This Riblet triple has a mid-station. The upper part of the line is painted black and below the mid is blue.Mid-unload ramp.View down the lower lift line.The top station was used in both winter and summer pre-gondola.Fixed top bullwheel.Looking down from the summit.Unload ramp number two.Lower section of the line.Riblet drive-tension station.Loading area.Motor room.
It’s been a triple for at least 35 years. At one point was for the majority of the racing that took place on Yahoo (upper and mid), until Dot Nebel was cut and they moved most racing over there.
Yeah I think there was an old Roebling there until the early 80s. The reason there’s so much hobbled together until recently is because the NY DEP used to operate it and we were in danger of shutting down every year. We had a foundation (“the coalition to save belleayre”) and that was what kept it afloat. Upgrades were few and far between but once Highmount closed it was the primary employer in the area so it was badly needed. ORDA taking it over has really brought it new life.
It replaced a 1964 Roebling double “Lift 3”, however it used lattice towers and went up the looker’s left side of the trail. All of the maps I’ve found online show a triple there during and past 1986
You’re correct. They replaced it in 1986, it was right before I was able to start skiing. Grew up one town over, so know it well but forgot what was there. We had 2 doubles off of the upper lodge (now called overlook but they weren’t always so clever ;)).
I had to get out of town but it’s nice to see that they’re revitalizing the area now, definitely not what it once was (and it’s a good thing).
I think he’s correct that these do have extenders on the tower heads, though. Tye Mill at Stevens Pass has similar ones because it reuses the towers of its Riblet double predecessor. Most of Riblet’s triples don’t have them.
Since this is the only Riblet ever installed at Bellayre, I would guess that they maybe acquired the towers from another ski area?
Highly possible. Everything was all about pricing and getting whatever they could at lower costs, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it came from elsewhere. Could have been Windham or Hunter. Likely not Plattekill as they took some of Belleayre’s even older stuff. Always surprised me that despite Phil Davenport working for Belleayre after he shut down Highmount, none of the lifts ever got sold to Belleayre.
It couldn’t have been from Hunter, Windham, or Platty as none have installed Riblet lifts. While no other Riblets were installed at Belleayre, there were Riblet lifts installed at New York’s other two state-owned ski areas, Gore and Whiteface. Maybe the tower tubes could have been reused, but I can’t imagine any other parts came from elsewhere. Those chair and terminal designs only came out around 2 years before 7 was built.
Lift Blog 
Sadly, rumors suggest this season (19-20) will be Lift 7’s last season.
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Looks as if this was bumped from a double to a triple at some point- the towers have the same add-ons to increase line gauge.
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It’s been a triple for at least 35 years. At one point was for the majority of the racing that took place on Yahoo (upper and mid), until Dot Nebel was cut and they moved most racing over there.
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Maybe it replaced a double chair but reused the towers.
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Yeah I think there was an old Roebling there until the early 80s. The reason there’s so much hobbled together until recently is because the NY DEP used to operate it and we were in danger of shutting down every year. We had a foundation (“the coalition to save belleayre”) and that was what kept it afloat. Upgrades were few and far between but once Highmount closed it was the primary employer in the area so it was badly needed. ORDA taking it over has really brought it new life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It replaced a 1964 Roebling double “Lift 3”, however it used lattice towers and went up the looker’s left side of the trail. All of the maps I’ve found online show a triple there during and past 1986
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You’re correct. They replaced it in 1986, it was right before I was able to start skiing. Grew up one town over, so know it well but forgot what was there. We had 2 doubles off of the upper lodge (now called overlook but they weren’t always so clever ;)).
I had to get out of town but it’s nice to see that they’re revitalizing the area now, definitely not what it once was (and it’s a good thing).
LikeLike
I think he’s correct that these do have extenders on the tower heads, though. Tye Mill at Stevens Pass has similar ones because it reuses the towers of its Riblet double predecessor. Most of Riblet’s triples don’t have them.
Since this is the only Riblet ever installed at Bellayre, I would guess that they maybe acquired the towers from another ski area?
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Highly possible. Everything was all about pricing and getting whatever they could at lower costs, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it came from elsewhere. Could have been Windham or Hunter. Likely not Plattekill as they took some of Belleayre’s even older stuff. Always surprised me that despite Phil Davenport working for Belleayre after he shut down Highmount, none of the lifts ever got sold to Belleayre.
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Probably not from Hunter or Windham, I don’t believe any of them had any Riblets.
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It couldn’t have been from Hunter, Windham, or Platty as none have installed Riblet lifts. While no other Riblets were installed at Belleayre, there were Riblet lifts installed at New York’s other two state-owned ski areas, Gore and Whiteface. Maybe the tower tubes could have been reused, but I can’t imagine any other parts came from elsewhere. Those chair and terminal designs only came out around 2 years before 7 was built.
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