Big Sky – Lift Blog

News Roundup: Around the USA

June 19, 2026Peter Landsman6 Comments

Alberta conceptually approves the master plan for a Fortress Mountain reboot.
Waterville Valley and the Forest Service to host a public meeting regarding a proposed gondola on June 26th.
Revelstoke will host an info session on the future of the resort June 24th.
Cannon Mountain issues a request for bids for an 80 passenger tramway reusing certain components from the last tram with an expected completion date of December 1, 2028.
Amid bankruptcy, Whitecap Mountains lists a disused CTEC for sale.
Vail Resorts reportedly hires takeover defense bankers.
Alterra says a new law in Colorado could unlock public funding for a Winter Park town gondola.
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport’s new terminal design leaves room for a future gondola to town.
The federal government will fund a new haul rope for Whaleback, New Hampshire’s double chair.
Both ladder trucks and ropes are used to rescue riders from the skyride at Dutch Wonderland, Pennsylvania.
Teton County, Wyoming plans an objection to Grand Targhee’s expansion plan.
A black bear cub climbs a tower on Whistler’s Fitzsimmons 8.
A new operator plans to reopen Spout Springs, Oregon with help from the family that owns Timberline Lodge.
Big Sky dismantles parts of Powder Seeker to move the top terminal due to ground movement.

Lots of construction pictures from readers this week starting with Deer Valley’s Hail Peak expansion:

Next Caberfae Peaks, Michigan’s expansion lift:

And finally Powderhorn, Colorado’s Wild West Express:

News Roundup: Skyway

March 27, 2026Peter Landsman6 Comments

Berkshire East and Catamount to join Burke Mountain and Smugglers’ Notch under unified ownership.
Quebec’s CMSQ takes over management of a fifth mountain, Belle Neige, and sets sights on a sixth.
A private ski area with five chairlifts is approved in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains.
Doppelmayr’s CEO highlights the importance of the United States market.
In the wake of a fatal crash, Swiss media report Garaventa offered a voluntary retrofit for DT-108 grips on the Titlis Xpress several years ago.
One person is killed and six injured when an aerial tram cable snaps in India.
A law firm files an antitrust lawsuit against Alterra and Vail, claiming both “unlawfully inflated prices and suppressed competition through anticompetitive bundling practices tied to their multi‑mountain season passes.”
Park City’s Cabriolet replacement to be called the Canyons Village Skyway.
Park City officials get another chance to approve Eagle and Silverlode replacements.
MND provides an update on its 10 lift project in Uzbekistan, including the first Orizon detachable.
A Denver TV station looks back at the 1976 Vail gondola disaster with a multi-part series.
Here’s a cool primer on how a splice comes together.
Jackson Hole to debut a golden gondola in honor of Olympian Breezy Johnson.
A tree falls on the Silver Mountain gondola.
Alaska public radio explores how a gondola project supposed to cost under $10 million more than tripled in price.
Big Sky will shorten Powder Seeker 6 this summer, slightly lowering the top terminal due to moving glacial rock.
The Zincton proposal in BC faces local opposition.
Nub’s Nob to replace the Orange triple with a Skytrac quad this summer.
Skytrac will also build Lee Canyon’s expansion lift.
Sponsored job: Electrical Lift Installer – Okanagan Project – Doppelmayr Canada

