Bottom terminal and portal towers.View up from the base.Another view of the bottom station.CTEC chairs with VonRoll detachable equipment.Lots of moving parts.Chain-driven turnaround.Back view of the bottom.There is a huge vault underneath the bottom terminal which houses the drive and storage.View down the line in the summer.Top towers and terminal.Tall towers.View down line.Top terminal.Return bullwheel.
It should be noted that this lift was actually a join venture between VonRoll and CTEC when they were in talks of merging when it was built. However, the merger never happened. It wasn’t like VonRoll sourcing carriers because CTEC was based in Salt Lake City for cost savings. However, I’m kind of surprised this lift never received new carriers due to it not having a taco between the hanger arm and bail which equates to a bumpy ride at times.
Same year, different manufacturer, totally different outcome. I wonder what Solitude’s management thought when the Yan detach lifts all needed to be replaced, and their weird CTEC lift was totally fine. Also, was this the only CTEC lift to use VonRoll grips? I know CTEC switched to Garaventa basically right after this lift was built.
I wonder how long it will be until Alterra replaces this lift. 1989 is pretty old by detachable lift standards, depending on the quality of construction, they may be able to get another 3-5 years out of it. In 2024 (hypothetically) this machine will be 35 years old. We all know what has been happening to 35 year old 80s chain-driven lifts that were installed in other areas. I have to imagine replacement parts are almost non existent for this lift. While Doppelmayr controls VonRoll and CTEC replacement parts, I’m sure there’s lots of unique parts in this lift.
I need to go ride this lift before it’s gone, I’ll be honest I’ve never skied at Solitude despite living in Utah.
As far as I know, this was just a one time partnership with vonroll when they were considering merging with CTEC, but the deal fell through. I think the next detachable CTEC built were in 1992 actually (as far as I can tell), so there was a gap where they couldn’t build detachables.
CTEC did build a high speed quad in 1991. It’s the one at Whitetail, PA. This was their first where they used Garaventa technology, but I’m not sure if it was after the merger or just a partnership like this lift.
The Garaventa CTEC merger didn’t really happen until 1994. From 1991 to 1993 (including Stealth I detachables) CTEC was technically building its own detachables with Garaventa detachable equipment. In 1994 (same year as the Stealth II was introduced), the merger happened but other than that very little changed in North America. Everyone seems to call Garaventa CTEC detachables “Garaventa lifts” when in reality most (all but the grips) of the technology was engineered by CTEC in Salt Lake City.
This lift is a beauty. She’ll be 30 years old in 2019. I wonder what they will do… likely replace her? What a shame if they do.
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Yeah, very interesting lift indeed.
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It should be noted that this lift was actually a join venture between VonRoll and CTEC when they were in talks of merging when it was built. However, the merger never happened. It wasn’t like VonRoll sourcing carriers because CTEC was based in Salt Lake City for cost savings. However, I’m kind of surprised this lift never received new carriers due to it not having a taco between the hanger arm and bail which equates to a bumpy ride at times.
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I doubt that the lift will stay up much longer :( If you guys have not herd there have been many problems. First high speed in Utah!
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The lift chairs are very smooth on the ride really nice
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Same year as prospector detachable at Park City.
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Same year, different manufacturer, totally different outcome. I wonder what Solitude’s management thought when the Yan detach lifts all needed to be replaced, and their weird CTEC lift was totally fine. Also, was this the only CTEC lift to use VonRoll grips? I know CTEC switched to Garaventa basically right after this lift was built.
I wonder how long it will be until Alterra replaces this lift. 1989 is pretty old by detachable lift standards, depending on the quality of construction, they may be able to get another 3-5 years out of it. In 2024 (hypothetically) this machine will be 35 years old. We all know what has been happening to 35 year old 80s chain-driven lifts that were installed in other areas. I have to imagine replacement parts are almost non existent for this lift. While Doppelmayr controls VonRoll and CTEC replacement parts, I’m sure there’s lots of unique parts in this lift.
I need to go ride this lift before it’s gone, I’ll be honest I’ve never skied at Solitude despite living in Utah.
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As far as I know, this was just a one time partnership with vonroll when they were considering merging with CTEC, but the deal fell through. I think the next detachable CTEC built were in 1992 actually (as far as I can tell), so there was a gap where they couldn’t build detachables.
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CTEC did build a high speed quad in 1991. It’s the one at Whitetail, PA. This was their first where they used Garaventa technology, but I’m not sure if it was after the merger or just a partnership like this lift.
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The Garaventa CTEC merger didn’t really happen until 1994. From 1991 to 1993 (including Stealth I detachables) CTEC was technically building its own detachables with Garaventa detachable equipment. In 1994 (same year as the Stealth II was introduced), the merger happened but other than that very little changed in North America. Everyone seems to call Garaventa CTEC detachables “Garaventa lifts” when in reality most (all but the grips) of the technology was engineered by CTEC in Salt Lake City.
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The Great Western Express and Grouse Mountain Express were also 1990/1991 installations.
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It looks like in 1990, CTEC had another detach installation, this time in California. https://liftblog.com/bear-mountain-express-9-bear-mountain-ca/
Based on the pictures provided it appears to have Garaventa grips.
Does anyone know why CTEC partnered with other companies for their grips, rather than design their own grip in-house?
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