This is a list of new lifts likely to be built in North America during the 2021 construction season. Last updated 7/13/2021.
Blue = Doppelmayr
Yellow = Leitner-Poma
Green = Skytrac
Red = MND Ropeways
Purple = Partek
Orange = SkyTrans
Gray = Re-installations (used lifts)
White = To be announced
ATW = Aerial Tramway
CL = Chairlift
G = Gondola
SL = Surface lift
D = Detachable
F = Fixed grip
M = Monocable
P = Pulse
J = Jigback
If Squaw Alpine doesn’t build California Express Gondola and Red Dog Express during 2020, it is a sure bet for 2021.
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Until litigation involving the gondola is resolved speculating on a possible construction timeline is anything but a sure bet.
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Red Dog is going to come before the interconnect. If I had to guess, I’d say 2020 for Red Dog, and then 2021-2022 for the gondola. It’s important to remember that Alterra has a lot of other places besides the Sierras to invest over the next two years. They’re going to want to invest at other places, like Crystal, Solitude, and Tremblant, so in an situation where Alterra builds three detachables per year, I think it unlikely that Squalpine will get three lifts in a row.
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The nuance is my guesss is Squaw will not replace Red Dog until they know for sure if that Gondola will be built. If the Gondola is NOT going to be built, then Squaw would replace Red Dog in the same lift line as they have today, if the Gondola IS going to be built then the plan is to move the base terminal over closer to the base of Far East very near where the original Red Dog chair started.
Stepping back I think Red Dog will happen, but only once they get to a final outcome on if the Gondola will be built or not. I think the Gondola will happen. The lawsuit that has been filled is without merit. I think its simply a matter of time before its thrown out of the courts.
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Is there any new info on new lifts in 2021?
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Ski resort info.com shows a lot of proposed lifts for Us ski resorts. Are any of these getting approval and getting built in 2021? https://www.skiresort.info/ski-lifts/planned/north-america/
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That list is comprised of lifts submitted in master plans and/or approved by the forest service. Some of those lifts will probably be built either in 2020 or 2021 while others were conceptualized years ago and are unlikely to be built anymore.
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When Loveland upgrades Chair 6, they’ll have to work around that one tower it chairs with Chair 2, and maybe move some of Chair 2’s towers to accommodate the replacement for 6.
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At one point they should just replace 2 with a HSQ or FGQ
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I hope that if chair 2 is replaced with a Fixed Grip Quad and chair 6 is replaced with a Fixed Grip Triple they safety bars on it. I’m sure if they are replaced with a High Speed Quads they will both have safety bars on them
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The fact that there are bars on Chet’s Dream makes me think the rest of the lifts may eventually be retrofitted with them.
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Three Loveland lifts are getting bars this summer Donald.
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Just a reminder. These are not safety bars. They are comfort or leisure bars and do not provide any significant safety support.
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Not a related comment but it is interesting to still see Norway and no Beavers lifts at a-basin on the map.
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Sugarloaf “wishlist” to replace timberline 2021.
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Do you think that you could embed the links to the photos of the new lifts once you post them?
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The Loon GM confirmed on the Storm Skiing Podcast that the Seven Brothers detachable quad will be built in 2021 using the existing Kanc equipment if all goes according to plan.
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Update: It did not go according to plan and is now planned for 2022, with Kanc 8 planned for 2021.
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I think A-Basin is getting a new leitner poma replacement lift for the Pallavicini Lift.
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That’s this summer along with a Molly Hogan replacement.
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It is being replaced this summer, so it is listed under 2020 New Lifts.
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When did you find out that atoma express was going to be a HSQ?
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Just an educated guess. Six place would add a lot of cost with the mid-station.
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Someone remind me, on what alignment would Purgatory’s Ice Creek Express go?
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I can’t find a picture of the alignment but it’s supposed to be East of the Hermosa Park express and add 45 new acres of terrain and 4 intermediate runs
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What happened to the Gelande lift at Purg? Thought it was the next new lift going in.
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Looks like this kinda lays it out https://skimap.org/data/518/1923/1599491735.jpg
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Kinda odd that it wouldn’t run all the way up to the BD&M Expressway to ensure access back to the base area without needing to use Hermosa Park. Doing that would also allow retirement of Grizzly.
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From Karl Strand’s latest Storm Skiing Podcast, sounds like Sugarloaf’s West Mountain lift is pushed out to summer 2022.
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Searchmont Buzzsaw lift is already onsite in Canada though its install was postponed after shipping last summer.
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Did Loveland cancel the replacement of lift 6? It has disappeared from the list…
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Not happening this summer. When it does happen, it will be fixed grip.
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Have you considered keeping a list of planned lifts that don’t have a set construction timeline?
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Where did you see this? I haven’t been able to find anything since September.
