Top station built by Lift Engineering.This is the newest fixed-grip lift at Mammoth as of 2017.Yan towers with a mix of Yan and Doppelmayr line equipment.Middle part of the lift line.View up the steep top part.Yan “hubcap” sheaves.Lift line.Side view of the tension return terminal.Lift overview.Riding up an empty line.
This has got to be one of the last lifts with the late years Yan sheaves on it. Almost every other lift I’ve seen has had Doppelmayr or CTEC line equipment retrofits. Pretty cool to still see the hubcaps in service.
Galena lift at Mt. Rose also still uses the “hubcap” sheaves. And, Tower 17 on Chair 10 at Kirkwood also sports them. Otherwise, from what I have seen, I agree that most have been replaced.
This is the slowest, longest and WORST lift at Mammoth Mountain. Alterra is cheap and won’t upgrade any lift at Mammoth Mt. There hasn’t been a lift upgrade in 20+ years (except Chair 5 realignment). Chairs 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 are more than 50 years old and are dangerous and slow. Chairs 22 and 23 need to be replaced with high speed quads. Lifts need to be added between Chair 12 and Main Lodge. Finally, Mammoth Mountain Inn is a total dump and need to be immediately torn down.
Do you have inside knowledge of how lifts 7, 8, 12, 13, and 14 are dangerous? Do you think the state would allow them to be operated if they were unsafe? I work on several very similar lifts and I can assure you they’re quite reliable. Also, chair 7 is younger than me and I haven’t quite hit 50 yet.
Yes the snow shed is a landmark on the mountain, at least for me personally. I do agree with others on the point that he Yan’s should be replaced, they all are slower and can cause big lines, mammoth just did two doppelmayr d lines in too replace older lifts, they could at leas put some CLD’s in there.
I agree, but I’d go a step further and replace all carpets with octopus chairs, too. Actually, too, also, elevators in lodges, should there be any. Maybe even use 8 place chairs to lower gondola cabins into the basement barn at Snowbasin. We’re winning so much here, like a certain someone who shall not be named.
I agree with the first sentence here (although not necessarily the rest of the post). This lift has the longest ride at Mammoth, and it can also be cold. Combined, this turns away many of the intermediate skiers who would otherwise utilize the terrain this lift serves. The proposed realignment and upgrade in the 2007 master plan should be the next lift project at Mammoth.
This – 100%. This terrain is some of the most underutilized at Mammoth and the new alignment would help funnel everyone to the right place to lap it while keeping more advanced skiers away from the beginner zone that exists and will expand around the top of 15. Though you also forgot to shout out the last sentence of that post b/c that’s also 100% fact. MMI is a dump at this point b/c they are just waiting to tear it down.
Lift Blog 
This has got to be one of the last lifts with the late years Yan sheaves on it. Almost every other lift I’ve seen has had Doppelmayr or CTEC line equipment retrofits. Pretty cool to still see the hubcaps in service.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Galena lift at Mt. Rose also still uses the “hubcap” sheaves. And, Tower 17 on Chair 10 at Kirkwood also sports them. Otherwise, from what I have seen, I agree that most have been replaced.
LikeLike
Except the lift has had a good number of its sheaves replaced by Doppelmayr.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chair 10 at KIrkwood has for sure. I believe Galena still has them.
LikeLike
almost all of them got their tower sheaves replaced, but all of the bullwheel sheaves are still hubcaps
LikeLike
This is the slowest, longest and WORST lift at Mammoth Mountain. Alterra is cheap and won’t upgrade any lift at Mammoth Mt. There hasn’t been a lift upgrade in 20+ years (except Chair 5 realignment). Chairs 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 are more than 50 years old and are dangerous and slow. Chairs 22 and 23 need to be replaced with high speed quads. Lifts need to be added between Chair 12 and Main Lodge. Finally, Mammoth Mountain Inn is a total dump and need to be immediately torn down.
LikeLike
Does that mean your not giving Alterra and Mammoth 5 stars ???
LikeLiked by 8 people
We definitely have an unhappy customer. How DARE Mammoth operate fixed grip lifts!!!!
LikeLiked by 6 people
IIRC, Cloud 9 was an 07 install. Pretty big upgrade if you ask me.
Also, 23 rocks, it’s perfect for the area, and my second favorite chair in North America so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. Also, as a practical matter, that lift needs to be a fixed grip if you want it to run more than a handful of days/year.
LikeLike
Do you have inside knowledge of how lifts 7, 8, 12, 13, and 14 are dangerous? Do you think the state would allow them to be operated if they were unsafe? I work on several very similar lifts and I can assure you they’re quite reliable. Also, chair 7 is younger than me and I haven’t quite hit 50 yet.
LikeLike
chair 23 has to stay, the snowshed at the top is too cool, all the others can go
LikeLike
Yes the snow shed is a landmark on the mountain, at least for me personally. I do agree with others on the point that he Yan’s should be replaced, they all are slower and can cause big lines, mammoth just did two doppelmayr d lines in too replace older lifts, they could at leas put some CLD’s in there.
LikeLike
Yeah mammoth sucks. Please don’t come back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like Vail Resorts’ target audience. Why have cool stuff when we can have six packs everywhere, long lines, and $250 tickets?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh how much we need eight packs for even the shortest beginner lift! Fixed grip lifts everywhere should be a six pack!!!
LikeLike
I agree, but I’d go a step further and replace all carpets with octopus chairs, too. Actually, too, also, elevators in lodges, should there be any. Maybe even use 8 place chairs to lower gondola cabins into the basement barn at Snowbasin. We’re winning so much here, like a certain someone who shall not be named.
LikeLike
I agree with the first sentence here (although not necessarily the rest of the post). This lift has the longest ride at Mammoth, and it can also be cold. Combined, this turns away many of the intermediate skiers who would otherwise utilize the terrain this lift serves. The proposed realignment and upgrade in the 2007 master plan should be the next lift project at Mammoth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This – 100%. This terrain is some of the most underutilized at Mammoth and the new alignment would help funnel everyone to the right place to lap it while keeping more advanced skiers away from the beginner zone that exists and will expand around the top of 15. Though you also forgot to shout out the last sentence of that post b/c that’s also 100% fact. MMI is a dump at this point b/c they are just waiting to tear it down.
LikeLike
(7, 8, 12, 13, 14 are dangerous 💀💀.) They are not dangerous and they function fine.
LikeLike
LikeLike
This lift is not operating as much as it used to be
LikeLike
Well now it is
LikeLike
Discovery 8 chair at MT. High has the Yan hubcap sheaves.
LikeLike