News Roundup: Timbertown

  • For the third time in seven years a chair falls off a Doppelmayr detachable quad in high winds at Thredbo, Australia.
  • Loon Mountain’s expansion lift will be called Timbertown.
  • The Forest Service rejects Lutsen Mountains’ entire expansion proposal.
  • Brighton plans to build a chondola to its new mid-mountain restaurant.
  • Alterra closes its acquisition of Schweitzer, makes access unlimited on the Ikon Pass.
  • Schweitzer to sell retired Riblet double chairs for charity.
  • Snowriver previews its new trail map showing a transformation from nine lifts to five at Jackson Creek Summit.
  • Big Sky nears completion of the new Lone Peak Tram.
  • The British Columbia Supreme Court will determine possession of Powder King Mountain Resort following the owner’s death.

15 thoughts on “News Roundup: Timbertown

  1. The Skier's avatar The Skier August 25, 2023 / 2:19 pm

    The real news about Big Sky’s tram was extremely buried in that article. It states

    “Work on the new tram will continue into the ski season, Wilson said, with no firm date on when skiers, snowboarders and thrill-seekers will be able to ride to the top of Lone Mountain for the surreal view and expert ski runs.”

    I don’t know how this can be considered on schedule when they previously said it would be ready by opening day and how have no clue when it will be ready…

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    • Ryan Murphy's avatar Ryan Murphy August 25, 2023 / 6:31 pm

      Tram usually isn’t ready to go opening day because of the rock maze. If it’s ready by early to mid December, it will be right on schedule.

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      • The Skier's avatar The Skier August 26, 2023 / 12:15 am

        Yes, but that is a pivot from what they were saying earlier this summer. I saw in multiple places that they would have it “ready by opening day” or “ready in November 2023” and now all their construction manager has to say is that construction will continue in season & there is no firm date for opening?? It just seems slightly concerning, and they clearly had some delays due to the wet summer.

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    • Everett's avatar Everett August 26, 2023 / 7:32 pm

      We had some delays due to inclement weather in June which put us back a few weeks early on. The team has done a great job making up the time and we are in very good shape for getting this project complete with minimal delay, although there is not a firm opening date at this time.

      Liked by 5 people

  2. Jack Hopkins's avatar Jack Hopkins August 25, 2023 / 11:27 pm

    How will wild blue work with 1 section at 6m/s and another at 7m/s

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    • Muni's avatar Muni August 26, 2023 / 7:46 am

      the slower section could have closer cabin spacing. my guess is the tires the roll the carriers through the terminals mechanically enforce the spacing in a way where the total throughput is unaffected by line speed (just speculating).

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      • ShangRei Garrett's avatar ShangRei Garrett August 26, 2023 / 10:23 am

        Iirc from when I was up there, there’s a very short cadence chain (not sure what else to call it) that connects the stages. When a cabin’s in the cadence chain, it speeds up/slows down as needed to get to speed for the other section.

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        • Donald Reif's avatar Donald Reif August 28, 2023 / 5:34 pm

          The Whistler Village Gondola has connector chains like that in its midstation.

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    • pbropetech's avatar pbropetech September 1, 2023 / 4:29 pm

      Muni is correct. The transition between the lower and upper sections will have the tire pulley ratio set to accelerate cabins on the uphill side, and decelerate on the downhill side. The same thing happens between the arrival and departure sides on our telemix. The difference there isn’t for rope speed, but for loading intervals; however, the concept is the same.

      Shangri- I stared at that terminal for quite a while this spring and I don’t recall any chains in the terminals, just in the cabin removal area (into the shop). I’ll have to look again next season because now I’m not sure I actually remember how that was set up :) The more I think about it there may be transfer chains between the sections.

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  3. Ryan's avatar Ryan August 25, 2023 / 11:46 pm

    That cool youtube clip about WBG Phase II at the Boat has me grinning ear to ear. I am working very hard to get all this weight off that I put on when I was very sick. I can’t wait to hit the slopes again. It has been such a long time. I so miss it.

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    • pbropetech's avatar pbropetech September 1, 2023 / 4:15 pm

      I hope you’re able to get up there often then! We watched some of the construction when we held our class up there, and that’s an impressive installation for sure.

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    • Ryan's avatar Ryan August 26, 2023 / 5:44 pm

      ha. the only little tubing hill in Colorado east of the Rockies. Dry 350 days out of the year.

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      • RandyM's avatar RandyM August 27, 2023 / 6:44 am

        CHS Snowmakers have posted many pics on their facebook of the work they are doing to get full coverage of the tube/ski runs. Sharktooth in Greeley lasted 15 years. Any new skiing is always a good thing,

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  4. Nathan's avatar Nathan August 28, 2023 / 10:24 am

    Snowriver removing lifts is not a surprise but they seem to have gone a bit overboard. In particular, the west t-bar removal, means a long walk back to the next lift or a loss of several good runs. Snowriver has rarely been busy in recent years, but I suspect long lines this year. A high speed 6 is great but it can’t replace 4 lifts without long lines.

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