- A skier tries to jump over Lake Louise’s Top of the World Express, runs into a chair instead.
- Powderhorn closes the Flat Top Flyer all week for maintenance.
- Magic Mountain celebrates the last new lift opening of the year.
- Epic Pass prices increase approximately 8 percent, Crans-Montana will be added subject to closing.
- Ikon Pass increases a similar amount, goes back to unlimited days at Crystal Mountain, Washington.
- Indy Pass adds Big Moose, Maine; Mt. Eyak, Alaska; Mt. Washington, British Columbia; Powderhorn, Colorado; Steeplechase, Minnesota; Wintergreen, Virginia and Wisp, Maryland.
- Massachusetts issues an RFP for operating Blue Hills Ski Area.
- A man dies aboard a chairlift at Lookout Pass due to a medical emergency.
- Timberline Lodge closes Bruno’s for the season due to gearbox failure.
- The world’s longest gondola is on track to open late next year in the Caribbean.
- Powder Mountain hints it may alter plans to make three quad chairs private for homeowners next season.
News
Instagram Tuesday: Blowout
Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.
Lost Valley Adding Third Chairlift
It won’t be brand new but Maine’s Lost Valley plans to add a third chairlift this summer on the Coyote trail. The 1976 Hall double comes by way of Mt. Southington, Connecticut, where it operated as the Northstar double until last season. Prior to that the classic Hall carried skiers at Craigmeur, New Jersey for 22 seasons.
At Lost Valley, the double chair will follow roughly the same alignment as the mountain’s former T-Bar. Lost Valley also operates two other Hall doubles. “This third lift install project will also include adding lighting and snowmaking to that side of Lost Valley to allow weeknight access,” the mountain said. “We plan to add some park feature to that side of the hill as well and it will also provide additional skiing and riding terrain, intermediate and advanced learning and more race capabilities.” Construction on the new lift is set to begin this summer.
News Roundup: Free Gondola
- Indy Pass promises 200 resorts next season, Powder Mountain will no longer be one of them.
- Garaventa Chief Rigger Cédric Aellig talks about building America’s newest tram.
- Big Sky shows what Madison 8 chairs will look like.
- The Wall Street Journal tackles billionaires buying ski areas such as Taos, Powder Mountain and Windham.
- Speaking of billionaires, here’s a peak inside Wasatch Peaks Ranch.
- Bystanders make a very good catch of an unseated passenger on Blackcomb’s Crystal Ridge Express.
- A European cat driver climbs on the roof of his machine to help another unseated passenger.
- A profile of Stephen Kircher, lift visionary and President of Boyne Resorts.
- Snow Ridge owner Nick Mir explains why North Chair kept rolling after a deropement last week, says the lift won’t reopen until next season.
- Eaglecrest is approved to break ground on its pulse gondola project this summer.
- Skytrac shows off progress on its new factory, gears up to build 9+ complete lifts this summer.
- Steamboat works toward building an 8 or 10 passenger gondola from the Meadows area to the village.
- Sponsored: Skytrac is hiring parts and service technicians.
News Roundup: Too Expensive
- Bromont, Quebec joins the Mountain Collective, Arapahoe Basin will remain for 24-25.
- Steamboat’s Pony Express goes down, temporarily cutting off lift access to the new Mahogany Ridge Express as well.
- The main beginner chair goes down at Big Powderhorn.
- Arizona Snowbowl nears an agreement with tribes and land managers to resume development of the resort.
- New owners of Alyeska float a base area pulse gondola.
- Staff at Rabbit Hill, Alberta successfully catch a falling chairlift rider.
- Middlebury Snowbowl announces the Bailey Falls triple won’t operate this season due to “unprecedented challenges.”
- Powder Mountain will pause lift-served mountain biking this summer while it constructs four new chairlifts.
- Alta tests new, cushier chairs on Supreme to possibly alleviate the bumpiness of the bend.
- A day in the life of Beaver Creek Lift Maintenance.
- The beautiful new 3S between Switzerland and Italy proves unpopular at $250 per ride.
- A father who jumped from a Park City chair after his daughter fell from a lift sues Vail Resorts over their injuries.
- A number of British Columbia ski areas report a disastrous season so far.
- McCauley Mountain is set to acquire Gore Mountain’s outgoing Hudson triple.
- The Forest Service indicates it will approve Monarch Mountain’s proposed expansion into No Name Basin.
- Perfect North will hold a chair auction.
