This is one of those rare cases where a fixed grip lift replaced a detachable.The new lift services a shortened alignment.Tower 12 and the top terminal.View down the line with the namesake lake in the background.The old lift started further down.Galvanized tower with combination assemblies.View up the lift line.Tower 1.Alpen-Star drive station with loading carpet and gates.Departing the bottom station.View up the line.The top of tower 6.Nearing the summit.Fixed top bullwheel.Another look at the lift line.Lower part of the line.Upper lift line.Another view of the drive terminal.Lift line.Lift overview.View down at tower 11.Arriving at the return.
Really seems like a bummer that a detachable quad got replaced by a fixed grip chairlift. But I suppose, with the original lift being the first of its kind in aerial ropeway history, it also was probably very unreliable and costly to operate, especially considering its age. It’s like Mission Ridge in Washington replacing their Liberator Express with another detachable quad because the first one was originally built in 1985, and even with electronic upgrades it was too unreliable.
But I guess Owl’s Head must run a pretty tight budget operation if they had to opt for a fixed grip to replace a detachable chairlift?
This new lift really isn’t a downgrade at all. It can run almost as fast as the old lift did, because of it’s loading conveyor, the chairs are comfortable, and the ride is less than 7 minutes overall.
Besides the old lift, Beech Mountain’s HSQ, and the Shortened White Peeks express at Waterville Valley, I know of 2 other Resorts with Fixed Grip Replacements for detachables
these are Yabuhara Kogen, Replaced Leitner Bubble with Double, and Palcall, Replaced Yan Quad with Double, Both are in Japan
1. de Pincerie at Les Sept-Laux in France, Replaced Super Early Ancient Poma Triple with Delta Drive with Doppelmayr Quad
2. Edelweiss Ski Resort Japan, Replaced Taihei High Speed Quad with Nippon Cable FG Quad reusing terminal enclosures
3. Sky Valley Japan, Replaced Girak Quad with Nippon Cable FG Triple reusing Terminal enclosures and Towers
Interesting- I knew about Nippon Cable/Doppelmayr but not the others you mention. Seems it’s the thing in Japan to partner a domestic manufacturer with a foreign designer?
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Doesn’t look much shorter when one consults the trail map.
High speed quad:
Fixed grip quad:
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The starting location for Lake seems to be about between towers 4 and 5 of the predecessor:
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Really seems like a bummer that a detachable quad got replaced by a fixed grip chairlift. But I suppose, with the original lift being the first of its kind in aerial ropeway history, it also was probably very unreliable and costly to operate, especially considering its age. It’s like Mission Ridge in Washington replacing their Liberator Express with another detachable quad because the first one was originally built in 1985, and even with electronic upgrades it was too unreliable.
But I guess Owl’s Head must run a pretty tight budget operation if they had to opt for a fixed grip to replace a detachable chairlift?
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This new lift really isn’t a downgrade at all. It can run almost as fast as the old lift did, because of it’s loading conveyor, the chairs are comfortable, and the ride is less than 7 minutes overall.
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Besides the old lift, Beech Mountain’s HSQ, and the Shortened White Peeks express at Waterville Valley, I know of 2 other Resorts with Fixed Grip Replacements for detachables
these are Yabuhara Kogen, Replaced Leitner Bubble with Double, and Palcall, Replaced Yan Quad with Double, Both are in Japan
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Found 3 More Examples of FG replacing HSQ
1. de Pincerie at Les Sept-Laux in France, Replaced Super Early Ancient Poma Triple with Delta Drive with Doppelmayr Quad
2. Edelweiss Ski Resort Japan, Replaced Taihei High Speed Quad with Nippon Cable FG Quad reusing terminal enclosures
3. Sky Valley Japan, Replaced Girak Quad with Nippon Cable FG Triple reusing Terminal enclosures and Towers
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If You don’t know about Leitner, Mitsubishi/Yan And Girak Quads in Japan
Leitner/Kashiyama made 10 Quads between 1992 and 2000
Mitsubishi Made 16 Quads, 6 as Yan Type and 10 as Garaventa Type
Girak/Kawazaki Made 7 Quads
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Interesting- I knew about Nippon Cable/Doppelmayr but not the others you mention. Seems it’s the thing in Japan to partner a domestic manufacturer with a foreign designer?
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Fun Fact: 6 of the Kashiyama Quads have safety bars that look like the BM Lifts/Canadian Leitner safety bars
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