Skilifts.org / SORT Forum

Kicking Horse, on 21 August 2012 - 07:36 PM, said:

Looks like it. Although I imagine that such an arrangement (FGQ to get to HSS) might cause headaches on Zendo, similar to headaches at Lift 6 by skiers going to the Imperial lift. They may upgrade in the future.
This post has been edited by DonaldMReif: 21 November 2013 - 08:52 AM

jaytrem, on 21 August 2012 - 04:09 PM, said:

I actually just realized why they have this arrangement in their proposal: Zendo serves the return trail and allows for people to directly cross Peak 7 via Peak 6 Parkway and get to the expansion without using the Independence SuperChair and putting more people on that. Those wanting to avoid Zendo can take Wanderlust, a catwalk from the Independence SuperChair that undoubtedly will be somewhat lengthy.


This post has been edited by DonaldMReif: 21 November 2013 - 08:52 AM

A loading carpet might be helpful on that fixed grip chair but they'll probably have to wait and see how frequently people misload it the first couple of seasons. It is good to know it can be avoided if it turns out to be a huge cluster.

More info than anybody could possibly want on the new Alpine Meadows Hot Wheels...

http://www.placer.ca...eplacement.ashx

You are correct! I gave up...
Dino

boardski, on 01 September 2012 - 06:55 PM, said:

I know now I'll probably settle on that cat track from the Independence SuperChair. It will probably be faster than waiting at that slow lift. And whatever that fixed grip is, they might upgrade it after some time experimenting with it there.

Hunt Hollow Ski Club in New York bought Little Cloud from Snowbird and will be installing it in 2013. Source: http://www.hunthollow.com/News.aspx

Taos expansion approved (much less grueling read than Hot Wheels)...

http://a123.g.akamai...PLT2_286517.pdf

or if your prefer just the map...

http://a123.g.akamai...PLT2_285491.pdf

Kinda glad I got to hike Kachina before the lift goes in. I am excited to be able to get to some of that stuff quicker. I do wonder why they didn't go with the longer lift out of the base. My sister-in-law and family live out that way, so I'll probably get out there every couple years.
This post has been edited by jaytrem: 04 September 2012 - 03:02 PM

First evidence that Squaw is considering replacing Red Dog with a six pack. http://www.placer.ca...ha%20order.ashx

alexboesen, on 08 September 2012 - 04:33 AM, said:

Interesting, in the proposal its a HSQ, not a HSS

alexboesen, on 08 September 2012 - 04:33 AM, said:

Notice in the same link, 2 new lifts and the parking lot gondola are mentioned for Northstar. Northstar might be the most prolific when it comes to lift building these days.

Keep in mind Vail Resorts just bought Northstar. Gotta make nice with the locals.

jaytrem, on 04 September 2012 - 03:01 PM, said:

And Taos will get its first three high speed quads according to the plan.

DonaldMReif, on 11 September 2012 - 10:51 PM, said:

In the longer document it says #7 would be a fixed grip. I could be way off, but my guess is the current #4 and #5 would be used for the new #7 and Ridge lifts. That would free up #7 to be used for the Peak lift. I also think they might already have enough quad chairs for all 4 quad lifts. I figure if a high speed only needs half the chairs, that should be about the right amount for the 2 high speeds the new #7 and the short Ridge lift. Only catch with that is they'd have to build both HSQs before they would have enough for #7.
This post has been edited by jaytrem: 12 September 2012 - 09:36 AM

Allan, your secret's out!

RED Adds Nearly 1,000 Acres of In-bound Terrain

Updated on September 25, 2012 by erikkerr
RED Mountain launches one of the largest ski terrain expansions in decades, adds nearly 1,000 acres in-bound terrain

Rossland, British Columbia (September 26, 2012) – Located on BC’s famous “Powder Highway,” RED Mountain Resort just hit overdrive: On August 1, 2012, RED began developing our most significant expansion to date: Grey Mountain. This two-year expansion adds almost 1,000 acres — and a whole new mountain – to our already epic 1,685 acres.

“The scale of this expansion is a true game-changer for RED Mountain Resort and for the community of Rossland,” said Howard Katkov, President and CEO of Red Mountain Resort. “The management team has spent the last eight years carefully reinforcing the company’s infrastructure, investing 50 million dollars in the facilities and completing world class slope-side accommodations. Now we’re truly ready for prime-time. We’ve consciously kept a low profile while we diligently readied ourselves for this massive expansion.”

