- HTI buys another company, Polish snowmaker Supersnow.
- Snowland, Utah’s new trail map is out.
- Brian Head introduces a new Rad Smith trail map.
- Skytrac celebrates its 100th sold lift, bound for Brian Head/Aspen Meadows.
- The latest on the Vail Resorts board battle.
- Poma to build a remarkable tricable gondola in Vietnam.
- Mont-Sainte-Anne’s next generation gondola to be named Horizon.
- Mount Kato, Minnesota sells to new local owners.
- Closed Mt. Waterman hits the market again.
- The skyride formerly used at MetLife Stadium finds a new home in Alabama.
- Snoqualmie installs battery storage systems for its most remote terminals at Alpental.
- A painting contractor sues Deer Valley after a lift allegedly started unexpectedly during work.
- A gondola is proposed for Flagstaff Mountain in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.
- Powder to replace Mary’s with a (private) bubble detachable quad next summer, reinstall the old Sundown quad as another private lift.
Brian Head
News Roundup: Powder
- Aspen Mountain retires Lift 1A with replacement plans uncertain.
- Bartholet completes its first tramway with Sigma Cabins and a new design utilizing tubular towers.
- Cape Smokey, Nova Scotia teases what looks like a major expansion with a new lift.
- An Eagle Point damage assessment shared with the Utah Passenger Ropeway Safety Committee finds one lift undamaged, another with light to moderate damage and three lifts heavily impacted by fire and heat. The resort might partially reopen this winter but faces a lengthy road to recovery.
- Telluride’s transit agency postpones selection of a new gondola manufacturer while officials clarify Buy America requirements with the Federal Transit Administration.
- A Poma Alpha quad briefly catches fire in Chile.
- Alterra could receive millions in public financing to relocate headquarters within Denver after considering a move to Salt Lake City.
- Park City’s Eagle and Silverlode replacement approvals are upheld, moving the projects closer.
- The Forest Service publishes the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Brian Head’s proposed expansion with several new alternatives.
- Whistler leaders receive a preliminary study into a valley gondola connecting Whistler Village, Creekside and Function Junction.
- Thanks to reader Roger for sharing shots of Powder Mountain’s four lifts under construction and reader Auston for flying me overhead yesterday.
Brian Head Eyes Massive Expansion
Southern Utah’s Brian Head Resort would quadruple in size under a sprawling vision detailed today by the Forest Service. The complex expansion would encompass 1,651 acres of the Dixie National Forest along with thousands of acres of private land owned by Brian Head Resort and third party developer Aspen Meadows. The expanded ski area would also include lands owned by the State of Utah and Brian Head Town. All told, the vision could see 26 new lifts, more than 382 acres of new cut trails, 19 miles of new snowmaking lines, 15 miles of new roads and four new on-mountain restaurants. Brian Head’s Comfortable Carrying Capacity would more than triple from 4,330 guests today to 13,250. The resort says the project would accommodate a growing demand for outdoor recreation in Utah, enhance learning progression, provide connectivity between base portals and improve the overall guest experience.
Brian Head was acquired in 2019 by Mountain Capital Partners, the fast-growing collective of 13 ski areas in the Western United States and South America helmed by James Coleman. Coleman’s ambitious plan for Brian Head is not completely new as adjacent developer Aspen Meadows proposed eight of the lifts on 850 acres of private land back in 2023. Many of the lifts proposed on public land were included in Brian Head’s 2023 Master Development Plan.
Of the 26 lifts now proposed, ten would be located entirely on Forest Service land, four would straddle private and USFS lands and 12 would occupy entirely private land. Within the existing ski area, Roulette would be replaced with a high speed quad and extended to load lower on the mountain. All other existing lifts would remain. A surface tow is proposed near the existing Alpen Glow triple to serve four new trails. Higher up on the mountain, three new lifts are planned on 11,310′ foot Brian Head Peak. These would include a 4,340′ detachable quad called Dragon’s Back and a 1,400 foot jig-back tram called Peak.
In the Sid’s Peak to East Ridge expansion pod, Brian Head aims to manage hazard trees and vegetation in areas impacted by the 2017 Brian Head Fire. Five lifts in this pod would service some of Brian Head’s most advanced terrain. The longest, dubbed Summit, would be a detachable quad spanning 7,425 feet. Four other lifts in this zone would be fixed grip triples extending between 999 and 3,120 feet.
A third pod called Navajo Ridge to Dry Lakes would include four lifts ranging from surface tow to detachable quad. These installations would run near the existing Navajo Express and stretch between 558 and 4,887 feet. They would operate on public land within the Dixie National Forest and require a Special Use Permit boundary adjustment.
Finally is the Aspen Meadows to Highway 143 pod with a substantial new day skier portal called Art Village. This pod, located on private land, would include an eight passenger pulse gondola linking to Brian Head’s existing Navajo base. From Art Village, skiers could connect to numerous lifts including four conveyors, six fixed triples and a detachable quad called Long Meadows. The Forest Service notes construction on this pod could begin before or concurrent with projects on public land as it is not subject to the EIS.
If this expansion was constructed as envisioned, it would create a unique opportunity to ski 360 degrees around a huge area in either direction along numerous different aspects. “Certain new lifts and associated ski runs would play an integral role in creating a circuit of resort skiing around a base village currently unparalleled in North America,” the plan exclaims.
The Forest Service notes portions of the proposal on public and adjacent land will undergo its most stringent level of environmental review – an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Even with today’s potentially favorable regulatory climate, the review is expected to take at least three years.
