49 replies to this topic

[boardski]

Interesting... Thanks for the information.

[Peter]

Another crazy picture...

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[Lift Dinosaur]

Peter, on 03 February 2014 - 07:16 PM, said:

If you look at the below picture, you can see all of the antennas that were mounted to the building. Apparently the upper terminal housed 6 different cell phone carriers and included 900 square feet of space for cellular equipment.
1780876_10151973887729611_2127548846_n.jpg

One would think that for the $$$ invested in equipment and the remote location the owners of the equipment would have installed some sort of fire suppression system....just sayin'
Dino

[Lift Dinosaur]

Peter, on 03 February 2014 - 08:05 PM, said:

Another crazy picture...

From that shot it looks like there was also an explosion!
Dino

[william b]

Lift Dinosaur, on 04 February 2014 - 07:49 AM, said:

From that shot it looks like there was also an explosion!
Dino

We agree... and the Fire Marshall here thinks possibly the explosion came before the fire, as the debris is not burned.

wbl

[RibStaThiok]

William- Please keep us posted.

[Compuboks]

Local fire officials are saying in the local papers today it could take some time (Months - heh) to figure out what happened. There is some question weather or not there was an explosion (I've only heard that there was one from unofficial and non-mountain sources), but I know from personal experience there were plenty of fuels in the building - Diesel for the lift and Comm. building backup generator, oil for the snowmaking air compressors, other items.

The building and equipment were old. Accidents happen. I am personally very interested in seeing the actual cause.

Today's local articles:

http://www.theweeklysun.com/index.html (on page three of today's paper, annoying interface to read - good photos)

http://www.mtexpress...01#.UvL2zBBdXPY

This post has been edited by Compuboks: 05 February 2014 - 06:47 PM

[william b]

RibStaThiok, on 05 February 2014 - 01:46 PM, said:

William- Please keep us posted.

When I say 'here', I mean 'here in New Hampshire, looking at the same image you all are.' The Fire Marshal 'here' saw the photo and that was his first comment.

We certainly do not know anything in particular about this lift... however, if there were compressors there, I would 'speculate' that there was the possibility that quite a few cubic feet of compressed air could have been released... in my own mind, I could see that causing a 'debris field' such as the one shown. Perhaps the investigation will clear it all up.

wbl

[Peter]

http://www.idahostat...ire-on-sun.html

Quote

Compressor caused fire on Sun Valley ski area


KETCHUM, IDAHO — Fire investigators in central Idaho say a malfunctioning compressor that's part of Sun Valley Resort's snowmaking system caused a fire that destroyed the top terminal of a rarely used chairlift.

The Ketchum Fire Department completed the investigation Thursday and says the Feb. 1 fire on Bald Mountain intensified with leaking oil from the compressor and destroyed the building at the top of the Flying Squirrel lift.

The fire also partially destroyed a communications building and knocked out cellphone service to the Warm Springs area and some areas farther north.

Officials didn't give an estimate on the cost of the damage. No one was injured.

[RibStaThiok]

Seems like a very quick investigation. Well hopefully further information can become available which can benefit the ski resort/snow making community so that a similar incident does not take place. We are probably talking several million dollars worth of damage when everything is said and done with the lift, snow making equipment, and the cell phone equipment.

[Compuboks]

Heh. Not terribly surprising to me.

The communications facility was the major loss here. Hopefully they take a few lessons out of this, but I kind of doubt it.

[Lift Dinosaur]

Compuboks, on 09 February 2014 - 04:38 PM, said:

"Not terribly surprising to me.... Hopefully they take a few lessons out of this, but I kind of doubt it."

Care to expound? You sound like you have an axe to grind ....
Dino

[CH3skier]

I was up skiing this weekend at Sun Valley. Took a few pics of the Flying Squirrel aftermath. Most chairs are have been brought down and piled up at the bottom terminal. There are still a few laying around, a few still at top. Looks like they cut the cable in a few places and left it there I guess for a spring cleanup.

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[DonaldMReif]

The Eskimo lift destruction tests of 1990 included setting a lift motor room on fire, and the resulting damage seen in a video documentary about the tests looks a lot like Flying Squirrel's.

[Peter]

Sun Valley has opted not to replace Flying Squirrel. It will be removed this summer.

[Nate214]

I wonder if they have any parts I can use on my Stadelis?

[Nate214]

vons, on 02 February 2014 - 10:52 AM, said:

Taos, NM still has 5 doubles and a triple by Stadeli. Two of the doubles don't run very often but are well maintained the rest run daily. They are good solid lifts from what I have heard.

Yes they are. 23 still running interesting fact 6 of them are here. I think they are great the triple we have was built in 84 not very many like it from what I hear maybe a couple others around with the last designs from Stadeli. We replaced all the grips on that one (84 triple) a few years ago with new ones from Garaventa because the old ones started cracking in a critical area found with NDT. We also bought more spare sheaves from them for the 84 triple. Many of the parts are still original other than the normal wear and tear sheave liners and etc. on these Stadelis.

[RibStaThiok]

What resort, Nate?

[SkiDaBird]

RibStaThiok, on 24 May 2014 - 12:30 PM, said:

What resort, Nate?

He is at Taos.

[Nate214]

Here is a list of Stadeli lifts in Taos,
Lift 7- 1984 Triple
Lift 7A- 1960's vintage Double center-pole rebuilt from old parts lift 1&2 in 1990
Lift 6- 1976 Double
Lift 5- 1973 Double
Lift 3- 1968 Double Beginner hill lift
Rueggli- 1991- Parts from old 1&2 60's vintage, Gearbox and bullwheel from Waterville Valley, Redesigned bail type chairs from old center pole chairs