News Roundup: Beyond Snow

January 16, 2026January 17, 2026Peter Landsman15 Comments

Several rope evacs this week – Heavenly, Mt. Baker, Snoqualmie and Maple Ski Ridge, New York.
Sadly also two fatal falls from lifts at Cypress Mountain, BC and Ski Apache, New Mexico.
A death at Timberline Mountain, West Virginia last week is also revealed as a chairlift fall.
Levi, Finland signs on to the Indy Pass.
Facing a large insurance payment in a few weeks, Camp 10, Wisconsin could close without community support.
An update on the soon-to-open new T-Bar at Waterville Valley.
A Doppelmayr gondola is proposed in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
Doppelmayr could also build a sightseeing gondola in Butte, Montana.
Leitner-Poma is expected to supply the first lift for the Trails at Mena in Arkansas this summer.
Doppelmayr and Leitner split an order for urban gondolas in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Cannon Mountain continues structural analysis on the recently-retired aerial tram with a May target to solicit bids from manufacturers for replacement reusing tower and terminal structures (starts at 18:00.)
A new map shows where the Showcase quad will run on Blackcomb Mountain.
The brand new urban gondola in Paris is already carrying 12,500 riders per day, 14 percent more than forecast, and a second line is under consideration.
During the Telluride strike, an entity controlled by local elected officials proposed buying a majority stake in Telski.
Chris Cushing of SE Group discusses designing 100 new trails and 10 new lifts at Deer Valley.
The North chair to reopen soon at Snow Ridge, NY after a year closed due to tornado damage.
A look into the world of restoring gondola cabins instead of replacing them or an entire lift.
Early season visits to Vail Resorts North American mountains declined 20 percent through January 4th compared to a year earlier.
Update: An empty chair detached from Shedhorn 4 at Big Sky today. I’m told a grip did not attach properly leaving the bottom teminal. The empty chair ended up in the pit. Statement from Big Sky Resort: “Around 2:45pm today on Shedhorn 4 lift, a grip failed to reattach to the haul rope while exiting the bottom terminal. The chair was unoccupied at the time, and the lift’s automatic safety system immediately stopped operation. The team acted quickly to offload all remaining guests from the lift. Shedhorn 4 will remain closed while we thoroughly inspect every grip before reopening. We appreciate your patience as safety remains our top priority.“

News Roundup: Boxing Day

December 26, 2025Peter Landsman17 Comments

Another real estate access lift called Powdercrest is on the horizon at Big Sky.
The Whitetail Express at Whitetail, PA goes down until further notice after just one day of operation this season.
Wildcat’s Snowcat lift, which missed all of last season, won’t reopen for a bit longer.
A viral video from Austria shows gondola cabins surging up and down, blamed on speed and changed drive parameters.
A grip slip incident claims a life in Montenegro.
A skier is hospitalized after falling from a lift at Sunshine Village.
Powderhorn performs a rope evacuation of the Flat Top Flyer.
Following Washington floods, Crystal Mountain reopens at full capacity and Stevens Pass will open Monday with a four hour detour from Seattle.
Workers at Le Massif, Quebec reject a contract proposal and authorize a strike beginning January 2nd.
Eaglecrest’s used gondola project will cost at least five times initial estimates.
A worker is seriously injured in Italy when wind lifts a safety net into the path of a chair.
The sale of Eldora is taking longer than expected.

News Roundup: Plan Maps

December 12, 2025Peter Landsman7 Comments

Cuchara, Colorado plans to open a chairlift this season for the first time in 25 years.
The New York Times check in on Killington’s efforts to modernize and compete with western resorts.
Club Med to build on the Soleil side of Tremblant alongside “significant upgrades to the mountain.”
Greater Paris joins the urban gondola club tomorrow.
After millions of dollars and years of delays trying to install a gondola, Eaglecrest faces a $650,000 tariff bill and $450,000 cabin refurbishment bill amid questions whether the project should continue at all.
Big White, BC amends its master plan to focus on the Backcountry expansion, Gem Lake 2 and infill lifts, shelving plans for East Peak and Gem Lake West.

Telluride’s ski patrol votes down a contract proposal; could strike in the coming weeks. Telski owner Chuck Horning contends meeting the union’s demands would yield higher lift prices.
Alberta designates Fortress, Castle and Nakiska its first designated all season resort areas targeted for development.
Wachusett apologizes for another delay completing the new Polar Express.
Ecosign’s Paul Mathews reflects on designing dozens of mountains and differences between the US and Canada.
Big Sky is auctioning seats on Explorer Gondola’s first cabins for charity.
Powder Mountain’s new trail map shows where the private Primetime detachable quad runs.
Cache County approves Powder’s master plan for the northern half of the resort including two new lifts on James Peak and three near Cobabe Canyon.

