This lift replaced a Yan double in 2020.The second of only two towers.Drive bullwheel at the top terminal.Leitner-Poma Alpha station, one of five at this ski area.View down the short lift line.Loading area.Both towers.Lift overview.Z model return station.
What’s the reason to use the Z terminal instead of the simpler one used on Pali built the same year? Z looks beefier, which seems unnecessary on this tiny lift
Poma has been using the Z type return on most lifts with top drives since the 90s, with the other type of return one would need to add a portal tower following the terminal (Look at Gent’s Ridge @ Aspen)
The portal tower still makes appearances on certain lifts, generally ones with bottom drives and/or steep climb-outs (Powder Chair at Big White, Raven Ridge at Cypress, Zuma at A-Basin, etc.)
Beavers has the simpler return station combined with a normal tube tower instead of a portal tower. I don’t understand why many Poma lifts have that odd one portal tower out of the base with all other towers being tube style.
Are there RFID gates on this lift? I know that they added them to BMX, Pali and Lenawee but I almost think it makes more sense for gates to be here than on Lenawee.
I’m sure it’s for the same reason ski resorts don’t put RFID gates on Magic carpets. You might as well let people say they skied the beginner slope without a valid ticket that spend a whole bunch of money on more RFID gates.
This lift wasn’t replaced for capacity reasons. It was replaced for beginners to be able to load with an instructor. This lift isn’t an access lift, so it doesn’t need a high capacity.
Not sure how much you care, Peter, but you could potentially update the caption that says “five alphas” to four if you wanted, now that Lenawee has been replaced.
Lift Blog 
Is this the world’s shortest fixed grip quad?
LikeLike
Not sure about the rest of the world but it is the shortest in North America.
LikeLike
The only other shorter fixed grip might be discovery shuttle at Mount Snow
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think there is a SkyTrac Quad at Alta, Snowflake, that is shorter than this.
LikeLike
Snowpine lift at Alta is roughly 90 feet longer than this lift.
LikeLike
the full alpha terminal on this lift seems like such overkill but makes sense to have it because now every fixed grip at the basin is an alpha.
LikeLike
Well, that and I’m pretty sure you can’t get any other type of fixed-grip drive terminal from GJ.
LikeLike
The full length is 7 windows. This is 5 windows.
LikeLike
What’s the reason to use the Z terminal instead of the simpler one used on Pali built the same year? Z looks beefier, which seems unnecessary on this tiny lift
LikeLike
It saves a tower.
LikeLike
Poma has been using the Z type return on most lifts with top drives since the 90s, with the other type of return one would need to add a portal tower following the terminal (Look at Gent’s Ridge @ Aspen)
LikeLike
The portal tower still makes appearances on certain lifts, generally ones with bottom drives and/or steep climb-outs (Powder Chair at Big White, Raven Ridge at Cypress, Zuma at A-Basin, etc.)
LikeLike
Beavers has the simpler return station combined with a normal tube tower instead of a portal tower. I don’t understand why many Poma lifts have that odd one portal tower out of the base with all other towers being tube style.
LikeLike
Such as the Raven chair at Whitewater, The Summit chair and Lake Louise’s Ptarmigan chair have the Z return and a very steep climb out.
LikeLike
Are there RFID gates on this lift? I know that they added them to BMX, Pali and Lenawee but I almost think it makes more sense for gates to be here than on Lenawee.
LikeLike
I’m sure it’s for the same reason ski resorts don’t put RFID gates on Magic carpets. You might as well let people say they skied the beginner slope without a valid ticket that spend a whole bunch of money on more RFID gates.
LikeLike
Short Haul lift, a Doppelmayr double chair at Montage Mountain in PA is 280ft
LikeLike
why did they almost half the capacity of this lift when they replaced it?
LikeLike
This lift wasn’t replaced for capacity reasons. It was replaced for beginners to be able to load with an instructor. This lift isn’t an access lift, so it doesn’t need a high capacity.
LikeLike
Not sure how much you care, Peter, but you could potentially update the caption that says “five alphas” to four if you wanted, now that Lenawee has been replaced.
LikeLike
The ride must be so short, you shouldn’t even need to put down the safety bar. Once you put it down you’ll be at the top!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why does this lift have a top drive while the yan had a bottom one.
LikeLike
Space?
LikeLike
It’s now 1 of 4 Alpha terminals due to the Lenawee Express.
LikeLike