe, it's still quite spectacular compared to those. Take Kitzbuehel's 3S gondola and double the scale.

[skier2]

This is true...I guess I forgot about the length, especially. I guess when I think Europe, I think Aguille du Midi almost immediately, and that pretty much trumps every other lift on the planet, so, my bad.

[skierdude9450]

[skier2]

Yeah, and that's just the tip of the iceberg--Literally! (as far as Aguille du Midi goes)

[Peter]

Finally some info on the Grouse quads...


Council approves Grouse chairlifts
Bethany Lindsay, North Shore News
Published: Friday, August 22, 2008

Two new chairlifts will be built on Grouse Mountain this fall, after District of North Vancouver council approved the ski hill's development permits Monday.

Construction on the lifts will remove a total of 115 trees from the mountainside.

"We've been working with them to get the number (of trees) as small as possible," said Tamsin Guppy, the district's community planner. "We may be able to reduce that number a little bit further still."

The first chairlift will replace the rope tow on the bunny slope, which Guppy called "one of the most difficult lifts there is." It will also provide skiers and snowboarders with a ride across the small hill leading to the lodge and the Skyride. No trees will need to be cut down to accommodate the 188-metre-long lift.

The second chair will run 566 metres up the mountain's peak through a currently wooded area, to allow people to reach the top without having to ski down to the base to catch the Olympic Express chair.

The district's arborist surveyed the site, and Grouse Mountain staff also performed a survey of nesting birds. They concluded that all of the doomed trees are second growth and their removal would cause no serious environmental or conservation concerns.

"Some of them are perfectly nice trees, but they're not special," Guppy said.

Heli-logging of the marked trees will begin in the next few weeks, during the short window between the end of bird-nesting season and the beginning of bat-roosting season.

In the spring, the destroyed trees will be replaced. With the help of district staff, Grouse Mountain is hoping to identify its most ecologically sensitive areas, and target replanting efforts there. They also hope to replant more intelligently than in the past by picking planting sites where the new trees won't be crushed by heavy snowloads.

"We're working with them to figure out the really special places on the mountain that should be protected," said Guppy.

Coun. Robin Hicks and Mayor Richard Walton were not in attendance for the otherwise unanimous vote.

The ski resort has also submitted a development permit application to install several new zip-lines, and council will vote on those applications in the coming weeks.

[Skiing#1]

Here is an article from Salt Lake Tribune:

http://www.sltrib.co...75975?source=rv

Resorts build for the future
Ski areas busy with offseason upgrades
By Mike Gorrell
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 09/04/2008 03:23:46 PM MDT

SOLITUDE - Even more than Monday's premature snow flurries, a succession of helicopter flights here on a clear blue Wednesday morning signaled that winter is not far off.

Solitude Mountain Resort took advantage of a clement fallish day to use a helicopter to put into place support towers for two new high-speed quad chairlifts.

Park City Mountain Resort has similar plans for today - as long as it doesn't get too windy - scheduling an aerial lift-building session for a new high-speed quad, called Crescent, that will supplement the existing Ski Team lift.

The two construction projects are part of roughly $30 million in improvements that Utah ski resorts are putting into place this summer, hoping to capitalize on residual fervor from a season in which skiers and boarders played on frequently replenished slopes. By season's end, more than 700 inches of snow were recorded at Alta Ski Area, which traditionally receives more snow than other Utah resorts.

It took until midsummer to melt all of that snow, delaying the start of some offseason projects. But from Brian Head down south to Beaver Mountain up north, Utah's 13 active ski areas are racing to complete their work before it starts falling again in earnest.

"They definitely had the weather on their side today," Solitude Mountain Resort spokesman Nick Como said Wednesday as a helicopter ferried 23 lift towers to their new mountain spots. In the next few weeks, those towers will be linked with steel cables and other accessories to become a pair of high-speed quads, dubbed Apex Express and Moonbeam Express.

"It took forever for the snow to melt, but they're ahead of schedule now. Both lifts should be ready for opening day," said Como, noting that extensive grading work around the summit of the Apex Express will create a smoother transition slope for beginners and intermediates upon exiting the chair.

Solitude's $7 million investment is significant but still less expensive than the upgrades at two Park City-area resorts.

Park City Mountain Resort is spending $10.5 million to make the area it has called Ski Team Ridge more accessible to recreational skiers and boarders. The high-speed Crescent quad will climb higher up the ridge that will now be known as Crescent Ridge chairlift.

"The new chairlift will be a great new access point out of the base area," said resort spokeswoman Paula Altschuler, adding that the chair will make it easier to reach some of the resort's best expert terrain, slopes enhanced with the shaping of a new run and some glading work.

Renovations also are under way at Park City's Mid-Mountain Lodge. Similar work is under way at Deer Valley, where $8 million in upgrades are being made to Empire Canyon Lodge and Cushing's Cabin, which is near the convergence of four lifts at the top of Flagstaff Mountain.

The new cabin will seat 40-45 guests and will house a ski patrol office and restrooms.

