This lift was manufactured in 1950 for Beaver Mountain, UT and moved to Idaho circa 1962.The lift is powered by propane.Lift line view.Unique platter carriers without traditional spring boxes.Tower 5 fell over but is not strictly necessary. Repairs are currently being explored as of 2017.Lower part of the lift line with the lodge below. It is a relocated schoolhouse.Steep upper section of the line.Top station with wood supports and counterweight.Tower 12 and top operator house.Top station overview.Lift line with Craters of the Moon behind.Unloading area.Base area. The entire operation is run by volunteers from the Arco Lions Club.Another lift line shot.Internal combustion engine.Retired platters.View from the road.Upper section of the line. Note the fallen tower 5.The breakover seen from Craters of the Moon National Monument.
There’s a lot less that can go wrong than with a chair, but it definitely looks a bit spooky. Still probably a lot safer than the old black chair at magic that was in operation through 2017.
That’s what I thought. Does this place even carry insurance? Does anyone inspect the lift? Does it carry any certification? Does this hill even operate anymore? Maybe Idaho regulators have a light touch
“Hey Jimmy I need you to pick up a new spark arrestor for the platter”
“Yeah sure boss no problem”
*at store*
“Hey uh… I need a spark something or other, I forgot lol”
“Yeah sure here’s some spark plugs”
*at mountain*
“Jimmy what the hell”
It almost looks like the engine still has a power steering pump on it. Also, the blue engine block makes me think this is either a Chrystler V8 or a Ford V8, considering this lift was made in the 50s it probably is a chrystler.
Do ski lifts in Idaho not have to pass an inspection? I’ve seen them talk about a tower twisted and derailments on the line a few times this season. And them tinkering with it and having it “working for now”….seems abit unsafe.
There are no state inspection requirements in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The Forest Service has authority on USFS land and insurance companies also can require inspections.
With that said it is a platter lift and you are on the ground at all times. A deropement is less of a direct safety hazard in this case but I could see some things falling being dangerous.
“‘Working for now'” about sums up Veterans Memorial, and there are inspections in New Hampshire. However, the T-Bar has an easement of some kind because of the narrowness of the retrofitted cable catchers (not enough clearance for cable catchers of the right width).
This seems safe enough. Back East, I am itching for one of these things in my backyard. Something to tinker with!
On the other hand, there’s something similar somewhere within a 500-mile radius of me: the T-Bar at Veterans Memorial Recreation Area in Franklin, New Hampshire. It’s a 1,500′ 1953 Constam relocated from nearby Mt. Sunapee in 1968. Last year the old beast was down at the beginning of the season due to wire damage from squirrels – meaning that the recently installed brittle bar system (whatever the real name for it is) did not work. Its last coat of paint was in the ’60s. The only new things on it are the aforementioned safety system, the haul rope, the Ts (but not the hangars), and assorted high-wear parts like bearings. Even some of the sheaves might be original, or close to it. They’re all steel. It has guyed towers. It’s powered by a 1950s General Motors diesel engine! Three of the towers (the depression towers) are portals over the heavy side. The one at the mid unload has no sheaves on the light side. Originally, it was the Elliot Peak T-Bar at Sunapee, built by Heron Engineering under license from Constam. O. D. Hopkins & Co. reinstalled it in Franklin. In 2022, ticket prices were $20. Go ski it!!!
plus, there is the 1935 j-bar at black mountain in new hampshire! East coast ski areas may not be big, but there are a bunch of em’. Campgaw is only like 5 minutes away from where i live!
I am hoping to ski Black this winter. That J-Bar may very well hold the title for “Most Bizarre Frankenlift”! The bullwheels were originally vertical. If that doesn’t say ‘frankenlift’, then what does??
And who says that ski areas need to be big? Little- and mid-sized ski areas are nice too. For example, there’s Tenney Mountain. What a lovely mountain.
Lift Blog 
This lift does not seem safe, like at all.
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There’s a lot less that can go wrong than with a chair, but it definitely looks a bit spooky. Still probably a lot safer than the old black chair at magic that was in operation through 2017.
