Garaventa CTEC Stealth detachable terminal.Loading area.Tower 1 at the base.View up the line.Side view of the bottom station.This short lift mainly serves as egress from a massive parking lot.Early Stealth station up top.Depression tower 3.View down after passing over Red Dog.Arriving up top.Return terminal unload.Lift line overview.
These grips appeared on GaraventaCTEC Stealth II detachable six packs. I don’t know what they are called, but I do know that they were replaced with the AK-400s of the Stealth IIIs.
The only lift in the east that they appear on is the URSA Express at Stratton. Both Sun Bowl lifts have AK-400’s. All of the Garaventa CTEC 6-place lifts at Park City have them too, and the Eagle Bahn at Vail also has them, but the double gondola version.
These were Garaventa’s next model after the old two-position model. They didn’t supply too many of them and brought out the A-series that Doppelmayr still uses today.
The safety bars without footrests are a different design than the original bars on the PCMR six packs, with handles. The PCMR ones rested on the outer armrests without any grab handles, and were later replaced with footrest bars.
There are massive concrete structures beneath this lift, including some terrace-like retaining walls on its steepest portion. I’m not sure if they’re visible mid-season but they were visible as of Thanksgiving 2020. From this map, it looks like they were for some Olympic-caliber ski jumps:
You are correct in that they are from the ski jump for the 1960 Winter Olympics. Visible most of the time and even in big snow years the steps are still there even if buried under the snow.
Is there a reason they did not build this lift to the summit of Snow King? I know it is mainly used for getting people out of the parking lot and over towards the main part of the mountain, but when there are really high winds, it is one of the few lifts that will operate (along with the other Snow King lifts).
I think for the upgrade imma say use the current unload for the mid station and snow king summit as the end terminal.
Add download capability from the top, add footrests and maybe bubbles with heated seats.
Maybe even turn this into a Doppelmayr D-line but with all that equipment into a spacejet style terminal…with solar panels and wind power capability so it doesn’t have to solely use electricity when the sun is out.
Otherwise let’s just go with a minor update with footrests integrated into chairs safety bar.
When Red Dog triple gets replaced with six pack by Leitner Poma, we can call that Snow King Express which can have footrests, seat heating and bubbles.
Now for this Red Dog replacement I would like to see the modern terminal with heated solar roof and wind power capability when the sun is out so it doesn’t have to rely solely on electricity(assume lift workers can clear the top of the roof before the day starts)
Here is an Leitner Poma terminal example id like to see for this one, but with the six pack chairs in blue and white, with BLUE bubble.
Ok but for the Leitner replacement I’m just saying it should be a completely enclosed terminal design without you seeing the partially turning bullwheel like Siberia, Gold Coast, Big Blue or Headwall…or Far East we have enough of those designs right now.
I don’t think Leitner-Poma will go out of its way to make a new terminal design just for 1 new lift. Also the LPA terminals are fairly new and they look pretty good. They could do a new paint finish but they would probably want to match their other lifts so that would be unlikely to happen. There is a possibility like how Steamboat did a different color scheme on Elkhead then it’s other HSQs.
If it needs a capacity boost, it can be upgraded to 3600 pph with the lift Willamette Pass has for sale. As for upgrading it to D-line, this lift doesn’t use grips that Doppelmayr is familiar with. It would be a huge hassle for another six pack that only transfers skiers to the main base. That would be another thing if they were AK-400s that resemble the Agamatic grip that Doppelmayr uses, but it would be way too much money and time and there are higher priorities on Alterra’s list. Alterra isn’t wanting to make all their resorts like Big Sky.
Why would they put that much effort into a lift that barely sees any traffic? As someone who skis at Squaw all of the time far east never has any line at all, and is only useful for people who parked nearby as well as the ski team, which uses the lower steep runs on dog leg to train for slalom and moguls.
Maybe, although this is the least windy area at Squaw. On the windiest of days where the resort is able to remain open, the lifts on KT and Snow King will be the only ones to spin.
why is this lift always closed this season? Any good reason? I used to love getting on the hill quickly. Now, after paid reserved parking Palisades is taking away another good thing. I wonder why? With the weekend traffic, no far east access, I’m looking at getting my pass at Sugar Bowl next year.
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Are the grips on this lift unique in North America? They aren’t AK-400s.
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These grips appeared on GaraventaCTEC Stealth II detachable six packs. I don’t know what they are called, but I do know that they were replaced with the AK-400s of the Stealth IIIs.