The third Park City-area resort, The Canyons, is installing a gondola and a fixed-grip quad chair to improve internal traffic flow and has done some glading work to enhance tree skiing off the Peak 5 lift.

Elsewhere, Brighton Resort has invested $1.5 million in a 3,500-square-foot day lodge, called Milly Chalet, at the bottom of the Milly high-speed quad chairlift. Beaver Mountain also is making $300,000 in improvements to its traditional A-frame day lodge near the top of Logan Canyon, and Snowbasin replaced its beginner lift with a detachable quad.

mikeg@sltrib.com

Utah's ski resorts have invested roughly $30 million this offseason into:

* Five new lifts and a gondola
* One new day lodge and renovations to eight existing lodges, restaurants and clubs
* Improved snowmaking at two resorts
* Glading work to enhance tree skiing at three resorts

Source: Ski Utah

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 04 September 2008 - 02:31 PM

[skiersage]

I remember a while back that chair 3 at Alyeska was supposed to be replaced this year. then it was removed from the list for some reason. Well now there is photographic evidence that it is in fact being replaced this year.

[SkiBachelor]

your right, although I tought it was going to be a detachable. Maybe it's being built all HSQ line gear.

[Peter]

It looks like the Alyeska lift is going to be a fixed grip quad. Here is an updated list, up to 49 now.

1 Alyeska, AK Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Chair 3
2 Badger Pass, CA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Eagle
3 Bear Creek, PA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad A
4 Boreal, CA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Castle Peak
5 Boyne Mountain, MI Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Meadows
6 Heavenly, CA Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Galaxy Express
7 Hidden Valley, PA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad
8 Jackson Hole, WY Doppelmayr CTEC 100 Passenger Tram Tram
9 Keystone, CO Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 River Run Gondola
12 Mont Saint Saveur, PQ Doppelmayr CTEC Quad
13 Mont Tremblant, PQ Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 Connection
14 Mt. Baker, WA Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Chair 1
15 Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Martis Camp Express
16 Park City, UT Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Crescent Express
17 Saddleback, ME Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Kennebago
18 Ski Beech, NC Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Oz
19 Snow Valley Ski Club, AB Doppelmayr CTEC Pulse Quad
20 Snowbasin, UT Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Little Cat Express
21 Solitude, UT Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Apex Express
22 Solitude, UT Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Moonbeam Express
23 Sunday River, ME Doppelmayr CTEC Chondola 4/6 Lift 7
24 The Canyons, UT Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 Frostwood
25 The Canyons, UT Doppelmayr CTEC Quad
26 Welch Village, MN Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Back Bowls
27 Whistler Blackcomb, BC Doppelmayr CTEC Tri Cable Gondola Peak to Peak
28 Whistler Blackcomb, BC Doppelmayr CTEC Gondola 8 Kadenwood
29 Whiteface, NY Doppelmayr CTEC Triple Lookout Mountain
30 Batawa Ski Club, ON Leitner-Poma Quad
31 Gore Mountain, NY Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad Burnt Ridge Express
32 Grouse Mountain, BC Leitner-Poma Quad Courtesy
33 Grouse Mountain, BC Leitner-Poma Quad Peak Chair
34 Killington, VT Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad Skye Peak Express
35 Lake Louise, AB Leitner-Poma Quad Ptarmigan
36 Revelstoke, BC Leitner-Poma Gondola 8 Lower Gondola
37 Revelstoke, BC Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad North Bowl Express
38 Snowmass, CO Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad Sheer Bliss
39 Summit at Snoqualmie, WA Leitner-Poma High Speed Quad Silver Fir Express
40 Telluride, CO Leitner-Poma Quad Revelation
41 Winter Park, CO Leitner-Poma Cabriolet Village
42 Bridger Bowl, MT Used Double Slushman's
10 Kirkwood, CA Used Platter Covered Wagon
11 Kirkwood, CA Used Platter Lookout Vista
43 Lutsen Mountains, MN Used Triple
44 Mohawk Mountain Used Triple Summit
45 Poley Mountain, NB Used Triple
46 Seven Oaks, IA Used Triple Valley View
47 Sleeping Giant, WY Used Triple
48 Whitetail, PA Used Double Terrain Park
49 Nub's Nob, MI Used Superior Triple Gray

There are more Alyeska info and pictures here: http://alyeskalifties.blogspot.com/

This post has been edited by Skier: 05 September 2008 - 09:08 AM

[simiski]

"6 Heavenly, CA Doppelmayr CTEC High Speed Quad Galaxy Express"
You can take this off your list.

[skierdude9450]

That's interesting, the gondola's actually a vault drive.

[2milehi]

skierdude9450, on Sep 5 2008, 09:51 PM, said:

That's interesting, the gondola's actually a vault drive.

The Von Roll before it was a vault drive also, so I guess that Doppelmayr is utilizing the existing structure.

[Lift Kid]

So did they sell the old cabins?

[Peter]

New ski lift at Moonlight Basin
Published 09/04/2008 - 9:25 a.m. MST

The morning of August 29th was clear and cool at Moonlight Basin, making perfect conditions to fly the first three towers of their newest lift, Stagecoach.