RED has always been revered for: light, dry snow; world-class tree skiing; incredible steeps; 2,919 feet of vertical; our incredible, laid back vibe and our friendly locals. The Grey Mountain expansion will open up a vast store of intermediate runs, making most “family friendly” resorts pale by comparison. And, like the other mountains, Grey will offer what we call “3-D skiing”:

“Grey, like Granite (RED’s other peak), is volcano-shaped, which allows for 360-degree skiing around the peak from a single lift, a topographical feature few resorts in the world are lucky to have,” explains Katkov.

Chris Cushing, Principal at Snow Engineering (SE) Group, one of the ski resort industry’s premier design and engineering firms, said: “RED Mountain’s expansion to Grey Mountain is the biggest, most exciting project in North America this year, and SE Group is proud to have worked with RED to make it happen. Not only does the expansion increase RED’s skiable terrain by about 1,000 acres, it also adds wide terrain variety -– from groomed cruising runs to tree glades and alpine chutes -– that will create a whole new world for RED skiers. This project is one of the most dramatic transformations of an existing major ski area that we’ve seen and it is one of the largest — if not THE largest — single-season ski area expansion projects in North America in several decades.”

The 997-acre expansion on Grey alone is about the same size as the revered Mt. Baker Ski Area in Washington. To put this in perspective, total acreage with our new terrain on Grey makes RED larger than Jackson Hole, Wyoming. With the new zone, RED is elevated to the top three-percent (3%) of all resorts in North America for skiable acres (2,682!), while keeping its independent soul and escaping the stuffy (and expensive) trappings of many of the Mega Resorts.

For 2012-13, RED will be shuttling skiers, in groups of nine, to the top of Grey using a new Alpina Sherpa — an oversized snowmobile-bus that has to be seen to be believed. RED has purchased a Poma Quad Chair for installation next summer. At the completion of run development, Grey Mountain will have 22 perfect ski runs, leaving plenty of trees and terrain variations for riders to express themselves on.

“We see the Grey expansion as an expression of our commitment to the next generation of skiers and snowboarders, as well as to our current fans,” explains Fran Richards, Vice President, Marketing. “We share their values when it comes to mountain recreation and feel a deep responsibility to protect the wonderful ski experience at RED. We truly see RED as an endangered species, one of the last resorts that celebrates the true skiing experience: offering wide open terrain and all the amenities one expects, without the rampant commercialism that has significantly changed the face of the ski experience throughout North America. Many recreational skiers and snowboarders have never experienced a pure world like RED and we’d like to show them that the other side is, in fact, better.”

Haha yeah when I'm on vacation, I heard about the press release on facebook :)

Allan, on 29 September 2012 - 06:54 AM, said:

Vacation??? Is that why the lift won't be done until next year? :-)

I expect summer 2013 will mark an intense period of growth at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho. The 2013-2014 season marks fifty years, and all indications are that the resort intends to mark the anniversary with a bang. Since this year (2012-2013) is mostly a maintenance year focusing on refining the mountain and village experience, 2013-2014 should be an exciting winter.

An expansion to the White Pine Lodge is envisioned, adding 20-30 units to the south side of the building, with ground-level retail. I have assurances from upper-level management that the two chairlift priorities are Chair Six/Snow Ghost and Musical Chairs, the beginners' double. With Musical Chairs getting a new variable drive system and chairs this summer, that leaves only one major project within the current ski area boundary. The Snow Ghost/Chair Six Riblet double will likely be replaced with a Doppelmayr CTEC high-speed quad and a Doppelmayr CTEC fixed-grip triple. Other improvements around the resort and village will likely be made as well.

The White Pine Lodge expansion is near-definite, and the two new lifts are purely speculation. But given the resort's history, conversations I've had with staff, and the fifty-year milestone, it looks very likely that next summer is the year.

EDIT: Also working in expansion's favor are the record 2011-2012 winter and summer seasons, a rebounding real estate market on the mountain, and growing discontent in customer satisfaction surveys with the 13-minute ride to the summit on the current Snow Ghost/Chair Six double. The time is coming. Next year could just be it.
This post has been edited by agillskis: 01 October 2012 - 01:48 PM

agillskis, on 01 October 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

Maybe the replacement will be extended all the way to the bottom of Stella to improve circulation. Based on the appearance of the map, that looks like the strategy I would make use of. The triple can then run in the line that Snow Ghost used before it was relocated.

^That's essentially the plan, per past planning details and documents. This would put the lower terminal of the HSQ at the base of Stella and the unloading terminal somewhere near the current Midway unload. Then the triple would start somewhere down Snow Ghost (the run) or Have Fun. It's gonna be interesting to see how well this brings intermediates to the fantastic cruisers back there. And how well the triple works in terms of disbursing skiers/access. I also wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of Carpet/People Mover at the summit, depending on the alignment of the triple.