This lift was converted from a traditional fixed grip lift to a pulse version with eight groups of four chairs each running at 800 fpm.The bottom station.Tower 8.Tower 10.Top terminal straight out of the 1950s.Top bullwheel.View down the line with Banff below.A pulse headed up from the base.Garaventa drive bullwheel.
But why though. What is the purpose of turning a double into a pulse double! This must be the only pulse double in North America! Or even the world! It just makes no sense to me!
According to lift installation surveys, the former North American Poma double/gondola was built in 1966 (listed under Banff lift corp). It’s predecessor looks to be a Constam Single, but I’m not sure when it was built (you would know better than I would, it looks like it was from the 50s). Not sure when this version was installed, it looks like it was reused from the former Cascade Doppelmayr double.
Well if you’re being technical it’s a Garaventa lift, which isn’t based in North America. Ironically it’s a lift named North American built by a European company if that’s what you’re asking.
This lift replaced a Poma double, which itself, replaced a Poma single chairlift. I believe the drive terminal might re-use some parts of the old double bottom terminal, but I’m not sure about that one.
Yes. For awhile, Norquay ran the Poma double with gondola cabins in the summer as a “pulse chondola” of sorts. They also had a super cool single chairlift, and have a picture of Marilyn Monroe riding up the lift.
That makes no sense to me. Mid-Gad at Snowbird uses the first picture’s design, while Wilbere uses the second picture’s design. The inly difference they have is that the “Doppelmayr” ones have a circle pipe and the “Garaventa” ones use square pipes. I’m 90% sure they are both the same just with different variants.
I just saw a comment on the 2026 new lifts page. Apparently, this lift is getting directly replaced by a 10-person gondola for the 2026-2027 season. According to skiresort.info. Cliff House Gondola
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But why though. What is the purpose of turning a double into a pulse double! This must be the only pulse double in North America! Or even the world! It just makes no sense to me!
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Ride time. Original capacity not needed.
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Yes, but also that they have a restaurant at the top. Since it is a pulse double, they can have 100% downhill capacity which is pretty nice.
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Also, I’m pretty sure it was built in the ’50s. Can’t remember if it was ’54 or ’57
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According to lift installation surveys, the former North American Poma double/gondola was built in 1966 (listed under Banff lift corp). It’s predecessor looks to be a Constam Single, but I’m not sure when it was built (you would know better than I would, it looks like it was from the 50s). Not sure when this version was installed, it looks like it was reused from the former Cascade Doppelmayr double.
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My bad the dude said it was built in 65
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The former Cascade chair operates at a small hill in Manitoba, Canada (Minnedosa Ski Valley). No elements of the old Cascade are re-used on this lift.
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Is this North American?
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Well if you’re being technical it’s a Garaventa lift, which isn’t based in North America. Ironically it’s a lift named North American built by a European company if that’s what you’re asking.
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What are these chairs called?
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This lift replaced a Poma double, which itself, replaced a Poma single chairlift. I believe the drive terminal might re-use some parts of the old double bottom terminal, but I’m not sure about that one.
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Is that a 60’s poma double?
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Yes. For awhile, Norquay ran the Poma double with gondola cabins in the summer as a “pulse chondola” of sorts. They also had a super cool single chairlift, and have a picture of Marilyn Monroe riding up the lift.
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Yes it does reuse the bottom terminal if you notice closely it has a mueller bullwheel too some of the towers were also reused in the replacement also
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Video:
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I think those are Doppelmayr chairs.
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They are Garaventa. While the chair design is similar, the Garaventa chair has noticeable differences from the Doppelmayr chair.
Comparison:
Garaventa
Doppelmayr
https://skiliftblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/img_7811.jpg?w=994&h=746
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That makes no sense to me. Mid-Gad at Snowbird uses the first picture’s design, while Wilbere uses the second picture’s design. The inly difference they have is that the “Doppelmayr” ones have a circle pipe and the “Garaventa” ones use square pipes. I’m 90% sure they are both the same just with different variants.
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This lift reminds me of Europe. The top terminal, the bright yellow bullwheel and even the lifting frames just scream Europe to me.
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I just saw a comment on the 2026 new lifts page. Apparently, this lift is getting directly replaced by a 10-person gondola for the 2026-2027 season. According to skiresort.info. Cliff House Gondola
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Oh my god i cant believe my eyes a pulse double!!
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There is another pulse lift in Snow Valley. (Also in Alberta):
https://liftblog.com/wish-bone-snow-valley-ab/comment-page-1/#comment-187299
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