Pony Express – Steamboat, CO

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Lower station with tension.
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View back down the lift line.
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Arriving at the drive.
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Unloading area and operator house.
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Tower 11.
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Capacity is only 1,200 but more chairs can be added later.
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T2.
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Garaventa CTEC Stealth station.
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Top station from Storm Peak.

24 thoughts on “Pony Express – Steamboat, CO

  1. Donald M. Reif February 28, 2019 / 8:40 pm

    If the Pioneer Ridge expansion ever gets built, that’s when they’ll probably upgrade capacity.

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    • powderforever July 8, 2019 / 12:24 pm

      They will double the capacity when Pioneer gets built.

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  2. powderforever45 November 4, 2019 / 4:34 pm

    Anyone know if they are going to build Pioneer? The master plan has been approved. But would they build Bashor Bowl Gondola and new Thunderhead first?

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    • Myles Svec January 26, 2021 / 8:38 am

      Pioneer lift is the last thing that will be built on the master plan. I’m guessing it will be a 1,200 pph high speed quad.

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  3. Donald Reif December 4, 2020 / 1:35 pm

    I know I once saw some photograph somewhere of the lift with 2,400 pph chair spacing instead of 1,200. I can’t remember if it was the skilifts.org forum or somewhere else.

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  4. Ryan January 26, 2021 / 12:42 am

    This lift has been closed all season thus far, not sure why. I sent an inquiry to Steamboat but didn’t get a response.

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    • Myles Svec January 26, 2021 / 6:56 am

      I don’t know why. I know they are increasing capacity to 1,800 this summer. All the trails this serves are open though.

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      • Donald Reif January 26, 2021 / 8:03 am

        I get the impression this will entail Doppelmayr fabricating some custom Garaventa CTEC chair bails and grips. Unless Steamboat already has some lying around.

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        • Myles Svec January 26, 2021 / 8:36 am

          I wonder if they will put padded backs on all existing and new chairs. Do you think they will or not. Currently, they don’t have padded seat backs.

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    • Jerry Green February 10, 2021 / 11:40 am

      It’s mid February and this lift is still closed. However the runs that it serves are open for hike-to access. I was told by Steamboat that the lift is closed due to lack of snow. The rest of the resort has plenty of coverage. I wish someone would look into this. Seems fishy.

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  5. Myles Svec February 8, 2021 / 8:45 am

    I’m confused the terrain it serves has been open for almost a month now and the lift hasn’t run once. Does anyone know what is wrong with this lift?

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    • Tyler February 8, 2021 / 9:00 am

      From asking a patroller two weeks ago, staffing shortages combined with lack of snow, so they want to keep people away from the terrain even if it’s able to be accessed. The only lift they can easily get away with not running.

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      • Jerry Green February 10, 2021 / 11:47 am

        They need every lift open right now with the crowds they’re seeing and the COVID restrictions. Very strange.

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      • Myles Svec February 10, 2021 / 12:51 pm

        They had the terrain open because there was enough snow to ski it but the traffic from the lift would wear away a lot of snow so that’s why.

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  6. Myles Svec February 10, 2021 / 12:54 pm

    I wonder what kind of snow coverage we will see on Pioneer next year. It will probably the last stuff to open on mountain but the terrain is very steep and hard to navigate. The terrain is very similar to the steep part of No Names just over 4x as long.

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  7. Ryan February 11, 2021 / 3:43 pm

    Possibly opening tomorrow (Friday) With the recent snow we got.

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  8. Miles Gately March 15, 2021 / 9:45 am

    Why are some towers black, and some white.

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    • Myles Svec December 16, 2021 / 1:51 pm

      Could have something to do with UV radiation to the towers.

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    • vons3 March 13, 2022 / 3:31 pm

      Same reason as solar deflectors on some Doppelmayr towers, the dark colors cause the tower sunflower (move depending on the position sun) on some towers it can move too much causing RPD fults so painting the tower a light color helps with the issue.

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  9. Donald Reif October 21, 2021 / 8:42 am

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  10. Myles Svec March 13, 2022 / 7:45 pm

    This terrain is super fun to ski when hike access is open before the lift opens for the season otherwise it is usually a giant, icy, mogul field when the lift is open.

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  11. Martin January 15, 2024 / 12:43 pm

    When I rode this lift this season, the chair spacing does not appear to be 2,400 pph it still felt like 1,200 pph.

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    • Donald Reif January 15, 2024 / 1:43 pm

      It’s pretty noticeable now that Mahogany Ridge (only reachable via Pioneer Ridge) is open.

      And the Mahogany Ridge Express visibly has 2,400 pph, double the capacity of the Pony Express.

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