- The owner of the Chicago Cubs to acquire White Pine, Wyoming.
- Deer Valley is working with both major lift manufacturers on potential Expanded Excellence lifts.
- Big Sky plans to name the new Moonlight lift Madison 8, seeks wildlife photography for D-Line chair backs.
- Sunday River evacuates more than 200 riders from the Aurora Quad following a deropement yesterday.
- A 3S gondola proposal in Los Angeles notches another approval.
Instagram Tuesday: West Mountain
Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.
News Roundup: Aspen Snowmass
- Aspen Mountain’s Lift 1A goes down and is rope evacuated.
- Aspen closes redundant lifts midweek due to low ridership.
- The next lift upgrades at Snowmass will be Coney Express followed by Cirque and potentially another lift at the same time.
- Multiple homeowner associations sue Deer Valley, arguing an East Village-Snow Park gondola won’t mitigate traffic.
- Magic Mountain successfully load tests the new Black Line Quad.
- Ski Santa Fe will self install its high speed quad this summer, then look at replacing Easy Street.
- Sugarloaf opens West Mountain with a high speed quad and nine new trails.
- Deer Mountain, South Dakota reopens as a private ski area.
- The new Telluride-Mountain Village gondola will likely be a 10 passenger model with direct drive.
News Roundup: On the Horizon
- Mountain Capital Partners successfully brings back Sandia Peak Ski Area, opening for the first time in three seasons tomorrow.
- Doppelmayr plans a €200 million expansion in Wolfurt to support strong ropeway demand, particularly in North America.
- The Colorado Supreme Court will hear the case of a rider seriously injured falling from Crested Butte’s Paradise Express.
- A skier sues Sun Peaks for a chairlift unloading injury.
- The sale of Jackson Hole to a new ownership group closes.
- Mt. Hood Meadows eyes building a new Lift 15 pod in 2026 and replacing Heather Canyon in 2027.
- Lake Louise continues construction over winter on a UNI-G bubble six pack for next season.
- In China, an unseated passenger is successfully rescued after operators reverse a lift.
- Sugarbush’s new Heaven’s Gate quad will be a Doppelmayr Tristar with loading conveyor costing $3.2 million.
- Teton Pass Ski Area’s owner pens a letter explaining why he was forced to close after just four operating this season.
- Mammoth Mountain’s Broadway Express is expected to close April 1st for removal and replacement.
Instagram Tuesday: Mahogany Ridge
Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.
Alterra to Buy Arapahoe Basin
Alterra Mountain Company has reached an agreement to acquire Arapahoe Basin, Colorado from Dream Unlimited, a Canadian developer which has owned the Basin since 1997. Alterra did not disclose the sale price but Dream Unlimited said in a release that “management believes this sale will result in after-tax profit of CA$110 million” before closing costs and adjustments. Under Dream, Arapahoe Basin nearly tripled in acreage and replaced its entire lift fleet. “Arapahoe Basin has been a great investment for Dream and one that we are very proud of,” said Michael Cooper, Chief Responsible Officer of Dream. “We have had the honour of taking care of this Resort over the last quarter century, with a constant commitment to the visitor experience. We are thrilled that Alterra recognizes and shares the same values and will continue to foster its unique and incredible culture.”
Arapahoe Basin will become Alterra’s 18th owned destination in North America and third in Colorado when the sale closes later this year. Veteran Chief Operating Officer Al Henceroth will continue to lead A-Basin under Alterra and guide the next phase of capital improvements, to include expanded snowmaking and parking. Henceroth noted on his legendary blog that “it has been a wild and fun 27 years, but it is time for the next step. Through the Ikon Pass, Alterra has created a partnership of the greatest resorts in the world. They know and understand The Basin and are enamored by its culture and vibe. I think they are the best team to help us through our next phase of growth and maturation.”
A-Basin partnered with Alterra to join the Ikon Pass in 2019 and Ikon access will remain unchanged for the current season. In Colorado, Ikon offers unlimited access to Copper Mountain, Eldora, Steamboat and Winter Park along with limited access to Aspen Snowmass and Arapahoe Basin. “Arapahoe Basin is considered legendary for a reason,” said Jared Smith, President & CEO of Alterra Mountain Company. “From its unparalleled terrain, to its commitment to sustainability, A-Basin has a team that has a passion and commitment for this unique place and its traditions, making it an ideal fit for the Alterra Mountain Company family.”
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