This LST T-Bar replaced a 1966 Stadeli double in 2018.The lower terminal has a compact drive and the tensioning system.Drive bullwheel.Another view of the lower terminal.Angled towers.Drive control cabinet.Unloading at tower 5.The top bullwheel.Another view of the return.Looking down above T4.View up the track in winter.Carrier.
Yeah the double was always there. WV opened in 1966 with the High Country Double, White Peaks Double (where the White Peaks Quad runs now), the Valley Run Double, and the Lower Meadows Double, all built by Stadeli. Fast-forward to 1988, the High Country Express was installed, which replaced the White Peaks Double but ran all the way to the top of the ski area. The High Country Double remained. Then in 1996 the High Country Express was shortened due to wind issues caused by excessive clearing in the High Country. The top terminal was moved downhill to the location of that of the old White Peaks Double, and the lift was renamed the White Peaks Express. Meanwhile the High Country double still suffered from wind issues and was often closed, but at least the main out-of-base lift could run much more than it could before.
The reason that they replaced High Country was because of its increasing unreliability in recent years, including in 2016-17 when it did not operate for several months due to mechanical issues and multiple deropements on the first tower. However replacing it with a T was a dumb move because WV always used to use the High Country area for early season ops, with downloading on White Peaks. Of course now to run the T they need snow underneath it, and I’m not sure if snowmaking actually reaches the T’s lift line for its entire length.
This area is also used for race training, and so the faster speed of a T-bar was a factor, in addition to the wind, and the mechanical issues with the old lift.
There were at least 10 T-bars missing from the line today. Just the carriers up on the rope. Not sure why they they don’t fix them? It had huge lines today, as they had multiple competitions going on in the High Country area.
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Why would they give up an awesome old Stadeli double for this? I still can’t believe believe they did this.
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Might have been wind, I have no source on that though.
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Wind, reliability, and ride time.
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This is ridiculous that they replaced a detachable with a double and then a T-Bar. I do like T-Bars, but this was a stupid move.
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The double was there first.
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Yeah the double was always there. WV opened in 1966 with the High Country Double, White Peaks Double (where the White Peaks Quad runs now), the Valley Run Double, and the Lower Meadows Double, all built by Stadeli. Fast-forward to 1988, the High Country Express was installed, which replaced the White Peaks Double but ran all the way to the top of the ski area. The High Country Double remained. Then in 1996 the High Country Express was shortened due to wind issues caused by excessive clearing in the High Country. The top terminal was moved downhill to the location of that of the old White Peaks Double, and the lift was renamed the White Peaks Express. Meanwhile the High Country double still suffered from wind issues and was often closed, but at least the main out-of-base lift could run much more than it could before.
The reason that they replaced High Country was because of its increasing unreliability in recent years, including in 2016-17 when it did not operate for several months due to mechanical issues and multiple deropements on the first tower. However replacing it with a T was a dumb move because WV always used to use the High Country area for early season ops, with downloading on White Peaks. Of course now to run the T they need snow underneath it, and I’m not sure if snowmaking actually reaches the T’s lift line for its entire length.
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A new or even used double chair would’ve been better.
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A triple chairlift would’ve worked just as fine.
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Hi. Does anyone have a rough cost estimate on the tbar? Looking for a ball park on equipment plus installation. Any ideas?
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Gould Academy’s Doppelmayr T at Sunday River (which is twice the size of this lift) came in at $750,000.
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This area is also used for race training, and so the faster speed of a T-bar was a factor, in addition to the wind, and the mechanical issues with the old lift.
LikeLike
There were at least 10 T-bars missing from the line today. Just the carriers up on the rope. Not sure why they they don’t fix them? It had huge lines today, as they had multiple competitions going on in the High Country area.
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