Question; Is there a good example of a chair lift with two separate sections, but where riders can go from the lower section to the upper section within a couple of meters, but riders to the upper section can also just ride that one?
I’m thinking a mountain where the upper section can have wind issues so the upper section can be closed, thus needing two different chairs.
But on the day both sections are open, the people from the lower section should have the ability to go straight from lower to upper, but people only wanting to do the upper section should also be able to do that.
So some sort of place where the queues merge, Is there such a lift?
The Excalibur gondola at Blackcomb can be operated that way. Either section can operate independently, but normally it runs as one long gondola with a midstation. I believe that the Blackcomb gondola can do the same.
So can WVG and many other multi-stage gondolas. For chairlifts, it might only be Collins at Alta, mechanically what you described, but I’m not sure how the resort operates it.
Treeline Cirque doesn’t offer mid-loading only mid-unloading. Collins at Alta and Wild Spur at Winterpark are the only two I can think of that have the mid-load. Collins is two segments while Wild Spur is only one lift with the mid load.
Jackson Hole probably regrets that they didn’t build the Sweetwater gondola with the ability to run the lower section independently by turning the carriers at the mid station. Sweetwater is often affected by wind like today and that means Jackson Hole can’t provide access to Solitude Station even though the wind issue is on the upper segment uphill of Solitude Station
I remember the year when the Blackcomb gondola first opened I went around New Years and you had to get out at the first stage and on to the second like you described.
For gondolas being able to switch between run-through and separate mode is very common, I can think of dozens in Europe. But for chair lifts I don’t remember a single one that operates this way, even if it’s technically of course possible. Treeline Cirque still ran chairs all the way to the top even if the upper part is closed to skiers when I skied it, and looking at the mid station it does not look like it could work any other way.
I recall reading on Remontées-Mécaniques.net about a pair of Doppelmayr (or maybe Nippon Cable?) doubles that shared one drive terminal partway up the mountain. I don’t remember their names, unfortunately.
Not sure why they didn’t park the chairs on polar tho lol, the ice was forecasted that day and the mountains who did park were able to open those lifts on time
Can a 2 Stage lift be a Bottom Drive Stage 1, Top Drive Stage 2, and the Middle Station Top and Bottom Tension for the middle? Most I have seen is Both Drives at middle or Top Stage 1 and 2 Drive and vise versa?
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Question; Is there a good example of a chair lift with two separate sections, but where riders can go from the lower section to the upper section within a couple of meters, but riders to the upper section can also just ride that one?
I’m thinking a mountain where the upper section can have wind issues so the upper section can be closed, thus needing two different chairs.
But on the day both sections are open, the people from the lower section should have the ability to go straight from lower to upper, but people only wanting to do the upper section should also be able to do that.
So some sort of place where the queues merge, Is there such a lift?
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The Excalibur gondola at Blackcomb can be operated that way. Either section can operate independently, but normally it runs as one long gondola with a midstation. I believe that the Blackcomb gondola can do the same.
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So can WVG and many other multi-stage gondolas. For chairlifts, it might only be Collins at Alta, mechanically what you described, but I’m not sure how the resort operates it.
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Also, I think Treeline Cirque at Palissades can do the same.
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I’ll look into them. Thanks!
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Treeline Cirque doesn’t offer mid-loading only mid-unloading. Collins at Alta and Wild Spur at Winterpark are the only two I can think of that have the mid-load. Collins is two segments while Wild Spur is only one lift with the mid load.
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Jackson Hole probably regrets that they didn’t build the Sweetwater gondola with the ability to run the lower section independently by turning the carriers at the mid station. Sweetwater is often affected by wind like today and that means Jackson Hole can’t provide access to Solitude Station even though the wind issue is on the upper segment uphill of Solitude Station
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I remember the year when the Blackcomb gondola first opened I went around New Years and you had to get out at the first stage and on to the second like you described.
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Nice, thanks!
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For gondolas being able to switch between run-through and separate mode is very common, I can think of dozens in Europe. But for chair lifts I don’t remember a single one that operates this way, even if it’s technically of course possible. Treeline Cirque still ran chairs all the way to the top even if the upper part is closed to skiers when I skied it, and looking at the mid station it does not look like it could work any other way.
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Wild blue at Steamboat
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I recall reading on Remontées-Mécaniques.net about a pair of Doppelmayr (or maybe Nippon Cable?) doubles that shared one drive terminal partway up the mountain. I don’t remember their names, unfortunately.
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I feel for the Wachusett mechanics….
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Not sure why they didn’t park the chairs on polar tho lol, the ice was forecasted that day and the mountains who did park were able to open those lifts on time
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Can a 2 Stage lift be a Bottom Drive Stage 1, Top Drive Stage 2, and the Middle Station Top and Bottom Tension for the middle? Most I have seen is Both Drives at middle or Top Stage 1 and 2 Drive and vise versa?
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I think it’s the resort’s choice where they want the drive. I assume it’s possible to do that.
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