23 replies to this topic

[DonaldMReif]

Although it's been a long time since I've been on a lift with one of these, maybe it would be good idea that I explain what exactly the chairlift safety bar mounted map is.

Now, on most of the chairlifts in Colorado, where again I live, most of the maps were not started being used on many lifts until only like 2006 or 2007. (Copper Mountain put the map system on the American Eagle and American Flyer lifts in 2006, and added them to Super Bee in 2007, OR, Winter Park added maps to the Zephyr Express and Gemini Express lifts in 2007). They're used on certain lifts like heavy traffic ones.

I've understood is why some ski area corporations add the maps and others don't. But what I don't understand are some of the exception lifts.
I get this in particular, from the Lower and Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express lifts at Beaver Creek. Of the 38 high speed quads that operate between Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone, they are the only two of these to feature maps. I'm saying I don't know why they have the maps, but the other eight high speed quads at Beaver Creek don't.

Some of the other exceptions:

At Snowmass, all but two of the high speed quads, plus the Village Express, have map systems. The exceptions are the Two Creeks and Sheer Bliss lifts.
At Aspen Highlands, it appears that only the Exhibition Express lift (the first lift you take up to the mountain) has maps. Loge Peak and Cloud Nine do not have maps. This is more a reverse of the pattern at Snowmass.

I don't mean this to be "bashing," but of course, this is just my opinion: in my opinion, I think the lift map systems are a little pointless with some rare exceptions. The map just takes away from the peaceful trip up the mountain.

[liftmech]

Your post obscures your point a bit, but I think I get it. I like the footrest-mounted maps myself. I pick up far fewer trail maps now that we have them. It's easier on the guests; instead of trying to dig out, unfold, read, and re-stow a paper map, there's one right in front of them. Very convenient. As far as why certain lifts have them and others don't, it could be either cost or utility, i.e. only lower-mountain or access lifts need them. $0.02

[Allan]

I asked Doppelmayr if we could mount some advertising things on the restrainer bars (the GM wanted them); and they replied no and sent me this bulletin... Do resorts with such items on their carriers just install them without asking?

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[Kicking Horse]

Lift's 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, Assay Hill, Turkey Tout, at Snowmass do not have the maps.

[boardski]

Kicking Horse, on 11 July 2009 - 07:43 PM, said:

Lift's 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, Assay Hill, Turkey Tout, at Snowmass do not have the maps.

Which lift is #11 now that Wood Run is gone and the gondola replaced Funnel (#7)?

[Kicking Horse]

11 is skycab. Elk Camp Gondi is 7.

[DonaldMReif]

Kicking Horse, on 11 July 2009 - 07:43 PM, said:

Lift's 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, Assay Hill, Turkey Tout, at Snowmass do not have the maps.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but I don't refer to the Snowmass lifts by numbers.

[Kicking Horse]

DonaldMReif, on 14 July 2009 - 07:40 PM, said:

I'm sorry to tell you this, but I don't refer to the Snowmass lifts by numbers.

Good. Figure out the Lift #'s.

It's pretty easy if you know the order of the lifts were installed.

[boardski]

The older maps used to have the numbers and the names but now the numbers do not appear on them. I am rather surprised that Sky Cab is not considered #1 instead of 11 as its line more closely resembles the line of the original Village lift from the 70s and early 80s which was #1. Wood Run was the former #11 which ran from the bottom of the current gondola to the bottom of Alpine Springs. It was always a nice access lift since all the tourists wanted to ride Fanny Hill and barely anyone rode the Wood Run in the AM. There were a few gaps in the numbers, however such as there was no #13 (as with most ski areas with numbered lifts), #14 or #17 or #1. After Fanny Hill was installed (replacing the original Village lift) it became #18. As I recall Aspen Highlands changed the lift numbers a few times to accommodate lifts disappearing each season due to consolidating their lift system until finally they gave up on the numbers.

[liftmech]

Anyway....

I can see Doppelmayr's point, I guess, which means that the company we use can only install their maps at places with Pomas.

[floridaskier]

Park City had them for a little while on Payday and maybe other lifts, but that was before they installed footrests. They still use the old safety bars in the summer on Payday, but the maps are gone. I thought it was a good idea. Those are CTEC six packs, so it's not a Poma exclusive.

[timberlaker]

Look at it this way. They have to be repaired, graffitti removed, stickers removed and they fade. The marketing department will still buy maps which end up all over the hill. The end result is don't bother. They will cost way more than they are worth

[Jonni]

I remember we had them on our Poma Detach for a little while but I believe that they were removed because they seemed to be in the way more than they were being used. Personally, I prefer having a paper map as I like to add it to my collection.