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That’s what I thought. Does this place even carry insurance? Does anyone inspect the lift? Does it carry any certification? Does this hill even operate anymore? Maybe Idaho regulators have a light touch
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Everybody gangsta til’ the small block Chevy platter pull up
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No need for tower 5..
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Apparantly.
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It still operates. I believe its all volunteer. They have a facebook page that I check now and then. Love to ski this area someday.
https://www.facebook.com/BlizzardMountainSkiArcoID/?hc_ref=ARQ0itFSV-fBJ9V-JmAC0rQd-V5bEvdRcV9AdnTUscIc23qJc3CI2RtJfLVfjAYxrAA&ref=nf_target&__tn__=kC-R
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“Hey Jimmy I need you to pick up a new spark arrestor for the platter”
“Yeah sure boss no problem”
*at store*
“Hey uh… I need a spark something or other, I forgot lol”
“Yeah sure here’s some spark plugs”
*at mountain*
“Jimmy what the hell”
LikeLiked by 4 people
It almost looks like the engine still has a power steering pump on it. Also, the blue engine block makes me think this is either a Chrystler V8 or a Ford V8, considering this lift was made in the 50s it probably is a chrystler.
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It really is a great place to ski. They now have a snowcat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xde152YuhIU
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That is so awesome!
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Blizzard Mountain Idaho, redefining the term “Sketchy” since 1962!
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Try 1950 when it was originally installed at Beaver Mountain, UT.
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It’s a pretty decent little hill, lots of starts and stops on the lift, though. Open half days on Saturday’s this season. $10 for the day.
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Do ski lifts in Idaho not have to pass an inspection? I’ve seen them talk about a tower twisted and derailments on the line a few times this season. And them tinkering with it and having it “working for now”….seems abit unsafe.
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There are no state inspection requirements in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The Forest Service has authority on USFS land and insurance companies also can require inspections.
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With that said it is a platter lift and you are on the ground at all times. A deropement is less of a direct safety hazard in this case but I could see some things falling being dangerous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“‘Working for now'” about sums up Veterans Memorial, and there are inspections in New Hampshire. However, the T-Bar has an easement of some kind because of the narrowness of the retrofitted cable catchers (not enough clearance for cable catchers of the right width).
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Phht. Safety bars. Inspections. “Releasable” bindings. You kids are fluffy.
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This seems safe enough. Back East, I am itching for one of these things in my backyard. Something to tinker with!
On the other hand, there’s something similar somewhere within a 500-mile radius of me: the T-Bar at Veterans Memorial Recreation Area in Franklin, New Hampshire. It’s a 1,500′ 1953 Constam relocated from nearby Mt. Sunapee in 1968. Last year the old beast was down at the beginning of the season due to wire damage from squirrels – meaning that the recently installed brittle bar system (whatever the real name for it is) did not work. Its last coat of paint was in the ’60s. The only new things on it are the aforementioned safety system, the haul rope, the Ts (but not the hangars), and assorted high-wear parts like bearings. Even some of the sheaves might be original, or close to it. They’re all steel. It has guyed towers. It’s powered by a 1950s General Motors diesel engine! Three of the towers (the depression towers) are portals over the heavy side. The one at the mid unload has no sheaves on the light side. Originally, it was the Elliot Peak T-Bar at Sunapee, built by Heron Engineering under license from Constam. O. D. Hopkins & Co. reinstalled it in Franklin. In 2022, ticket prices were $20. Go ski it!!!
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plus, there is the 1935 j-bar at black mountain in new hampshire! East coast ski areas may not be big, but there are a bunch of em’. Campgaw is only like 5 minutes away from where i live!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am hoping to ski Black this winter. That J-Bar may very well hold the title for “Most Bizarre Frankenlift”! The bullwheels were originally vertical. If that doesn’t say ‘frankenlift’, then what does??
LikeLiked by 1 person
And who says that ski areas need to be big? Little- and mid-sized ski areas are nice too. For example, there’s Tenney Mountain. What a lovely mountain.
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