This detachable quad replaced a rare VonRoll detachable triple in 2014.The old chair parking structure was kept for the new lift though is rarely used.Leitner-Poma LPA drive station.Tower 1.Side view of the bottom station.Looking down at tower 16.Unloading area.Breakover towers.View down from tower 18.The return terminal downhill end.Lower part of the lift line.
13 thoughts on “Adirondack Express II – Gore Mountain, NY”
Collin ParsonsOctober 6, 2018 / 7:17 pm
This is the fastest LPA chairlift in the world since I don’t believe there are any others rated for 1100 feet per minute. I’ve seen it run at full speed a couple times and it’s pretty cool.
Well this lift used to be the fastest ride on the mountain, but for this season it has been slowed down. A Lot. For the last 4 weekends it has run at only 800 feet per minute even on non-windy days, effectively bringing back the capacity and ride time of the old VonRoll high speed triple.
Originally, this lift only operated in the winter while the gondola handled all summer operations. However, in 2019, they equipped this lift with decks at each end so it could run in the summer. In 2019, they had both lifts on an alternating schedule with this lift running on Saturdays and the gondola running on Sundays. On the last weekend, which was their big fall event called Harvest Fest, both lifts ran all weekend. In 2020, this schedule was expanded to include Thursdays and Fridays before Labor Day. The gondola ran Thursdays and Sundays, and this lift ran on Fridays and Saturdays. After Labor Day, it was the same as the 2019 schedule. Even though Harvest Fest was cancelled due to Covid-19, they still ran both lifts the weekend it was supposed to happen, to a large crowd. These pictures were taken during Harvest Fest in 2018, before this lift was equipped to handle foot traffic.
There are some issues with this lift running for foot traffic. I rode it twice this off-season, and the first time the lifties said they were required to slow it down every time someone got off, which resulted in an extremely long ride. They run it at 550 fpm, which is a good speed for a detachable with foot traffic, but it would constantly slow down to about half that. The second time I rode it, they had discontinued this policy, and the lift never stopped or slowed when I was on it while maintaining 550 fpm. The other issue is downhill capacity when both lifts are running. This lift only has 25% downhill capacity. The gondola has 100% downhill capacity and runs faster (about 800 fpm). Because the gondola ends higher, people like to ride it up, walk down to this lift and download, but that causes a massive line at the top of this lift. Few people go in the opposite direction, riding this lift up and riding the gondola down.
Here’s a video of a download on this lift, taken back in August.
As of 2022, this lift is not regularly scheduled to operate in the summer anymore, in favor of running the gondola on all scheduled days, those being Thursday-Sunday from late June to Labor Day, and Saturdays and Sundays after until Columbus Day. However, it is still equipped for summer operations, and has been used on very hot days when riding in the gondola would be uncomfortable. I assume they’ll also run it on Columbus Day weekend for Harvest Fest, as has been done in years past. In 2021, the lift schedule was the same as 2020.
What’s kinda sad is that Gore didn’t wait one more year to build this because if they did do that this would’ve been one of the lifts the launch the LPA quad carriers.
Definitely primary lift when Northwoods gets crowded. Accesses great long green and blue runs and it does go very fast. I dig the rocks near the top terminal. Great views. I’m assuming its identical to Burnt Ridge?
Earlier this season the line to download became essentially unbearable due to their slowdown policy. Unless you download within the first 2 hours of Gore opening, you’re stuck in a 10 minute (at least) line, which is just crazy. I wasn’t very happy with the download policy, but I understand early season is whatever we can get.
I went on opening weekend, when only this lift, North Quad, and Tahawus were open. The downloading lines were almost non-existent, and neither the lines to go up both lifts were long either.
This is the fastest LPA chairlift in the world since I don’t believe there are any others rated for 1100 feet per minute. I’ve seen it run at full speed a couple times and it’s pretty cool.
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this lift freakin rocks but i am sad it replaced the VonRoll, I have ridden it many times as a kid and still remember it!
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They should have relocated the old detachable triple to replace the hudson triple.
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Well this lift used to be the fastest ride on the mountain, but for this season it has been slowed down. A Lot. For the last 4 weekends it has run at only 800 feet per minute even on non-windy days, effectively bringing back the capacity and ride time of the old VonRoll high speed triple.
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Here is a picture of the old VonRoll Detachable Triple:
https://mapio.net/pic/p-67268379/
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Originally, this lift only operated in the winter while the gondola handled all summer operations. However, in 2019, they equipped this lift with decks at each end so it could run in the summer. In 2019, they had both lifts on an alternating schedule with this lift running on Saturdays and the gondola running on Sundays. On the last weekend, which was their big fall event called Harvest Fest, both lifts ran all weekend. In 2020, this schedule was expanded to include Thursdays and Fridays before Labor Day. The gondola ran Thursdays and Sundays, and this lift ran on Fridays and Saturdays. After Labor Day, it was the same as the 2019 schedule. Even though Harvest Fest was cancelled due to Covid-19, they still ran both lifts the weekend it was supposed to happen, to a large crowd. These pictures were taken during Harvest Fest in 2018, before this lift was equipped to handle foot traffic.
There are some issues with this lift running for foot traffic. I rode it twice this off-season, and the first time the lifties said they were required to slow it down every time someone got off, which resulted in an extremely long ride. They run it at 550 fpm, which is a good speed for a detachable with foot traffic, but it would constantly slow down to about half that. The second time I rode it, they had discontinued this policy, and the lift never stopped or slowed when I was on it while maintaining 550 fpm. The other issue is downhill capacity when both lifts are running. This lift only has 25% downhill capacity. The gondola has 100% downhill capacity and runs faster (about 800 fpm). Because the gondola ends higher, people like to ride it up, walk down to this lift and download, but that causes a massive line at the top of this lift. Few people go in the opposite direction, riding this lift up and riding the gondola down.
Here’s a video of a download on this lift, taken back in August.
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As of 2022, this lift is not regularly scheduled to operate in the summer anymore, in favor of running the gondola on all scheduled days, those being Thursday-Sunday from late June to Labor Day, and Saturdays and Sundays after until Columbus Day. However, it is still equipped for summer operations, and has been used on very hot days when riding in the gondola would be uncomfortable. I assume they’ll also run it on Columbus Day weekend for Harvest Fest, as has been done in years past. In 2021, the lift schedule was the same as 2020.
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What’s kinda sad is that Gore didn’t wait one more year to build this because if they did do that this would’ve been one of the lifts the launch the LPA quad carriers.
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And ironically lead to the Hudson Quad to also have Omega Chairs. I don’t mind though, they still are nice and comfy
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Definitely primary lift when Northwoods gets crowded. Accesses great long green and blue runs and it does go very fast. I dig the rocks near the top terminal. Great views. I’m assuming its identical to Burnt Ridge?
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No, Burnt Ridge is 7 years older and has a different terminal design, the Poma Omega Terminal.
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Earlier this season the line to download became essentially unbearable due to their slowdown policy. Unless you download within the first 2 hours of Gore opening, you’re stuck in a 10 minute (at least) line, which is just crazy. I wasn’t very happy with the download policy, but I understand early season is whatever we can get.
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I went on opening weekend, when only this lift, North Quad, and Tahawus were open. The downloading lines were almost non-existent, and neither the lines to go up both lifts were long either.
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