Burst Snowmaking Pipe Sends Gondolas Swinging at Stratton

Peter Landsman2 Comments

A large pipe broke on Christmas Eve at Stratton Mountain Resort, sending a gush of water into the path of the mountain’s gondola.  Videos circulating on social media show a few cabins bearing the brunt of the geyser and Stratton Mountain Resort released the following statement via yesterday’s snow report:

“At about 3:30 pm Christmas Eve, a break in a snowmaking pipe on Lower Standard sent water at a 45 degree angle toward the gondola.  Snowmaking computers showed a drop in pressure and operators immediately began the process of shutting down the system. The operations team simultaneously stopped the lift, restarting it slowly to reposition the cabins. Approximately seven minutes later, the gondola made its way to the summit where guests disembarked. We are pleased to report that no one was injured in what was a scary episode for seven skiers and riders in two gondola cabins. The gondola is running as usual today and snowmaking operations continue using alternate pipes in the network.”

The Poma-built Stratton Mountain Gondola opened in 1988 and received 58 new Sigma Diamond cabins in 2014.  I’m thankful the water line broke near the gondola and not under an open chairlift.  Great job Stratton crews moving cabins out of harm’s way and getting the water stopped so quickly.

Advertisements

Instagram Tuesday: Merry Christmas

Peter Landsman11 Comments

Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.

View this post on Instagram

We understand everyone, including us, has been anxiously awaiting The Gondola opening and we apologize for not being more transparent about its status. This project has been a complex undertaking and the last thing we wanted to do was provide our guests with inaccurate information. However, we understand that without us supplying the most accurate information we do have, misinformation is out there. Going forward we are committed to providing you with daily updates on The Gondola by 2pm MT. Our acceptance testing began yesterday. This process requires going through all of the safety and operating systems of the lift. Yesterday, we went through our electrical and tower safety circuits. Today we are working through terminal testing. We anticipate doing the dynamic load testing tomorrow. This is a brand new lift system for the U.S. and we are one of only three in the country, which is why our testing process is taking a little longer. We are optimistic about opening on Tuesday, just in time for Christmas, but we do have to complete these extensive tests first. Thank you for your patience as we complete this process and we will update you tomorrow on our progress. We look forward to riding The Gondola with you soon!

A post shared by Winter Park Resort (@winterparkresort) on

Silverton Considers Growing Kendall Mountain

Peter Landsman5 Comments

IMG_1471

Silverton, Colorado – population 650 – is home to two ski areas with a grand total of two double chairlifts.  The smaller of the two at just 16 acres, owned and operated by the town, is Kendall Mountain.  Silverton recently commissioned SE Group to study possibilities for additional ski terrain and year round recreation.  The viability assessment, released last month, is very intriguing.

Kendall Mountain Recreation Area’s current lift, installed in 2006, is a 1972 Poma double with a 1990 return terminal.  The lift has a design capacity of 800 people per hour (pph), but currently operates at 760 pph.  It rises only 263 vertical feet on a mountain that stretches some 3,500 feet above the top terminal.  The setup reminds me of Whitetooth before Kicking Horse or Powder Springs pre-Revelstoke Mountain Resort.  Both were modest community ski areas at the bases of large mountains transformed into destinations by private developers.  Silverton isn’t currently considering anything on the scale of the new British Columbia resorts but the project could eventually yield Colorado’s third largest vertical drop in a place known for epic snowfall.

As part of its public outreach, the town held multiple community meetings to gain feedback over the past year.  Top priorities residents came up with at a first brainstorming session were expanded lifts and terrain.  SE Group identified excellent ski terrain on the central part of the mountain with a large quantity of terrain suitable for ability levels from novice up to advanced.  Importantly, the mountain’s high elevation would provide desirable snow conditions without the need for snowmaking.

SE Group also notes there is potential for Silverton to rise in popularity as a ski destination, benefiting both Silverton Mountain and Kendall Mountain as well as nearby Purgatory Resort.  The study concludes that “expanded skiing infrastructure on Kendall Mountain would benefit the existing Silverton Mountain Ski Area by providing a complimentary experience that would draw additional visitors to the area during the winter season.”  Silverton currently offers guided lift and helicopter skiing for experts only.

Continue reading →

News Roundup: Only in Utah

Peter Landsman8 Comments

Instagram Tuesday: In the Alpine

Peter Landsman1 Comment

Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.

