The Silver Queen was the first detachable quad at Crested Butte when it debuted.The bottom station has tensioning but not the drive.View up the lift line from T3.This is really the flagship of the mountain, travelling nearly top to bottom.Riding up the line.View down at T8.The Queen is almost 8,000 feet long.View back at T17.Looking up at tower 18.View back down the impressive lift line.Looking up at the lift from Westwall’s top station.Drive station.Lift overview.Arriving at the summit.Top station overview.
23 thoughts on “Silver Queen Express – Crested Butte, CO”
Donald M. ReifFebruary 21, 2019 / 10:37 am
I always have considered this to be one of the most impressive profiles of any lift I’ve ridden. I feel like the lift can be divided into three parts: a lower part which travels through the aspen trees as you cross the beginner and intermediate trails of the lower mountain. Then in the middle part, you enter rockier terrain where the aspens give way to evergreens and pines. Then you hit the steep upper segment, which feels so different from the lower part.
Here’s a good video that I made of the lift seven years ago:
I don’t think it gets close, but it certainly operates at around the 1,000-1,050 fpm range during regular operations (unlike Red Lady, which runs slower due to being a beginner’s lift).
With this lift’s issues this season, I would have to imagine Vail will replace it within the next season or two because it is 27 years old and probably not worth the cost of potential repairs. Avanti was replaced at Vail when it was 26. I could see them putting a six pack here when replaced, as that is what Vail tends to do when replacing a detachable quad.
I do feel the need to mention the whole unloading area doesn’t seem practical to run a six pack up to. I mean, almost all traffic gets funneled into the Windy Gap trail and adding more capacity risks problems. Rebuilding as a quad with new terminals and new LPA grips would be more practical.
Building a six pack instead of a quad does not have to be for current demand but for future projections. With the mountain being Epic, the number of skiers should increase. They can install a six with a capacity of 2400 (like a quad) and install additional chair if needed over the life of the lift. If they are very concerned with trail space, the lift can end about 500 feet down and 100 feet over closer to the top of Upper International, which still allows High Lift access.
I see it more likely that more chairs are added to the Paradise Express and Red Lady Express before Silver Queen is touched. (It sounds like the problem was with a comm line, which could happen on any lift)
Moving the unload area down to “500 feet down and 100 feet over closer to the top of Upper International” would probably also be detested by some expert skiers who’d be losing one-seat access to some of the chutes accessible from the ridge trail.
To think that this is the only high speed quad in Colorado still operating with Competition chairs, as the others that were built with Competition chairs have either had their chairs replaced (Beaver Run SuperChair) or have been completely replaced (American Eagle and Zephyr Express).
*Pioneer Express at Winter Park doesn’t count since although it has two Competition chairs on the line, its chairs are mainly made of Arceaux carriers.
Why on earth would they make this lift a chondola? It services no beginner terrain, or any reason for foot passengers to ride to the top. Lifts like American Eagle and Centennial Express are chondolas so non-skiing families can ride to the top and have lunch. There is no lodge or restaurant at the top of this lift, or really any other reason for a chondola here. And that’s not to mention that a chondola would put more beginners on Silver Queen, which doesn’t serve terrain they can handle. When the time comes, I think a HS6 would suffice. I just don’t see the point of a chondola in this area.
I think an LPA 8 passenger gondola wouldn’t be a bad option for a replacement for this lift (Yes, I recognize that then there would be two Silver Queen gondolas within really close proximity to each other), this is Crested Butte’s flagship lift and is getting kinda up there in age, the profile of the line definitely would make for a great scenic gondola ride, not to mention, this lift nearly runs base to summit. I would imagine Vail Resorts will probably replace this lift as part of an epic lift upgrade before 2030.
Me personally, I think this lift should be replaced with a swanky, new HSQ, similar to Sublette at Jackson Hole, with Leitner comfort chairs. Since this is Crested Butte’s flagship lift, it could use some sort of gimmick, hence the Leitner comfort chairs.
Lift Blog 
I always have considered this to be one of the most impressive profiles of any lift I’ve ridden. I feel like the lift can be divided into three parts: a lower part which travels through the aspen trees as you cross the beginner and intermediate trails of the lower mountain. Then in the middle part, you enter rockier terrain where the aspens give way to evergreens and pines. Then you hit the steep upper segment, which feels so different from the lower part.
Here’s a good video that I made of the lift seven years ago:
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can you ride the Silver Queen in late Sept?
