Drive-tension terminal.Loading area.Lift line looking towards Iron Mountain.Mid-unload #1.Riding up.Mid-unload #2.Last section of the line.Mid-unload #2.Return bullwheel.
This lift hasn’t ran at all this season. This means that the only way to Quicksilver Gondola is via Iron Mountain. In previous years, you could ski from the top of dream peak to this lift, and then ride it across to the gondola. PCMR updated the on-mountain signage indicating this change, which likely means that it’s unlikely this lift will be put back into service anytime soon.
The Iron Mountain route is arguably much more direct since from Red Pine Lodge you’re only taking two lifts (Timberline and Iron Mountain) whereas the Flat Iron route involves four lifts (Tombstone, Peak Five, Dreamscape, and Flat Iron), three of which are fixed grip..
It was built as a real estate lift. Mid-stations are not terribly expensive for fixed-grip lifts and the houses it serves are worth millions, so it was worth it. It will become more useful if they ever expand up the canyon above the lift towards Scott Hill.
This lift could be removed with no replacement and all of the houses could retain the same ski trail access. Bugle Ridge Bypass, the trail terminating at the drive station, was originally intended to continue down and merge into Snowonder, and that could still be done with a ski bridge or tunnel spanning White Pine Canyon Rd. Mid-station 1 services Snowonder, but the trailhead was moved uphill to the Quicksilver mid-station when the gondola was installed, so it is now redundant. Mid-station 2 services the trailhead for Golden Spruce, but a skier bridge or tunnel could be built over White Pine Canyon Rd to move the trailhead slightly uphill adjacent to the Quicksilver Gondola base.
How will it become more useful if/when they expand towards Scott Hill? It still will go from nowhere to nowhere. Unless you make the decision to take Quicksilver to the end so you can ride Flat Iron to the Scott Hill terrain, or if you want to save 30 seconds if coming from Iron Mtn by not skiing down to Dreamcatcher. But that’s about it. This will always remain a real-estate lift that has no relevance for the unwashed skiing public who don’t live in The Colony.
It’s not EXACTLY a nowhere lift, because it services Bugle Ridge, Trance, Reaper, and Sandman. Those, especially Trance, are actually very strong intermediate runs. So, unless they decide to expand the run to merge with snowonder, this lift still does serve a purpose of sorts
Lift Blog 
Did this come used from Solitude? If not, I’m just curious as to where it is from.
LikeLike
Yes, it is the old Powderhorn and/or Apex.
LikeLike
I figured out the following on this lift
Length: 1,641 ft
Vertical Rise: 4 ft
Horsepower: 175 HP
Chairs: 102
Line Speed: 500
Capacity: 1,200 per hour
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
It is apex the way I now this is powderhorn went up on the left and apex you loaded on the right.
LikeLike
You can go either way on that lift!
LikeLike
The award for the flattest lift around? Vertical rise is 5 feet. No wonder it’s called Flat Iron.
LikeLike
This lift hasn’t ran at all this season. This means that the only way to Quicksilver Gondola is via Iron Mountain. In previous years, you could ski from the top of dream peak to this lift, and then ride it across to the gondola. PCMR updated the on-mountain signage indicating this change, which likely means that it’s unlikely this lift will be put back into service anytime soon.
LikeLike
The Iron Mountain route is arguably much more direct since from Red Pine Lodge you’re only taking two lifts (Timberline and Iron Mountain) whereas the Flat Iron route involves four lifts (Tombstone, Peak Five, Dreamscape, and Flat Iron), three of which are fixed grip..
LikeLike
Well it’s finally operating now a few days ago.
LikeLike
Yeah I rode it yesterday for the first time. I wonder if there was some dispute, that then got cleared up….
LikeLike
Wonder what fuss it would be the Colony people were up to?
LikeLike
Rich people stuff. Ours not to reason why.
LikeLike
This is an interesting lift. Does not get much use, and has 4 stations. Wow.
LikeLike
It was built as a real estate lift. Mid-stations are not terribly expensive for fixed-grip lifts and the houses it serves are worth millions, so it was worth it. It will become more useful if they ever expand up the canyon above the lift towards Scott Hill.
This lift could be removed with no replacement and all of the houses could retain the same ski trail access. Bugle Ridge Bypass, the trail terminating at the drive station, was originally intended to continue down and merge into Snowonder, and that could still be done with a ski bridge or tunnel spanning White Pine Canyon Rd. Mid-station 1 services Snowonder, but the trailhead was moved uphill to the Quicksilver mid-station when the gondola was installed, so it is now redundant. Mid-station 2 services the trailhead for Golden Spruce, but a skier bridge or tunnel could be built over White Pine Canyon Rd to move the trailhead slightly uphill adjacent to the Quicksilver Gondola base.
LikeLike
How will it become more useful if/when they expand towards Scott Hill? It still will go from nowhere to nowhere. Unless you make the decision to take Quicksilver to the end so you can ride Flat Iron to the Scott Hill terrain, or if you want to save 30 seconds if coming from Iron Mtn by not skiing down to Dreamcatcher. But that’s about it. This will always remain a real-estate lift that has no relevance for the unwashed skiing public who don’t live in The Colony.
LikeLike
It’s not EXACTLY a nowhere lift, because it services Bugle Ridge, Trance, Reaper, and Sandman. Those, especially Trance, are actually very strong intermediate runs. So, unless they decide to expand the run to merge with snowonder, this lift still does serve a purpose of sorts
LikeLike
Can you onload at mid station #1?
LikeLike
LikeLike
I was looking on a online map on Zillow and the second mid station is on private property with a house.(You can see it in the video above.)
LikeLike