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The only lift in the east that they appear on is the URSA Express at Stratton. Both Sun Bowl lifts have AK-400’s. All of the Garaventa CTEC 6-place lifts at Park City have them too, and the Eagle Bahn at Vail also has them, but the double gondola version.
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These were Garaventa’s next model after the old two-position model. They didn’t supply too many of them and brought out the A-series that Doppelmayr still uses today.
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Apparently, they are called the AK-6
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Yup- doing some research for a class I’m teaching and came across the maintenance logs for this lift. The grips are called the AK-682.
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The safety bars without footrests are a different design than the original bars on the PCMR six packs, with handles. The PCMR ones rested on the outer armrests without any grab handles, and were later replaced with footrest bars.
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The old safety bars are still used on Payday in the summer. https://skiliftblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/img_29302.jpg
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Any pictures of the old safety bar during winter time?
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There are massive concrete structures beneath this lift, including some terrace-like retaining walls on its steepest portion. I’m not sure if they’re visible mid-season but they were visible as of Thanksgiving 2020. From this map, it looks like they were for some Olympic-caliber ski jumps:
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You are correct in that they are from the ski jump for the 1960 Winter Olympics. Visible most of the time and even in big snow years the steps are still there even if buried under the snow.
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Is there a reason they did not build this lift to the summit of Snow King? I know it is mainly used for getting people out of the parking lot and over towards the main part of the mountain, but when there are really high winds, it is one of the few lifts that will operate (along with the other Snow King lifts).
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I think for the upgrade imma say use the current unload for the mid station and snow king summit as the end terminal.
Add download capability from the top, add footrests and maybe bubbles with heated seats.
Maybe even turn this into a Doppelmayr D-line but with all that equipment into a spacejet style terminal…with solar panels and wind power capability so it doesn’t have to solely use electricity when the sun is out.
Otherwise let’s just go with a minor update with footrests integrated into chairs safety bar.
When Red Dog triple gets replaced with six pack by Leitner Poma, we can call that Snow King Express which can have footrests, seat heating and bubbles.
Now for this Red Dog replacement I would like to see the modern terminal with heated solar roof and wind power capability when the sun is out so it doesn’t have to rely solely on electricity(assume lift workers can clear the top of the roof before the day starts)
Here is an Leitner Poma terminal example id like to see for this one, but with the six pack chairs in blue and white, with BLUE bubble.
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First off that’s too ambitious for Alterra to do. Also that Leitner terminal design is only outside of North America.
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Ok but for the Leitner replacement I’m just saying it should be a completely enclosed terminal design without you seeing the partially turning bullwheel like Siberia, Gold Coast, Big Blue or Headwall…or Far East we have enough of those designs right now.
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I don’t think Leitner-Poma will go out of its way to make a new terminal design just for 1 new lift. Also the LPA terminals are fairly new and they look pretty good. They could do a new paint finish but they would probably want to match their other lifts so that would be unlikely to happen. There is a possibility like how Steamboat did a different color scheme on Elkhead then it’s other HSQs.
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If it needs a capacity boost, it can be upgraded to 3600 pph with the lift Willamette Pass has for sale. As for upgrading it to D-line, this lift doesn’t use grips that Doppelmayr is familiar with. It would be a huge hassle for another six pack that only transfers skiers to the main base. That would be another thing if they were AK-400s that resemble the Agamatic grip that Doppelmayr uses, but it would be way too much money and time and there are higher priorities on Alterra’s list. Alterra isn’t wanting to make all their resorts like Big Sky.
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Why would they put that much effort into a lift that barely sees any traffic? As someone who skis at Squaw all of the time far east never has any line at all, and is only useful for people who parked nearby as well as the ski team, which uses the lower steep runs on dog leg to train for slalom and moguls.
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This lift runs near the original red dog chair. In fact, it’s actually closer than the new red dog chair is.
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I wonder what kept them from running this all the way up to the old Red Dog ending point.
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Probably due to wind.
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Maybe, although this is the least windy area at Squaw. On the windiest of days where the resort is able to remain open, the lifts on KT and Snow King will be the only ones to spin.
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I’m pretty sure they reprofiled a few towers on this lift so as to have it cross under the new Red Dog, whereas it crossed over the old one.
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Six place seems a bit overkill here…
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why is this lift always closed this season? Any good reason? I used to love getting on the hill quickly. Now, after paid reserved parking Palisades is taking away another good thing. I wonder why? With the weekend traffic, no far east access, I’m looking at getting my pass at Sugar Bowl next year.
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