This Riblet double is one of two chairlifts solely servicing the summit since the original gondola’s retirement in 1999.Lower half of the lift line.The top terminal was upgraded by CTEC.View up at T5.Looking down on the drive station.CTEC Sprint drive terminal.Loading area and hydraulic tensioning ram.
This lift was shortened in 1995. It used to end around the top of The Rumor. You can see the former upper line on Google Earth. When it was shortened, it got a new drive and return structure. The drive structure is a CTEC Sprint, but has a Riblet motor room enclosure. I also think all the mechanical components are original. It is scheduled to be replaced as part of the Unit Management Plan, but the type of lift is unspecified, although the top would be returned to its original location. The want to extend it again so that someone coming from the base can take either the Northwoods Gondola to Straightbrook or Adirondack Express II to High Peaks and get to all the same trails. Currently, riding the gondola and skiing to the Straightbrook Quad is your only option if you want to ski anything above Lies.
The new lift is awful, and it hasn’t even opend yet. When SKI magazine named Gore on the the best ski areas in the East this year, they specifiaclly mantioned the views and Darkside glades. The extension of the new lift obscures the best views of the High Peaks anywhere, and they clearcut and regraded Darkside glades. None of that was necessary for access to any part of Gore (although an extra lap was required to to reach the summit). None of the regrading and widening was mentioned in the UMP and there was no real opportunuty for public input. ORDA doesn’t know anything about skiing, what is important to skiers or the value of what they had.
You’re seriously going to complain about a new lift that isn’t even open yet? Here are the facts:
The old lift was 54 years old with reliability issues and poor capacity. It was also the only summit access if the gondola was down. It needed to be replaced.
The extension is exactly where the old lift once went. Shortening it was a mistake and resulted in a more disjointed ski experience and a mountain that was harder to navigate. The extension simply reverses that mistake.
The line had to be widened because the new lift is a quad, and even new doubles and triples tend to be installed on quad gauge towers, so don’t say that they would’ve avoided this by building another double. No matter what kind of lift they installed there, the line would’ve never skied the same again. That’s what happens when terrain has grown in for 54 years and then you have to dig it all up and run heavy equipment over it all summer. The new line will still be skiable, but it will be different.
If you’re saying the lift shouldn’t have been replaced, then clearly you don’t understand Gore enough to know the importance of this project. How many other ski areas have a 54 year old lift as a major link between sections of the mountain? And if you’re saying they shouldn’t have built a quad, the fact is they needed more capacity, and the effect on the lift line would’ve been the same anyways. If this lift is going to last 54 years like the old one, then it makes sense to not skimp on capacity.
Well ORDA deferred maintenance strikes again and now this lift is done for the season. Too bad ORDA won’t be replacing it this summer as originally planned. Another expensive repair and yet another season of breakdowns coming. Maybe they’ll come to their senses and finally replace it.
Lift Blog 
This lift was shortened in 1995. It used to end around the top of The Rumor. You can see the former upper line on Google Earth. When it was shortened, it got a new drive and return structure. The drive structure is a CTEC Sprint, but has a Riblet motor room enclosure. I also think all the mechanical components are original. It is scheduled to be replaced as part of the Unit Management Plan, but the type of lift is unspecified, although the top would be returned to its original location. The want to extend it again so that someone coming from the base can take either the Northwoods Gondola to Straightbrook or Adirondack Express II to High Peaks and get to all the same trails. Currently, riding the gondola and skiing to the Straightbrook Quad is your only option if you want to ski anything above Lies.
LikeLike
Well your wish is granted now… the new line has already been cut for the new quad lift as of today
LikeLike
Is the lift demolished yet? Have any pics of the work they’ve done?
LikeLike
The new lift is awful, and it hasn’t even opend yet. When SKI magazine named Gore on the the best ski areas in the East this year, they specifiaclly mantioned the views and Darkside glades. The extension of the new lift obscures the best views of the High Peaks anywhere, and they clearcut and regraded Darkside glades. None of that was necessary for access to any part of Gore (although an extra lap was required to to reach the summit). None of the regrading and widening was mentioned in the UMP and there was no real opportunuty for public input. ORDA doesn’t know anything about skiing, what is important to skiers or the value of what they had.
LikeLike
You’re seriously going to complain about a new lift that isn’t even open yet? Here are the facts:
The old lift was 54 years old with reliability issues and poor capacity. It was also the only summit access if the gondola was down. It needed to be replaced.
The extension is exactly where the old lift once went. Shortening it was a mistake and resulted in a more disjointed ski experience and a mountain that was harder to navigate. The extension simply reverses that mistake.
The line had to be widened because the new lift is a quad, and even new doubles and triples tend to be installed on quad gauge towers, so don’t say that they would’ve avoided this by building another double. No matter what kind of lift they installed there, the line would’ve never skied the same again. That’s what happens when terrain has grown in for 54 years and then you have to dig it all up and run heavy equipment over it all summer. The new line will still be skiable, but it will be different.
If you’re saying the lift shouldn’t have been replaced, then clearly you don’t understand Gore enough to know the importance of this project. How many other ski areas have a 54 year old lift as a major link between sections of the mountain? And if you’re saying they shouldn’t have built a quad, the fact is they needed more capacity, and the effect on the lift line would’ve been the same anyways. If this lift is going to last 54 years like the old one, then it makes sense to not skimp on capacity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well ORDA deferred maintenance strikes again and now this lift is done for the season. Too bad ORDA won’t be replacing it this summer as originally planned. Another expensive repair and yet another season of breakdowns coming. Maybe they’ll come to their senses and finally replace it.
LikeLike