IF I remember correctly, this lift was chair 5 from Kirkwood, I could be wrong, but it seems that is where I remember it coming from when it was put up.
Possible but this lift is only 1,421 feet long. At one point it was slated to be replaced with a longer version starting near Lone Tree. The top terminal area is very tight so I doubt it will ever go detachable.
Headwaters is planned to get replaced as part of 2025. When they do, I hope it goes from the base of lone tree to an area higher up the ridge. Hopefully the lift will be a triple with a loading carpet like challenger.
How hard is the terrain off of Headwaters? I know that it’s all double black terrain, but still. I find it kind of cool that Big Sky is a big resort that still doesn’t have safety bars on all of its lifts.
This lift is actually from Kirkwood, it’s the former Cornice Chair/Chair 6. Replaced in 2000 by Cornice Express, it eventually ended up here, ironically serving similar terrain.
1: replace headwaters with a triple similar to challenger and make it start at the bottom of lone tree and end at the top of the knob above challenger.
2: relocate alignment of lone tree to end at the snowfield left of deep water bowl.
3: make a bubble quad from the bottom of six shooter to the top of the current lone tree.
4: build two lodges. One at the bottom of Lone Tree and Headwaters and the other at the top of Six Shooter. This should give expert skiers an easy, alternate way to the tram.
I really like The Skier’s idea. Replace Headwaters with a triple that loads at the bottom of Lone Tree and extends to the top of Cold Spring. A HSQ is just overkill.
The motor was sent off for a rebuild this summer and we just recently got it back due to the supply chain delay. It’ll soon be open although I am not sure entirely when.
I know this lift was originally slated to be replaced in the 2025 plan, but I honestly do not think it should really be prioritized. All of the terrain it serves can be lapped by Challenger (which is not overcrowded) with the exception of Headwaters Bowl and chutes that require hiking anyway. Given Headwaters Bowl is fairly rocky compared to the other terrain from the peak, it is not a big issue if it is more difficult to lap to limit traffic.
Lift Blog 
What lift was this in Mammoth?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It could have been 10, 11, 19, or 27. I don’t think it was 11 or 27 because this lift is longer, so that narrows it down to 10 or 19.
LikeLike
11 was 1,744 feet long, and Headwaters is 1,421 feet long.
LikeLike
Why could it not have been 15 or 16?
LikeLike
IF I remember correctly, this lift was chair 5 from Kirkwood, I could be wrong, but it seems that is where I remember it coming from when it was put up.
LikeLike
IS it possible to be replaced with a high speed quad?
LikeLike
Possible but this lift is only 1,421 feet long. At one point it was slated to be replaced with a longer version starting near Lone Tree. The top terminal area is very tight so I doubt it will ever go detachable.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Is that why challenger didn’t go detachable?
LikeLike
Challenger didn’t go HSQ because of room up at the top terminal and because it was an unscheduled replacement.
LikeLike
After seeing what doppelmayr did with little cloud at snowbird. They should have no problem with a detachable terminal up top
LikeLiked by 2 people
Headwaters is planned to get replaced as part of 2025. When they do, I hope it goes from the base of lone tree to an area higher up the ridge. Hopefully the lift will be a triple with a loading carpet like challenger.
LikeLike
It was also to prevent beginners from using the lift even though a bunch still do.
LikeLike
As a passholder, I’ve never seen someone up here who shouldn’t be. Usually the “Experts Only” sign and actual hike into HW prevent that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
How hard is the terrain off of Headwaters? I know that it’s all double black terrain, but still. I find it kind of cool that Big Sky is a big resort that still doesn’t have safety bars on all of its lifts.
LikeLike
Ramcharger has safety bars. Explorer has them. Derringer has them. Challenger has them. I think Cabin has them. And I’m sure there are more.
LikeLike
Recently, the entire lift (except the rope or cable), was painted white.
LikeLike
This lift is actually from Kirkwood, it’s the former Cornice Chair/Chair 6. Replaced in 2000 by Cornice Express, it eventually ended up here, ironically serving similar terrain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When they replace this they should do something like this:
LikeLike
1: replace headwaters with a triple similar to challenger and make it start at the bottom of lone tree and end at the top of the knob above challenger.
2: relocate alignment of lone tree to end at the snowfield left of deep water bowl.
3: make a bubble quad from the bottom of six shooter to the top of the current lone tree.
4: build two lodges. One at the bottom of Lone Tree and Headwaters and the other at the top of Six Shooter. This should give expert skiers an easy, alternate way to the tram.
LikeLike
I really like The Skier’s idea. Replace Headwaters with a triple that loads at the bottom of Lone Tree and extends to the top of Cold Spring. A HSQ is just overkill.
LikeLike
Why hasn’t the Headwaters lift opened yet this year
LikeLike
The motor was sent off for a rebuild this summer and we just recently got it back due to the supply chain delay. It’ll soon be open although I am not sure entirely when.
LikeLike
I know this lift was originally slated to be replaced in the 2025 plan, but I honestly do not think it should really be prioritized. All of the terrain it serves can be lapped by Challenger (which is not overcrowded) with the exception of Headwaters Bowl and chutes that require hiking anyway. Given Headwaters Bowl is fairly rocky compared to the other terrain from the peak, it is not a big issue if it is more difficult to lap to limit traffic.
LikeLike