Lower lift line.Return station.Loading area and lift shack.View up the line.Maintenance/parking rail.Turnaround at the bottom.Middle lift line.Riding up the lift line.The breakover.Arriving at the drive.Side view of the top station.Lower part of the lift line.View up the line.Drive bullwheel.
I hope Alterra replaces this lift with a bubble-8 as it has some of the longest lines on the mountain. They could also remove the Priest Creek Double which rarely runs anyways. Come to think of it, Storm Peak is the same age and could also go bubble-8 and then the Bar UE lift could be removed.
Here are my thoughts. Sundown–>Morningside, Storm Peak–>Pioneer Ridge 2, Thunderhead–>Sunshine 2. Sundown and Storm Peak become bubble 8’s, Thunderhead becomes a 6-pack (no bubble for wind resistance as it’s the only backup to gondola).
I agree that Sundown and Storm Peak should become 8s (while also removing Priest Creek and Four Points). However, I think Thunderhead should also go 8 if they are serious about the Bashor gondola project. The Bashor gondola will bring a lot more traffic to that area of the mountain and I think a lot more people will either lap Thunderhead of take the Bashor gondola to Thunderhead as a way of getting up the mountain and avoiding the crowds at the main gondola.
A six-pack would probably suffice. It’s hard to say what Steamboat’s forecast is on skier movements is, since I think one of the original proposals for Elkhead had a high speed six pack replacing it, and not a high speed quad.
I hope Alterra replaces this lift with a bubble-8 as it has some of the longest lines on the mountain. They could also remove the Priest Creek Double which rarely runs anyways. Come to think of it, Storm Peak is the same age and could also go bubble-8 and then the Bar UE lift could be removed.
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What about sunshine and thunderhead.
When alterra goes bubble-8 for sundown they should relocate the old HSQ to Morningstar and give it the Shedhorn upgrade.
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Here are my thoughts. Sundown–>Morningside, Storm Peak–>Pioneer Ridge 2, Thunderhead–>Sunshine 2. Sundown and Storm Peak become bubble 8’s, Thunderhead becomes a 6-pack (no bubble for wind resistance as it’s the only backup to gondola).
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I think Sunshine should also become a bubble-6 and burgess creek a HSQ using thunderhead equipment.
Storm peak really only needs to be a bubble-6… A 8 would be overkill.
Sundown is the only lift with the need for a bubble-8 in my opinion.
Thunderhead should be a chondola to help with the beginner traffic there.
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I agree that Sundown and Storm Peak should become 8s (while also removing Priest Creek and Four Points). However, I think Thunderhead should also go 8 if they are serious about the Bashor gondola project. The Bashor gondola will bring a lot more traffic to that area of the mountain and I think a lot more people will either lap Thunderhead of take the Bashor gondola to Thunderhead as a way of getting up the mountain and avoiding the crowds at the main gondola.
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The Storm Peak Express and Sundown Express lines at most just need a high speed six pack.
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A six-pack would probably suffice. It’s hard to say what Steamboat’s forecast is on skier movements is, since I think one of the original proposals for Elkhead had a high speed six pack replacing it, and not a high speed quad.
Eight-packs honestly seem like overkill.
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