A new two stage gondola and six passenger chairlift could be coming soon to Breckenridge’s popular Peak 9. The Forest Service and Breckenridge have begun scoping for the project, which would boost out-of-base capacity, better serve beginners and improve mountain circulation. A new mid-mountain learning center would be constructed, allowing Breckenridge to join the growing list of mountains moving learn-to-ski away from congested base areas.
The gondola, first proposed as a one stage gondola in the 2022 Master Plan, would load in the Peak 9 base area adjacent to the Quicksilver Super6. A whopping 43 percent of Breckenridge skiers use the Peak 9 portal and the gondola would add 2,200 seats per hour. The new lift would cross over Quicksilver and travel to the new Frontier learning center, where a cabin storage facility and two conveyors are planned. The Camelback platter would also be relocated from the base of Peak 9 to this zone. Gondola cabins would make an angle change at the learning center station and continue to an unload point near the top of the existing A-Chair. While A services excellent beginner terrain, the 1975 Riblet triple sits underutilized due to its long ride time and would be removed. The existing Eldorado platter is also slated for removal without direct replacement.
The second major component of the project is a detachable replacement for the existing C-Chair, a Riblet double that dates back to 1972. The faster six seat lift would carry 3,000 skiers per hour and follow the existing alignment, crossing under the Peak 8 SuperConnect. Both the bottom and top terminals would shift slightly higher on the mountain. The C SuperChair would rise 1,250 vertical feet become the sixth detachable lift on Peak 9.
The Forest Service and Breck plan to host an open house for the public to learn more about the project on May 22nd from 4-6 pm at the Maggie. Public comments will be accepted until June 13th and the USFS intends to reach a decision around the end of the year. If approved, construction could commence in summer 2025. The gondola learning center project is likely to be built first, followed by the C-Chair replacement in a later season.
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