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At this point, I would be shocked to see either one of the two Ontario lifts listed as being built this summer actually constructed this year due to their respective ski seasons being almost entirely canceled.
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Mt Baldy will probably install still since the lift is made already and I think they have it on site. Searchmont dosent look likely.
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On the proposed Quad to install at Mount Baldy , Thunder Bay. Since it is a used lift and probably is onsite already, the only additional costs for 2021 would be pore the cement footings and put the towers up an assemble. Many of the footings got dug in the Fall of 2020. Good luck to both Mount Baldy and Serchmount in the tough business environment of Ontario 2021.
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Talked to one of the key guys at Squaw Valley yesterday, he thinks the Base to Base Gondola will happen this year. Still hard for me to believe there going to spend that kind of money, but will see.
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If base to base goes in this year Red Dog 6 pack will go in either this year or next year.
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Sounds like existing Red Dog Drive terminal would be moved uphill to make room for Gondola. It would get a new Drive and control system for this year.
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When would the 6 pack be built then? Next year?
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Why would they spend all that money to move the Red Dog terminal and replace the drive and controls just to immediately replace the whole lift with a 6 pack?
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Maintain the lift as if it’s not going away, that way if it doesn’t you’re covered. We did that to our old K-lift; new drive and controls in 2016, lift replaced in 2017. We were able to move the drive and control setup to Blackjack this year.
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Do the current drive and control systems really not have another 1-2 years left in them? I understand the idea of better safe than sorry but why not wait to do that until you know if the new lift will be built or not? Just seems like a lot of extra work and cost to replace those parts and then do all the work again to move it to another lift when it’s inevitably replaced shortly after. A whole new drive and control system goes beyond routine preventative maintenance. Although if they’re going to do it anyways, might as well do it when they’re moving the terminal and things are disassembled rather than waiting a year or two if the new lift isn’t built.
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I view it as something akin to how Breck replaced the Colorado SuperChair’s Arceaux chairs with Omega chairs in 2012, only to replace the whole thing with a high speed six pack in 2014 (the Omega chairs were then used to replace the Beaver Run SuperChair’s Competition chairs).
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NVskier- I don’t work there but I can see their point of view. The longer they hang on to an outdated system the more gremlins pop up and the harder it is to find parts. This can result in nuisance stops at a minimum, if not lengthy breakdowns, which impacts the public’s perception of the lift and ski area. They are definitely keeping that in mind. If Red Dog hasn’t already had an upgrade it’s using a system designed and built in the late 80s, which is going to be obsolete.
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Anyone know what’s going to happen to the old Swift Current and Kancamangus lifts?
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Swift Current will likely be relocated to another Boyne resort.
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The current Kanc lift is very likely to be refurbished and reused to replace Seven Brothers in 2022. People have speculated Swift Current gets moved to another Boyne Resort, but there is a decent chance it stays in Montana and gets put somewhere else on the mountain. Perhaps as the second lift out of Madison?
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I still believe the old Swift Current lift is coming to Sugarloaf for the West Mountain expansion project. The specs on length of the current Swift Current lift and the new West Mountain lift is only like 18 feet difference in length. The project was already pushed to 2022, AKA in my opinion to refurbish the lift just like the current Kanc lift will be getting refurbished.
That means in 2022 Boyne will put In 3 lifts In the Northeast 2 used and 1 new lift
1. Sugarloaf West Mountain (used)
2. Loon Seven Brothers (used )
3. Sunday River Barker (new )
I hope I am wrong and the West Mountain lift is a bubble or a HS6 bur I just don’t see it happening.
I just spent a week at Sugarloaf and I think the most important new lift is actually Timberline. Timberline starting at bullwinkles will be a game changer. Hope that lift comes sooner than later but then again its Sugarloaf we never get good news here.
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I would be surprised if West Mountain isn’t a bubble, as they want to use Bullwinkles for wedding/conference business, but you’d need an enclosed lift of some kind to do that for bad weather. Unless they do something like Wildcat and put gondola cabins on for the summer only.
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Doesn’t Sugarloaf have the former cabins from Park City’s old gondola?
http://www.chairlift.org/parkcity.html
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If the old Swifty stays at Big Sky, an Iron Horse replacement/realignment with a detachable would be nice. A second lift from the Madison base would be useful too. If it gets moved to another Boyne mountain, Pacific Crest at Snoqualmie would be a perfect choice.
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Big Sky 2025 has Iron Horse replacement/extension listed. Would definitely be nice if they could extend it up to where SixShooter off loads, or nearby.
Moonlight Basin’s long range plans show a potential lift from Six Shooter base up to Lookout Ridge. (Though I think it would be better to run one up to the base of Lone Tree.
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how come the Ellis drive replacement is not here, I thought they were essentially replacing the whole lift this summer.