News Roundup: Gondola Tax

November 7, 2025Peter Landsman6 Comments

Ragged Mountain, New Hampshire is sold to local investors, will no longer be operated by Pacific Group Resorts.
Voters in Mountain Village, Colorado enact a 5 percent tax on Telluride lift tickets starting next week to fund gondola construction, operations and maintenance.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation launches a multi-million dollar fundraising effort to finish replacing the Wyler Aerial Tramway in El Paso.
Sugarbush intends to operate the Slide Brook Express this winter after it missed last season.
Honolulu’s City Council passes a resolution opposing construction of a sightseeing gondola on the island.
A study finds Utah’s ski industry generated $2.5 billion in spending last season, directly supporting 31,800 jobs.
Angel Fire’s new map shows off an all-new lift alignment.
Big Sky’s fresh map depicts the new, curved Explorer Gondola.
Mount St. Louis-Moonstone shows where its fifth detachable runs.
Compagnie des Montagnes de Ski du Quebec (CMSQ) to operate Massif du Sud, its fourth Quebec ski area. Planning is underway for a base-to-summit detachable.
Camp 10, Wisconsin remains unsure about the future of the Red T-Bar, damaged by an October fire and uninsured.
The first Doppelmayr TRI-Line gondola is commissioned and ready for winter.
Saskadena Six retires Chair Two, may build a new lift in the future.

News Roundup: Last Tram

October 24, 2025Peter Landsman9 Comments

Bretton Woods’ new map shows where the new BEQII goes.
The new Bryce Resort map shows a backside expansion.
Lutsen gets a new trail map by VistaMap.
Deer Valley mountain operations leadership joins Doppelmayr on the Ski Utah podcast to preview the East Village expansion.
Mont Gleason, Quebec plans to replace the Laurent-Lemaire quad soon.
Anakeesta to replace its fixed-grip chondola with a detachable.
The State of Texas to hold a press conference next week announcing the next steps in the Wyler Aerial Tram replacement project.
It’s the final weekend for the Cannon Tramway with the last trip at 4:45 pm Sunday.
Red Lodge Mountain details several modifications made to its Triple Chair over the summer due to a fatal deropement last spring.
Ikon adds nine mountains in Japan, South Korea and China.
Holiday Mountain offers up classic Poma double chairs.
Whaleback, New Hampshire expects to lose $300,000 this winter without its chairlift; seeks to raise $210,000 by December 1st to open.
Powder Mountain installs artwork on several lifts including a neon piece on the Paradise Express, flagpole on Timberline and colorful canopy on a conveyor.
MND wins a tender to build an energy-neutral aerial tramway on the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean.

News Roundup: Superstar

September 19, 2025Peter Landsman22 Comments

The death toll rises to three in last week’s Mt. Elbrus deropement with the CEO and head technician detained by the Russian government.
Dramatic video emerges from last month’s failure of another Russian single chair not far away.
49° North to replace its beginner chairlift with a Doppelmayr quad next year.
In an interview, Garaventa’s CEO discusses US tariffs on Switzerland, competition with HTI and more.
Indy Pass adds Donner Ski Ranch, California; Magic Mountain, Idaho; Montage Mountain, Pennsylvania (returning after a brief hiatus) and Leavenworth Ski Hill, Washington plus mountains in Austria and Turkey.
Ecosign releases a book highlighting 50 years of mountain planning.
Crystal Mountain’s summit webcam captures a slight mishap during installation of Rainier Express’ top terminal (all is well, it’s now assembled.)
Welch Village to sell Hall double chairs next week.
Spirit Mountain asks the public to vote on 13 possible names for its new chairlift.
Chelan County releases its draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Mission Ridge expansion.
Construction is well underway on Arkansas’ only chairlift.
Stagecoach Mountain Ranch moves toward approval outside Steamboat.
Hesperus, Colorado to remain closed this season.
Sommet Saint-Sauveur adds a loading conveyor to the Sommet Express.
The chairlift at Whaleback, New Hampshire may miss this season.
Enjoy a few construction photos from Killington (both the Superstar replacement and Skyeship cabin upgrade.)