LikeLike
Yes, but it would only be for scenic lift rides. Same for the Red Lady Express as well, and that lift has mountain biking.
LikeLike
Does this lift ever operate at 1100 feet per minute in normal operation?
LikeLike
I don’t think it gets close, but it certainly operates at around the 1,000-1,050 fpm range during regular operations (unlike Red Lady, which runs slower due to being a beginner’s lift).
LikeLike
That’s probably the fastest high-speed quad I’ve ridden. It’s a fast one. 1100 fpm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Normally it runs around 950 to 1000 fpm.
LikeLike
With this lift’s issues this season, I would have to imagine Vail will replace it within the next season or two because it is 27 years old and probably not worth the cost of potential repairs. Avanti was replaced at Vail when it was 26. I could see them putting a six pack here when replaced, as that is what Vail tends to do when replacing a detachable quad.
LikeLike
Twister would have been nice to have these last five days.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I do feel the need to mention the whole unloading area doesn’t seem practical to run a six pack up to. I mean, almost all traffic gets funneled into the Windy Gap trail and adding more capacity risks problems. Rebuilding as a quad with new terminals and new LPA grips would be more practical.
LikeLike
Building a six pack instead of a quad does not have to be for current demand but for future projections. With the mountain being Epic, the number of skiers should increase. They can install a six with a capacity of 2400 (like a quad) and install additional chair if needed over the life of the lift. If they are very concerned with trail space, the lift can end about 500 feet down and 100 feet over closer to the top of Upper International, which still allows High Lift access.
LikeLike
I see it more likely that more chairs are added to the Paradise Express and Red Lady Express before Silver Queen is touched. (It sounds like the problem was with a comm line, which could happen on any lift)
Moving the unload area down to “500 feet down and 100 feet over closer to the top of Upper International” would probably also be detested by some expert skiers who’d be losing one-seat access to some of the chutes accessible from the ridge trail.
LikeLike
The lift terminals before 2004:
LikeLike
To think that this is the only high speed quad in Colorado still operating with Competition chairs, as the others that were built with Competition chairs have either had their chairs replaced (Beaver Run SuperChair) or have been completely replaced (American Eagle and Zephyr Express).
*Pioneer Express at Winter Park doesn’t count since although it has two Competition chairs on the line, its chairs are mainly made of Arceaux carriers.
LikeLike
I think under Vail Resorts, they’ve actually sped the lift up a bit and it tends to run at around 1,050 fpm.
It also likes they’ve readjusted the chair spacing a bit, although the chair count is still the same.
LikeLike
Built back in nineteen two! Time to replace it with a 6 person bubble or a chondola
LikeLike
Maybe a 6/8 chondola
LikeLike
Why on earth would they make this lift a chondola? It services no beginner terrain, or any reason for foot passengers to ride to the top. Lifts like American Eagle and Centennial Express are chondolas so non-skiing families can ride to the top and have lunch. There is no lodge or restaurant at the top of this lift, or really any other reason for a chondola here. And that’s not to mention that a chondola would put more beginners on Silver Queen, which doesn’t serve terrain they can handle. When the time comes, I think a HS6 would suffice. I just don’t see the point of a chondola in this area.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think an LPA 8 passenger gondola wouldn’t be a bad option for a replacement for this lift (Yes, I recognize that then there would be two Silver Queen gondolas within really close proximity to each other), this is Crested Butte’s flagship lift and is getting kinda up there in age, the profile of the line definitely would make for a great scenic gondola ride, not to mention, this lift nearly runs base to summit. I would imagine Vail Resorts will probably replace this lift as part of an epic lift upgrade before 2030.
LikeLike
This is a lift used for lapping terrain. It should stay a chairlift.
LikeLike
Me personally, I think this lift should be replaced with a swanky, new HSQ, similar to Sublette at Jackson Hole, with Leitner comfort chairs. Since this is Crested Butte’s flagship lift, it could use some sort of gimmick, hence the Leitner comfort chairs.
LikeLike
Looks like it’ll be around for awhile yet. They are sending the motor off for refurb.
Per a post on Peter’s facebook page from CB:
https://www.facebook.com/skicrestedbutte/posts/pfbid02sXzkvVeZEb5qDSaD7PDnmYgnfEWMebev1KPp6VmZGAbcb89oJxjxYqS5ChJwZsRTl
LikeLiked by 1 person
Long live the Queen!
LikeLike