Moonlight Basin’s ground crews scurried around double checking their work in anticipation for what lay ahead. As the slopes of Lone Peak turned a fiery orange from the rising sun, Mark Duffy of Central Helicopters appeared on the horizon in his K-MAX helicopter. Lift towers were lifted with ease and set into place seamlessly.

Stagecoach, the newest lift at Moonlight Basin will come online during the winter of 2008. The double chair will improve the ski-in/ski-out access for many Moonlight property owners and guests.

Along with the completion of the longest and highest ski bridge in Montana and two new runs, this lift will be a nice addition to Moonlight Basin’s current offerings for the coming ski season.

A network of hiking/snowshoe trails also await our winter guests - proving there is always something new at Moonlight Basin.

If you’d like to be a part of the excitement, now is the time to purchase your season pass. New for the 2008/2009 season, you can now purchase your pass online at MoonlightBasin.com. Don’t wait - early season rates are only available until October 26th.

[Peter]

It looks like Boyne Mountain's Meadow replacement will be a detachable quad, not a fixed grip like originally announced.

Boyne Mountain Gets New High-Speed Quad


Boyne Mountain will be a adding a Doppelmayr high speed quad to supplement this 6-seater. Boyne Mountain will be a adding a Doppelmayr high speed quad to supplement this 6-seater.

Continuing a tradition started long ago by founder Everett Kircher of introducing new lift systems at Boyne Mountain, a brand new Doppelmayr high-speed, quad chairlift and conveyor loading system is replacing the Meadows quad. It's the only lift of its kind in the Wolverine State.

The resort turns 60 this season, and during that time, it has been the scene of the Midwest's first chairlift (1948); the world's first triple chair (1964) and first quad chair (1969); and North America's first high-speed, six-seat lift (1992).

Boyne was the site of Michigan's first high-speed lift. It's quite a string of "firsts" for this classic Midwest ski resort.

[nathanvg]

Skier, on Sep 23 2008, 05:06 PM, said:

It looks like Boyne Mountain's Meadow replacement will be a detachable quad, not a fixed grip like originally announced.

Boyne Mountain Gets New High-Speed Quad


Boyne Mountain will be a adding a Doppelmayr high speed quad to supplement this 6-seater. Boyne Mountain will be a adding a Doppelmayr high speed quad to supplement this 6-seater.

Continuing a tradition started long ago by founder Everett Kircher of introducing new lift systems at Boyne Mountain, a brand new Doppelmayr high-speed, quad chairlift and conveyor loading system is replacing the Meadows quad. It's the only lift of its kind in the Wolverine State.

The resort turns 60 this season, and during that time, it has been the scene of the Midwest's first chairlift (1948); the world's first triple chair (1964) and first quad chair (1969); and North America's first high-speed, six-seat lift (1992).

Boyne was the site of Michigan's first high-speed lift. It's quite a string of "firsts" for this classic Midwest ski resort.

What's your source here? THe boyne website still says "a higher speed, fixed grip, conveyor load lift." My guess is this is marketing spin but the lift will infact be a fixed grip. Time will tell.

Slightly random fact, but when Devils head in WI put in a fixed grip riblet in the early 90's they called it a "high speed quad" in their marketing. The lift was infact very slow even for a fixed grip.

[Peter]

nathanvg, on Sep 23 2008, 04:34 PM, said:

What's your source here? THe boyne website still says "a higher speed, fixed grip, conveyor load lift." My guess is this is marketing spin but the lift will infact be a fixed grip. Time will tell.

Slightly random fact, but when Devils head in WI put in a fixed grip riblet in the early 90's they called it a "high speed quad" in their marketing. The lift was infact very slow even for a fixed grip.

www.onthesnow.com However, I think they got it wrong because First Tracks just published the same article saying a fixed grip quad with conveyor.

[skisox34]

Northeast Slopes in East Corinth, VT is putting in a used T-Bar. It will be their first non-ropetow lift. It was supposed to be installed in 2005 but they finally raised enough money to install it this year. It was originally installed at Stratton then moved to Bradford ski area, mass.

[Aussierob]

Hey Skier,
I'm a bit slow on this but the Kadenwood lift needs to be moved to next year.

[Andoman]

Skier, on Sep 23 2008, 09:04 PM, said:

www.onthesnow.com However, I think they got it wrong because First Tracks just published the same article saying a fixed grip quad with conveyor.

I was just up at boyne mountain (highlands and nubs also) this weekend, and it doesn't look like they've done much on the new quad lift. I didn't see too much going on. The new chairs where in the parking lot but I didn't see any new towers installed yet? I asked ond of the guys there if the lift was going to be ready this winter and his reply was "define winter, I could imagine it possibly being completed by the end of march 2009." I also noticed the master plan in the condo sales office (I'm thinking about getting a condo at highlands ) indicated that the meadows was supposed to be a HS six pack with another HS six pack over off disciples. They didn't give dates but I thought it was interesting.

ando

This post has been edited by Andoman: 05 October 2008 - 04:53 PM