Top station from the gondola.Last few towers before the summit.Middle portion of the lift line.Lower line.View of the base from 1A.Loading area.As of this writing, Ruthies is one of only two remaining detachable triples in North America.Riding up.Riding through Aspen’s namesake trees.Arriving at the drive.Unloading ramp and operator house.Terminal underskin.View down from the top.
Cameron is right. It’s a Garaventa Called Sunnyside. It’s planned to be replaced along with Albion by a chondola. There are, however, still European detachable triples, like Schindlergrat at St. Anton, a 1981 Doppelmayr/Von Roll that has a built in evac system. You can see pictures of it here (https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tsd3-schindlergrat-doppelmayr-1264.html).
The Schindlergrat lift is gone as of this April, which is a pity as it was a nice lift serving awesome terrain. The replacement is a two section gondola. As far as I know it is the last detachable triple in my neck of woods. We still have two detachable doubles, including one with partial bubble chairs in Hochimst, though.
The towers and terminals appear to be quad gauge so this lift could probably be converted to a quad if it were ever relocated. I don’t think Poma ever made a triple gauge detachable terminal so when Aspen wanted one they didn’t change anything but the chairs.
I would be willing to bet that Poma probably did not want to have reengineer the Challenger terminal to make it a few feet narrower, so they just built a fairly standard Challenger detachable quad but hung triple chairs on it.
Or if they can modify the LPA terminals into triple detachable lift then it will work. Plus having H.S.T. will be cool and great for low capacity ski resorts.
Aspen considers this chair a “high speed double”. Even though it uses triple carriers, Aspen only allows 2 people to load per chair.
LikeLike
Why would they do that if it is a triple chair?
LikeLike
From what I have heard, it is to preserve the character of the area.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s three people in the 5th picture
LikeLiked by 1 person
Does anyone know where the other detachable triple is?
LikeLike
Alta, UT
LikeLike
Cameron is right. It’s a Garaventa Called Sunnyside. It’s planned to be replaced along with Albion by a chondola. There are, however, still European detachable triples, like Schindlergrat at St. Anton, a 1981 Doppelmayr/Von Roll that has a built in evac system. You can see pictures of it here (https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tsd3-schindlergrat-doppelmayr-1264.html).
LikeLike
The Schindlergrat lift is gone as of this April, which is a pity as it was a nice lift serving awesome terrain. The replacement is a two section gondola. As far as I know it is the last detachable triple in my neck of woods. We still have two detachable doubles, including one with partial bubble chairs in Hochimst, though.
LikeLike
The towers and terminals appear to be quad gauge so this lift could probably be converted to a quad if it were ever relocated. I don’t think Poma ever made a triple gauge detachable terminal so when Aspen wanted one they didn’t change anything but the chairs.
LikeLike
Yes, all the line gear on Ruthie’s is quad guage.
LikeLike
Why would people build a detachable triple instead of a detachable quad or six pack?
LikeLike
Most often to keep the skier concentration on trials lower, but to also provide a better experience for the skier (faster lift).
LikeLike
Could they have bought this lift as a triple with quad gauge so it would have more wind tolerance?
LikeLike
I would be willing to bet that Poma probably did not want to have reengineer the Challenger terminal to make it a few feet narrower, so they just built a fairly standard Challenger detachable quad but hung triple chairs on it.
LikeLike
And if demand grows, it was probably designed so it could be converted to a quad down the line.
LikeLike
Or if they can modify the LPA terminals into triple detachable lift then it will work. Plus having H.S.T. will be cool and great for low capacity ski resorts.
LikeLike
The same capacity as a triple could be achieved with a quad that has larger chair spacing.
LikeLike