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It has either been postponed or canceled.
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when you look at their website it does not look like the plan has been revised at all. It still seems like they are planning on doing a second phase which is supposed to improve ride time. I don’t know what this is supposed to mean, but I assume it means a new drive or chairs?
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Your not sure on the Base to Base Gondola Squaw/Alpine yet??
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No word yet on the Mammoth projects either. Alterra typically makes announcements the second week in March.
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I’m guessing all the Steamboat projects will happen. The Alterra projects will probably happen especially since Vail is doing all their projects.
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Still hearing from a pretty good source, no new lifts for Mammoth and the Base to Base Squaw/Alpine Gondola is on.
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Any update on whether Alterra will claim it is a two-year project to essentially pay for most of it and do most of the work in 2022? I heard that was an openly discussed option back in December when I spoke with someone who had reliable information.
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Heard Base to Base Gondola project was going to be built in 2021.
This is a huge project for 1 summer. 2 Drive terminals, 2 interconnecting return terminals and 1 angle station. Each Drive terminal, Squaw and Alpine to have full cabin storage and maintenance facility.
The only disruption to the current lift system that I am aware of is moving the Red Dog Triple chair uphill to make room for the Gondola terminal on the Squaw side.
We will see shortly what actually happens??
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Might be some disruption to KT? iirc it is supposed to cross over KT in the vicinity of the Fingers. That’ll be a nightmare and a half to build. Also will ruin the aesthetic of KT but it is what it is.
Also, do you guys think this means Oly Lady is going away?
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I wonder if this is leading up to Alterra announcing additional projects to what was going to happen last year. The only confirmed additional project is moving Steamboats gondola bottom terminal and redoing the entire base area.
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I think Olympic Lady will stick around for a few more years.
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Gondola is going to cross Exhibition and KT.
Oly lady isn’t in the way and won’t go away.
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And it’s there to act as a backup lift for KT-22, even though it has logged more hours for maintenance than for actual operation at this point.
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From this link, what alignment are they going with for the Gondola?
https://www.sierrasun.com/news/placer-county-approves-base-to-base-gondola/
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If I am correct I think they are going with alignment 4.
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Agree 4
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Keep an eye on Mt. Spokane… currently pushing for replacing both chair 1 and chair 2 as soon as this summer if everything works out perfectly. Same alignments and top/bottoms, just completely new triples.
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I saw that the Inlander recently reported this, and they’ve been having a great season, even with COVID-19 restrictions. Whether or not it happens in 2021, they’re certainly due. Chair #1 is sixty-five years old!
https://www.inlander.com/spokane/despite-industrywide-challenges-resorts-note-high-skier-enthusiasm-and-potential-long-term-opportunities-in-the-pandemic/Content?oid=21113033
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Will Alterra confirm their projects for this year soon? It’s past the first week of March when they usually do.
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this could mean big things are happening, might be taking them longer to figure it all out.
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Someone on this blog got some insider info and they said it will be California express (Squaw Alpine Gondola) instead of the two mammoth 6 packs.
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Stand by. Last year it was March 10th.
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I know the original set date for the press release was today. However, minor delays are not a big worry, and it is not as though releasing the information today versus next week will impact anything. It was delayed by one day last year due to them finalizing minor details. The last time I heard anything earlier this year about the announcement, they were deciding how to best release information about the Squaw/Alpine rebrand and the capital improvement plan. They were contemplating releasing it all at once in one mega-announcement when they would normally release their capital improvement plan around now in March or releasing their capital improvement plan as normal and releasing the Squaw/Alpine rebrand and gondola in April when the season starts winding down.
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Might want to add Magic’s quad here and take it off last year’s list. Definitely not getting done before fall with all of the engineering crap they just uncovered
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Is Okemo keeping the bubbles on Green Ridge or are the bubbles being removed in the reinstallation?
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Did you get the Alterra announcement early Peter because I just noticed you put in California express.
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What former Sugarbush lift is going in at Catamount? From the pictures in the announcement, the lift may be the remaining components from when Bravo was relocated to North Lynx, but they would still need terminals etc. This would also make it a triple and not a quad if I remember correctly. If so, it’s crazy that this equipment has sat for 25 years.
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I wish Partek could get more contracts, their chairs are super nice and I love the look of them. Too bad nobody buys from them.
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Partek doesn’t have much desire to go big. They’re independently owned and they are a pretty small operation. After all, Borvig was killed due to being overworked, partially thanks to Leitner.
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Any word on Alterra updates, especially the base to base at Squaw?
