One of two Poma triples at Hunter, D serves as a backup lift to the Kaatskill Flyer six-pack.Unique Poma bottom terminal.The drive unit is similar to an Alpha but turned 90 degrees.Upper section of the lift line.Unloading area and operator house.Fixed return bullwheel.Overview of the awesome-looking bottom terminal.Lift line.Hunter converted this lift to a double in 2019 with new Partek chairs.Lift line with the upgraded but downsized chairs.
The drive terminal is not original. That design is extremely rare in North America, but is common in Europe.
The lift was originally installed in 1966 and was upgraded in 1981 with a new drive and return. Lifting frames were also added. The bullwheels and all line gear is original. The chairs are also still original and I’m surprised they have not been replaced as has happened with most other lifts that had the 60’s style Poma chairs. This is also the only lift I know of that is a triple with the 60’s style chairs.
I don’t think so. It has the same bullwheel style as the old Z-Lift as seen in the pictures on Chairlift.org. The H lift has the floating bullwheel which is a different style than the one on this lift. Likely there were concerns about the structural integrity of the original return, so it was replaced. The drive was replaced because they wanted a heated motor room enclosure and hydraulic tensioning.
This is the Delta terminal. I also have a Delta terminal on L-lift, also built in 1981, but it’s obviously not the same. Poma didn’t ordinarily sell this one over here, or were in the process of phasing it out during this time. 1981 is also the year that the Grand Junction facility opened, and I believe our K and L lifts were the first built out of there. Perhaps they didn’t have the manufacturing capacity for more than a couple lifts that first year.
I saw a Facebook post from Hunter that indicated that this lift was receiving new Partek double chairs. This would make sense as back when I rode this lift earlier this year, the chairs were in extremely poor condition. The line guage is also only for a double. This upgrade would make perfect sense in my opinion, but what makes me skeptical is the fact that the Facebook post was posted on April 2nd (day after April fools’ day), was awfully critical about this upgrade, and that post can no longer be found. Does anybody know if this is true that they are replacing the chairs?
I don’t mean to sound like an idiot, but if anybody knows the answer to my question can they please let me know. I am honestly very curious about this little known possible chair replacement.
In late-March they test fitted a Partek double chair near the bottom terminal. I knew someone who was there and saw it, and I also saw it on someone else’s facebook. I don’t believe Hunter ever posted about it. What I heard is that none of the new triple chairs from any of the manufacturers fit the line gauge, so if they get new chairs, which they are considering, they have to downgrade it to a double.
Ah, thank you, but Partek seems like a bad manufacturer to get chairs from. I think that getting Poma Omega chairs (like Castlerock) would be a much better option. I would hope that they upgrade the chairs. The lift was in very poor condition when I rode it.
As of today, this lift still has the original triple chairs. I couldn’t find the Partek double chair that was test fitted. I hope they’re able to keep the original chairs, or replace the towers to get a bigger line gauge and new triple chairs. The extra capacity is super helpful for days when the Kaatskill Flyer is down for wind or mechanical problems. Doesn’t happen often, but having that lift out is already a disaster enough, and reducing the capacity of one of the backups wouldn’t be a good thing.
The original and very rare triple chairs have been replaced by Partek doubles. I love this lift, coolest one on the mountain and never any lines when it’s running.
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The drive terminal is not original. That design is extremely rare in North America, but is common in Europe.
The lift was originally installed in 1966 and was upgraded in 1981 with a new drive and return. Lifting frames were also added. The bullwheels and all line gear is original. The chairs are also still original and I’m surprised they have not been replaced as has happened with most other lifts that had the 60’s style Poma chairs. This is also the only lift I know of that is a triple with the 60’s style chairs.
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Do you think it previously had one of Poma’s floating return bullwheels?
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I don’t think so. It has the same bullwheel style as the old Z-Lift as seen in the pictures on Chairlift.org. The H lift has the floating bullwheel which is a different style than the one on this lift. Likely there were concerns about the structural integrity of the original return, so it was replaced. The drive was replaced because they wanted a heated motor room enclosure and hydraulic tensioning.
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This is the Delta terminal. I also have a Delta terminal on L-lift, also built in 1981, but it’s obviously not the same. Poma didn’t ordinarily sell this one over here, or were in the process of phasing it out during this time. 1981 is also the year that the Grand Junction facility opened, and I believe our K and L lifts were the first built out of there. Perhaps they didn’t have the manufacturing capacity for more than a couple lifts that first year.
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This is not the original drive. It was a retrofit. The since removed A lift also got one.
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Got that. My wording was perhaps unclear, I was merely referring to the terminal and not the entire lift.
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I saw a Facebook post from Hunter that indicated that this lift was receiving new Partek double chairs. This would make sense as back when I rode this lift earlier this year, the chairs were in extremely poor condition. The line guage is also only for a double. This upgrade would make perfect sense in my opinion, but what makes me skeptical is the fact that the Facebook post was posted on April 2nd (day after April fools’ day), was awfully critical about this upgrade, and that post can no longer be found. Does anybody know if this is true that they are replacing the chairs?
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I don’t mean to sound like an idiot, but if anybody knows the answer to my question can they please let me know. I am honestly very curious about this little known possible chair replacement.
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In late-March they test fitted a Partek double chair near the bottom terminal. I knew someone who was there and saw it, and I also saw it on someone else’s facebook. I don’t believe Hunter ever posted about it. What I heard is that none of the new triple chairs from any of the manufacturers fit the line gauge, so if they get new chairs, which they are considering, they have to downgrade it to a double.
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Ah, thank you, but Partek seems like a bad manufacturer to get chairs from. I think that getting Poma Omega chairs (like Castlerock) would be a much better option. I would hope that they upgrade the chairs. The lift was in very poor condition when I rode it.
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As of today, this lift still has the original triple chairs. I couldn’t find the Partek double chair that was test fitted. I hope they’re able to keep the original chairs, or replace the towers to get a bigger line gauge and new triple chairs. The extra capacity is super helpful for days when the Kaatskill Flyer is down for wind or mechanical problems. Doesn’t happen often, but having that lift out is already a disaster enough, and reducing the capacity of one of the backups wouldn’t be a good thing.
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D is now for double!!!
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The original and very rare triple chairs have been replaced by Partek doubles. I love this lift, coolest one on the mountain and never any lines when it’s running.
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