Big Sky & Doppelmayr Christen Ramcharger 8

Peter Landsman63 Comments

IMG_5926

Forty five years to the day since Chet Huntley welcomed the first skiers to Big Sky Resort, Boyne Resorts today debuted North America’s most technologically-advanced chairlift on Andesite Mountain.  The eight pack is a bold but logical move for Michigan-based Boyne, which once pioneered the world’s first triple and quad chairlifts.  Not only is Ramcharger 8 the first of its kind in North America, it’s also the first Doppelmayr D-Line eight place chairlift in the world.

IMG_5816
Boyne Resorts President Stephen Kircher and son Everett prepare to cut the ribbon.

“Doppelmayr and Boyne Resorts have been collaborating for over 40 years, and together have introduced many firsts to the ski industry,” said Stephen Kircher, President of Boyne Resorts at a mid-morning ceremony.  “We are incredibly proud to bring the first eight-seat chairlift to North America, setting a new standard for lift technology in the world.”

IMG_5802

Mark Bee, President of Doppelmayr USA, presented the Big Sky Resort team with a customary bell from Austria to celebrate.  He also thanked the construction team, led by Jamie Kanzler, for a successful project delivered on schedule.  “Without Jamie and his team, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Bee, noting the contract for this ambitious project was signed on March 5th.  “Ramcharger 8 is the culmination of everything we have learned so far, and incorporates many firsts for the North American market; first eight-passenger chairlift, first direct drive motor, first locking restraint bar, first height-adjustable loading carpet, first high resolution video display, and the first of our newest generation detachable lifts,” he continued.

Continue reading →

News Roundup: Urban Momentum

Peter Landsman10 Comments

Doppelmayr Quad Coming to Manning Park, BC

Peter Landsman5 Comments

IMG_7354

Just five years after it was set to close and liquidate, the remote but beautiful Manning Park Resort has some exciting news to share.  The ski area will retire one of its two Murray-Latta chairlifts at the end of the winter, replacing the Orange chair with a brand new Doppelmayr quad.

The modern Alpen Star installation will transport 1,400 skiers per hour just under 1,100 vertical feet.  More chairs can be added in the future to further increase capacity.  Following the upgrade, there will only be four Murray-Latta lifts operational – three in British Columbia and one in Alberta.  The now hundred year old machine company remains in business, just not the ski lift business.  It built more than 20 chairlifts through the 1960s and ’70s in Western Canada and the United States.

IMG_1017

Manning Park’s new chair will open in time for the 2019-20 season and become the resort’s first new lift in 49 years.

Instagram Tuesday: Best Coast

Peter LandsmanLeave a comment

Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.

Three New Quads Debut in Utah

Peter Landsman8 Comments
IMG_5644
The brand new Homestake Express seen on opening day at Deer Valley.

Utah ski resorts are proving this season that lifts need not be giant to positively impact guest experiences.  I got to visit the state’s three newest chairlifts this week, which are all short but sweet with beginner skiers in mind.

High Meadow Express – Park City Mountain

highmeadow

The High Meadow Express is the centerpiece of re-imagined teaching terrain above Park City’s Canyons Village.  With mellow loading and unloading speeds, a quick ride time and an improved alignment, the high speed quad marks a significant step up from the fixed quad it replaces.  High Meadow Park is now wide open with perfectly pitched beginner trails.  Expanded snowmaking rounds out the freshened up beginner zone.

Homestake Express – Deer Valley Resort

homestake

Homestake Express launched this morning at Alterra-owned Deer Valley, becoming the resort’s 13th detachable quad.  Ride time is now under two minutes between Silver Lake Lodge and Bald Eagle Mountain.  There are only eight towers now, down from 12, freeing up space on the busy Silver Link ski run.  The new Homestake also features slatted backrests for wind resistance.

Snowpine – Alta Ski Area

snowpine

In Little Cottonwood Canyon, the new Snowpine Quad carried its first skiers yesterday.  The Skytrac Monarch was manufactured just 30 miles away in Salt Lake.  While it only has two towers and a dozen chairs, the new lift serves dual functions.  It will provide ski-in, ski-out access to the new Snowpine Lodge, which opens January 30th.  Alta’s first fixed grip quad also provides a beginner-friendly alternative to the surface tow it replaces.  The return terminal is height adjustable for the big snow years.