This first of its kind lift in the Midwest replaced two Riblet triples for the 2022-23 ski season.The top terminal and tower 8.View down the short but wide lift line.Conical support tower with eight passenger chairs passing.Unlike many other early D-Line lifts in the US, Disciples does not have bubbles or heated seats.Tower 2.Tower 1 adjacent to the drive terminal.The new lift loads roughly half way between where two old ones did.Lower station overview.European eight place chair.View up at tower 3.Arriving at the summit.Side view of the top terminal.Chair back.Upper part of the lift line.Two ring Doppelmayr Direct Drive.Height adjustable loading conveyor.Outside operator controls at the drive station.Combination assemblies on tower 5.Doppelmayr Connect touch screen.Line gauge bullwheel.Inside the return terminal.Another view of a chair.Unloading area and terminal with LED screen.Lift overview.Side view of the drive station with small maintenance building.Loading area.Name plate.View riding out of the bottom terminal.
Glad you made it through Michigan in our lackluster conditions so far this winter. Glad you were able to get pictures of this beautiful lift. While at first it seemed like overkill, it changes the dynamics of “The Mountain” and makes this area much more lap-able with a much quicker ride time versus the long and slow sleepy ride on the fixed-grips (that stopped alot) that it replaced.
I can’t help but notice a small wheel on the hanger arm, like the ones on gondolas to open the doors. On a lift without bubbles, what dies it do? Does the bar lower automatically?
The bar does not lower automatically, however it does lock if riders choose to lower it and will raise automatically in the top station, which is what the wheel is for.
Lifts like Ramcharger and Jordan 8 actually have 2 separate levers, one for the bubble and one to control the locking bar.
I guess if the terrain makes sense and weather is a factor then underground is a good idea. I can’t see any kind of connection box at the tower head, only at the base.
Copper Mountain used to have a ton of them. Alpine, Blackjack, High Point, Kokomo, Lumberjack, and Pitchfork all had them. Several of those have been replaced and I don’t think any of the replacements are buried though.
They’re for sun reflection, to prevent the sun light from hitting and heating up the tower tube, causing the metal to expand which can lead to the tower being slightly out of alignment and trigger things like RPD faults.
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Beautiful lift. Love the chair look without the bubbles.
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I think this is likely how the Fitzsimmons 8-pack will look at Whistler when it is installed next year just without the led screen at the top.
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Glad you made it through Michigan in our lackluster conditions so far this winter. Glad you were able to get pictures of this beautiful lift. While at first it seemed like overkill, it changes the dynamics of “The Mountain” and makes this area much more lap-able with a much quicker ride time versus the long and slow sleepy ride on the fixed-grips (that stopped alot) that it replaced.
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I can’t help but notice a small wheel on the hanger arm, like the ones on gondolas to open the doors. On a lift without bubbles, what dies it do? Does the bar lower automatically?
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Not sure what the wheel is for, but the bar definitely doesn’t lower automatically because there are several pictures with chairs with the bar up
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The bar does not lower automatically, however it does lock if riders choose to lower it and will raise automatically in the top station, which is what the wheel is for.
Lifts like Ramcharger and Jordan 8 actually have 2 separate levers, one for the bubble and one to control the locking bar.
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Unusual for a lift in North America to have a buried comm line.
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Jordan 8 at Sunday River has a burried com line also.
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Doppelmayr did a number of them this year. Not just detachables: https://liftblog.com/gray-butte-mt-shasta-ca/
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I guess if the terrain makes sense and weather is a factor then underground is a good idea. I can’t see any kind of connection box at the tower head, only at the base.
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Copper Mountain used to have a ton of them. Alpine, Blackjack, High Point, Kokomo, Lumberjack, and Pitchfork all had them. Several of those have been replaced and I don’t think any of the replacements are buried though.
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Another little detail difference I see with the D-lines is top speed is rated at 5.0m/s, rather than the 5.08m/s they used to use to give 1000fpm.
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I assume that’s because D-Line is manufactured in Austria, which uses metric, while many older spacejets and uni-g were manufactured in Salt Lake City
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What are the silver metal plates on the last tower? I have seen them on many European lifts…
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They’re for sun reflection, to prevent the sun light from hitting and heating up the tower tube, causing the metal to expand which can lead to the tower being slightly out of alignment and trigger things like RPD faults.
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