5 replies to this topic

[gsm]

One of the original lifts at Meadows is being upgraded, anyone know any details outside of this article?


http://www.skihood.c...Default.aspx#22

[SkiBachelor]

This lift is slated to be replaced by a HSQ in the master plan. Good thing Meadows has decided to put that cash towards something else since this lift is so short.

[Snoqualmie guy]

So I take it it's going to be a fixed grip doubles still? The only time I've been to MHM was spring skiing and there was very little snow under Yellow. Any body going to enter the contest?

[skihood]

In a comment on "Dave's Blog", Dave posted that the work would be perfomed by in-house crews with assistance from Superior Tramway (Riblet). It will be a very similar project to the Red chair (now Easy Rider) upgrade a few years ago.

It is still part of Meadows' Master Plan to upgrade Yellow to a high-speed quad... which is why I'm a little surprised that Meadows is choosing to do this "mini-upgrade" to the old double chair this summer. Perhaps some of the components are on their last legs? Regardless, this summer's "mini-upgrade" to Yellow almost certainly means that a replacement quad isn't in the resort's short-term plans.

If memory serves, the longer-term Yellow chair replacement plan (with a high-speed quad) involves relocating the top terminal to a spot farther north, near the top of the current Heather chair. I'm not certain about this, but there may also be a midway unloading station where the current Yellow chair top terminal sits. If so, riders could unload at the first ramp to access the terrain that Yellow currently serves (racers will appreciate this) or to access the Hood River Express' runs. To reach the Shooting Star lift, riders would stay on board and unload at the new top terminal. The new lift's bottom terminal would also be relocated, but only slightly, to a spot that is easier to access from the base lodges.

There are two reasons why Meadows wants this lift to be a high-speed quad, despite its short length and the limited terrain it serves:

1) To relieve crowding at the Mt. Hood Express by offering a second, high-speed option out of the base area, and
2) To provide year-round access to a mid-mountain lodge/restaurant planned for the area near the new top terminal of this lift.

This post has been edited by skihood: 12 July 2007 - 05:50 AM

[gsm]

Interesting reading.

I know the motor the Yellow chair died last season. I am pretty sure it got fixed though.

Where can I see a copy of the MHM masterplan? Sounds interesting . . .

[SkiBachelor]

I don't know where the current Master Plan is located on the U.S. Forest Service website, but I did find this which lists all the major mountain projects.

http://nwskiers.org/...hoodmeadows.htm