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Credible source confirmed this week the SVAM base to base gondola is on for this summer. Contracts have been signed. They are trying to complete it this construction season but there are logistical challenges that may get in the way. I would assume the announcement will coincide with the rebrand to maximize publicity. Source confirmed most of what is already written here as far as LPOA being the lift manufacturer and the existing Red Dog getting moved slightly uphill to make room for the Squaw gondola base terminal. Cabin storage facility at Alpine but not at Squaw. Alpine mid station is in an avalanche path so that structure will need be built accordingly. Rumors of snowmaking going in this summer off the KT Saddle. Massive project all the way around.
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Any credible intel on the name change?
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Do you have any credible intel on other areas of interest such as Steamboat or Tremblant. Also what about mammoth six packs rumor has it they are doing Squaw Alpine gondola instead of those.
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Peter, where did you hear about the source of Catamount’s new lifts? Also, what lift was Glade when installed at Sugarbush? Thanks
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It’s shaping up to be a pretty big year for installs!
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Rusty Gregory just stated on a call with Park City residents that Alterra will invest $200M this year.
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And confirmed the Squaw-Alpine gondola. It’s happening.
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Any info about other resorts? I’m guessing the rest of the money will be spent on Steamboat.
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Any updated guesses when Alterra is dropping the 2021 info on improvements and projects?
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Probably when they decide on the Squaw name change.
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Where is Gore’s platter going?
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Moosehead Mountain you have listed as being in the state of ‘Moosehead Mountain’. To my knowledge, they have not yet seceded from the state of Maine. :-)
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Moosehead is now no longer on the list, did something change with it’s new lift?
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I was not able to confirm construction with any of the manufacturers. It may still happen but I’ve removed it from the list for now.
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Does the “B” next to a lift type on a Doppelmayr CLD always represent that it’s a D-line?
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Bubble
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If the Squaw/Alpine gondola has officially been pushed to 2022, Alterra officially has zero new lifts opening in 2021, which is quite surprising. As a side note, this does not quite surprise me, as the timeline was always ambitious, especially after they decided to not end KT-22 & Red Dog’s ski seasons early to start construction. Plus, I was originally told that they would be replacing Red Dog at the same time as the gondola installation, as they would have to spend a lot of money to move the bottom terminal anyway, and pushing it to next year allows them to do this.
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It’s for sure going to be a big lift season for alterra next year. I could see up to 7 lifts being built at most.
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Nothing is for sure until building starts. Delaying a rumored or planned project is quite easy to do and happens all of the time. Alterra has even indefinitely postponed announced projects (they are the only company that indefinitely postponed its COVID-impacted projects instead of completing them this summer). Those are important to remember as well because it is poor PR to announce and not build, and skiers, including the all-important real estate buyers, could become frustrated with empty promises.
Alterra essentially has the following lifts in the must be built category because they have been announced: Squaw/Alpine gondola, Wild Blue gondola, Broadway Express 2.0, Canyon Express 2.0, and Timber Express. Plus, Bashor and Red Dog are side projects that are quite likely to happen alongside their must-build counterparts. If the Squaw/Alpine gondola is delayed a year, that would give them seven total lifts, including two quite expensive ones, that should be built for 2022. That is a lot, especially given that they have never built that many in an offseason. Maybe Alterra digs into their pockets and does it all, but the more likely option is that some of those are delayed. The Mammoth and Tremblant ones are likely candidates because they have already been pushed back, but that is also why it is a bad idea to continue pushing them down the road. We will see what they end up doing.
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squaw alpine probably has delayed the completion date because from webcam footage and announcements they are clearly continuing with construction. I always thought the 2021 completion date was optimistic
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https://blog.squawalpine.com/operations/update-preparing-to-build-the-base-to-base-gondola/
I think if they pushed back to 2022 it probably meant the completion date or moving/replacement of red dog, it looks like they are preparing the liftline and foundations at the moment.
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We also have to take into account capital improvements such as Steamboat’s redo of the gondola square.
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When was Butternut’s upgrade for Paddy Wagon announced? I’m not seeing anything about it on their website. Under their mountain stats, it still shows that Paddy Wagon is operating as a double.
https://skibutternut.com/the-mountain/mountain-info/mountain-stats?
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I thought they would of used the ctec triple they got
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Maybe they’re using their CTEC triple as parts? Still, Paddy Wagon is a really short lift and they would have more than enough spare parts if they were to use the CTEC triple.
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Looks like towers and bull wheel have been ripped out so they’re definitely replacing it with something. Hoping they sell off the chairs or something, even an announcement would suffice.
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Sometimes there is no announcement.
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Is the Quantum Six going to have Leitner direct drive?
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I’m guessing so since it is on I think all new detachables.
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It’s an option, not a standard.
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Can anyone find out when Beaver Creek is planning on flying towers?
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So is Red Dog being replaced or not? Thanks.
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Not this year (2021). Maybe next year.
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Side note, Squaw/Alpine Gondola will not be finished this year either. Red Dog Drive terminal is in the way!
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