News Roundup: Upheld

August 29, 2025Peter Landsman3 Comments

Ikon Pass adds five mountains in the Aosta Valley of Italy.
One of those mountains – Cervino – announces a monster Leitner 3S with three stations and 4,700 feet of vertical.
Indy Pass signs a flurry of new mountains, mostly small and remote outposts:
- Hilltop and Mt. Eyak, Alaska
- Little Ski Hill, Idaho
- Hyland Hills, Minnesota
- Cuchara, Colorado (lift not yet operable)
- Mt. LaCrosse and Sunburst, Wisconsin
- Buffalo Ski Club and Dry Hill, New York
- McIntyre, New Hampshire
- Hockley Valley, Ontario
- Mont Sutton, Owl’s Head, Mont Edouard, Mont Habitant, Vallée Bleue, Val d’Irene and Ski Vorlage, Quebec
- Marble Mountain and Smokey Mountain, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Others in Europe, Asia and South America
Buck Hill, Minnesota; Swiss Valley, Michigan and Montage Mountain, Pennsylvania leave Indy Pass.
Judges uphold the 2022 revocation of a permit for Park City Mountain’s Eagle and Silverlode lift replacements; Vail Resorts vows to submit new applications for both.
In another blow for Vail, a jury awards $20 million to a teenager who fell after misloading the Paradise Express at Crested Butte.
Matthew Prince floats the idea of a gondola from Old Town Park City to Solitude and Alta.
Big Sky’s Lone Peak Tram top station enclosure to open this season with the name Kircliff.
A flood damages lifts at Crystal Ridge, Wisconsin.
A new Leitner-Poma gondola opens in South Carolina.
Jackson Hole lobbies the Forest Service for a mountain resort specific management designation applying to JHMR, Snow King and White Pine plus 620 acres not currently in JHMR’s permit area but identified in an accepted master plan (full letter here).
Doppelmayr raises a 7,800 lb. bullwheel into position at Alpental by hand.
Spirit Mountain to name its new chairlift via a public vote.

News Roundup: Moonlight West

August 22, 2025Peter Landsman28 Comments

Moonlight West to launch in Big Sky with four lifts planned.
Alterra all but cancels Main Lodge redevelopment at Mammoth, including gondola replacement and several base lifts.
Here’s the latest official Deer Valley construction update and a look at how Deer Valley East was designed on a blank canvas.
Doppelmayr goes vertical on its new Salt Lake factory.
The President expands 50 percent steel and aluminum tariffs to more products.
ORDA defends financial losses, citing increased revenue and visitor numberts.
Indy Pass promises dozens of new resorts coming next week, introduces a $189 Learn to Turn pass with lessons and rentals.
Long lost Utah ski area Snowland to reopen this season with rope tows, may add a T-Bar in 2027.
Bigrock, Maine has Mueller double chairs for sale.
Sandia Peak to sell rare Stadeli center pole chairs.
Killington to auction gondola cabins from Skyeship starting Monday.
Park City billionaire Matthew Prince suggests activist investors could break up Vail Resorts.
Purgatory works on what it can in the parking lot while awaiting permission to build the Gelande lift.
A Colorado unseated passenger lawsuit heads to trial.
Ober Mountain rebrands its aerial tram as the The Gatlinburg Tram.
I stopped by the Mighty Argo last week to check out progress on their new D-Line gondola.

	vons3 on Wildwood Express – Tamar…
	the on News Roundup: Around the …
	Poma Platters on White Otter – Big Sky,…
	WH2OSHREDDER. on News Roundup: Around the …
	powderpeople on Wildwood Express – Tamar…
	powderpeople on News Roundup: Around the …
	Luke W. Smith on News Roundup: Around the …
	Aidan Reilly on News Roundup: Around the …
	Luke W. Smith on News Roundup: Around the …
	AO on 2026 New Lifts
	Luke W. Smith on 2026 New Lifts
	Luke W. Smith on 2026 New Lifts
	Skiliftfreak on Magic Mile – Timberline…
	Tyler on Wildwood Express – Tamar…
	pbropetech on Wildwood Express – Tamar…