[floridaskier]

Have they been used anywhere to replace paper trail maps entirely? That seems like a bad idea. I like collecting the maps too, and for people who don't know their way around the mountain, printed trail maps can be very important in helping them find their way when they aren't on the lift.

[towertop]

Although it's been a long time since I've been on a lift with one of these, maybe it would be good idea that I explain what exactly the chairlift safety bar mounted map is.


I never knew a chailift had a SAFTEY BAR!

[liftmech]

True!

[Bogong]

I was skiing at Mt Hotham last weekend and it's amazing what you notice when you are alert to things.

All their Poma quad chairs have lift and trail maps on the safety bar but none of their Doppelmayr quads do.
Does it have anything to do with maintenance and/or lease contracts with the different manufacturers?

http://www.mthotham.com.au/

[egieszl]

Kicking Horse, on 11 July 2009 - 07:43 PM, said:

Lift's 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, Assay Hill, Turkey Tout, at Snowmass do not have the maps.

1 Fanny Hill, 2 Burlingame, 3 Sam's Knob, 4 Big Burn, 5 Campground, 6 Assay Hill, 7 Funnel (Now Elk Camp Gondola), 8 Alpine Springs, 9 Sheer Bliss, 10 Elk Camp, 11 Wood Run (Now Sky Cab), 12 High Alpine, 15 Naked Lady, 16 Two Creeks, 18 Fanny Hill Quad, 19 Coney Glade

I don't know the numbers for Cirque, Scooper, and Meadows. It really doesn't matter since the numbers are not used by guests. This isn't Mammoth, it's Snowmass.

As for the trail maps: I ski Snowmass 30+ days a year and I hear positive comments all the time about the maps. I think they're really helpful for people who aren't familiar with the mountain and I use them when people ask questions about the mountain. It helps to be able to show something without digging a trail map out of a pocket. Sheer Bliss doesn't have the maps because the lap bar design is different and the lift is new. I'm sure they can get them if they wanted to. Two Creeks has them on some of the chairs, but not all. The only negative to the maps is the fact that they whack you in the head if the bar is brought down and you're not prepared.

Eric

[Kicking Horse]

egieszl, on 22 August 2009 - 10:39 PM, said:

1 Fanny Hill, 2 Burlingame, 3 Sam's Knob, 4 Big Burn, 5 Campground, 6 Assay Hill, 7 Funnel (Now Elk Camp Gondola), 8 Alpine Springs, 9 Sheer Bliss, 10 Elk Camp, 11 Wood Run (Now Sky Cab), 12 High Alpine, 15 Naked Lady, 16 Two Creeks, 18 Fanny Hill Quad, 19 Coney Glade

I don't know the numbers for Cirque, Scooper, and Meadows. It really doesn't matter since the numbers are not used by guests. This isn't Mammoth, it's Snowmass.

As for the trail maps: I ski Snowmass 30+ days a year and I hear positive comments all the time about the maps. I think they're really helpful for people who aren't familiar with the mountain and I use them when people ask questions about the mountain. It helps to be able to show something without digging a trail map out of a pocket. Sheer Bliss doesn't have the maps because the lap bar design is different and the lift is new. I'm sure they can get them if they wanted to. Two Creeks has them on some of the chairs, but not all. The only negative to the maps is the fact that they whack you in the head if the bar is brought down and you're not prepared.

Eric

Very good Eric. The Village Express is using 18 for it's lift id. However tramway id is Sm-036. The reason why Two Creeks is missing alot of them is becasue the bars are bent.

[DonaldMReif]

I come back to this topic to update on the subject of Vail Resorts. Their system of installing maps is interesting:

At Breckenridge, originally only the Beaver Run SuperChair and Colorado SuperChair had them (starting in 2009). Starting in 2010, the Peak 8 SuperConnect also received them. Interestingly, the Rocky Mountain SuperChair doesn't have maps, although it starts at a base area (though at the same time it doesn't service much terrain and is primarily used to access the T-Bar and Peak 7).

Keystone has them on the Dercum Mountain high speed quads (they just installed them this year on the Montezuma Express). Vail has them on the Vista Bahn Express, Born Free Express, and Mountaintop Express lifts. (The latter having maps is understandable, being that the lift does provide access to a significant amount of Vail's terrain). All three of those are Doppelmayrs. I think Riva Bahn might have maps as well.