At a high level, Mountain Capital Partners has shown an incredible fortitude for acquiring ski areas and dreaming up big plans. Just last week, MCP announced its intent to become the controlling shareholder of four more ski areas in Chile, bringing its total mountain count to 17. Since 2015, the company has invested more than $125 million in improvements across its growing portfolio, including new detachable lifts at Nordic Valley and Arizona Snowbowl. Last year, the company debuted a modest new Skytrac at Arizona Snowbowl and this year MCP plans new lifts at Purgatory and Sipapu, both of which are fixed grip and contain parts from older lifts. Despite its success, Mountain Capital Partners’ ambition has not always been met with realized capital projects. A similarly massive expansion plan for Nordic Valley involving public land announced in 2018 went nowhere with the Forest Service.
At Brian Head, three public open houses are planned during the initial scoping period to solicit public feedback. They are:
- Tuesday, July 29, 2025 — Brian Head Lodge, 314 W Hunter Ridge Dr, Brian Head, UT
- Wednesday, July 30, 2025 — Parowan City Office, 35 E 100 N, Parowan, UT
- Thursday, July 31, 2025 — Southern Utah University, Brian Head Room (Sharwan Smith Center), Cedar City, UT
All three will run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
News Roundup: Last Journey
- Indy Pass adds Ragged Mountain, NH; Middlebury Snowbowl, VT; Camden Snowbowl, ME; Mt. Abram, ME; Hatley Pointe, NC and Cape Smokey, NS to its roster.
- The public operator of Belleayre, Gore Mountain and Whiteface reports an annual operating loss in excess of $47 million, not including approximately $80 million in capital spending.
- Grouse Mountain’s only current means of access breaks down, closing the mountain for most of the Canada Day long weekend.
- Five people remain hospitalized from last week’s deadly gondola incident in Colombia, the investigation is focused on an issue with one cabin rather than the entire system.
- The Dodgers Stadium gondola in Los Angeles eyes a 2028 opening.
- Brian Head proposes adding 1,570 acres to its permit area.
- A confirmed Six Shooter sighting near Sugarloaf.
- A woman is killed in Italy falling from a material cableway not designed for people.
- Mt. Bohemia reopens its triple chair with a new Skytrac return terminal.
News Roundup: Bonus Project
- Ski Santa Fe proposes a second chairlift project for this summer, replacing Easy Street #4 with the old Santa Fe Super Chief #1.
- The Balsams extends a deadline to complete phase one construction, may refurbish existing lift infrastructure.
- Dave Scanlan, the general manager behind installing a 35 year old used pulse gondola from Austria, is ousted from his post leading Eaglecrest, Alaska.
- MND’s prototype detachable nears completion in France.
- Big Sky’s old Six Shooter is spotted at Sugarloaf.
- The capital of the Dominican Republic to build a third urban gondola line.
- Deer Valley may pour concrete for more Expanded Excellence lifts this summer to get a jump on next year.
- Cochran’s, Vermont secures a grant to design and engineer a used T-Bar.
- Mont Grand-Fonds says its upcoming Doppelmayr six pack will be the first of its kind in Quebec.
- Jackson Hole’s new Sublette will feature Leitner comfort chairs.
- Snowmass to auction Coney Glade chairs.
- Mount St. Louis Moonstone also lists Poma quad chairs for sale.
- Work begins on the Aspen Meadows project adjacent to Brian Head.
- Quebec records six million skier visits, a decline of 10 percent from last year’s record.
News Roundup: Bonnie
- The Summit at Snoqualmie releases renderings of and begins construction on the new Wildside Quad.
- Jay Peak intends to replace Bonaventure next summer.
- Stratton eyes replacing Tamarack with a high speed quad in 2025, may swap the gondola for a bubble six or eight place chairlift after that.
- Brian Head, Utah appears to be working on an expansion.
- Powder Mountain plans to build a new lift in Wolf Canyon next year and add additional private terrain in the Davenport zone. Owner Reed Hastings tells the New York Times privatized terrain will subsidize the money-losing public operation.
- A wild video from Italy shows the dangers of bubble chairs in high winds (no injuries).
- Obstructors sue to halt progress on the proposed Los Angeles Dodger Stadium gondola.
- Park City highlights unique operational aspects of opening Ninety Nine 90 with no electricity or vehicle access to the summit.
- The Forest Service approves Sun Valley’s Seattle Ridge six pack, slated for this summer, and the future Christmas chondola.
- Whistler Blackcomb debuts two wrapped cabins on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola with designs crafted by indigenous artists.
- Hatley Pointe works to reactivate two backside chairlifts, teases another lift upgrade skiers will be “really surprised” about.
- Deer Valley hopes to break ground on a Snow Park-Silver Lake gondola in 2025, says the line could eventually become part of a five segment network from East Village all the way to Old Town Park City with stops at Park Peak, Silver Lake and Snow Park.
- Highlander is hiring construction crew members for multiple lift installations at Deer Valley this summer.
- Sun Peaks faces another lawsuit for another Burfield Quad mis-unload.
- Sugarbush catches flak for closing much of Lincoln Peak early to begin construction of the new Heaven’s Gate quad.
- There’s further evidence MND will launch a new detachable line at Mountain Planet next month.
- Funding for a new Telluride-Mountain Village gondola will likely be on the ballot this fall alongside the Presidential choice.
Deropement Leads to Lift Evacuation at Brian Head, Utah
Skiers and snowboarders had to be roped down from the Giant Steps Express at Brian Head yesterday following a tower deropement. The incident occurred on the heavy side of tower 1, immediately adjacent to the bottom station. Witnesses reported the lift was nearly full and the rope evacuation lasted a number of hours. “At approximately 12:05 pm the Giant Steps Express chairlift experienced a mechanical issue that resulted in a lift evacuation,” the resort said in a statement. “Mountain operations teams quickly responded and safely evacuated all guests without incident or injury in less than 2 hours.”
Giant Steps is a Doppelmayr CTEC high speed quad manufactured in 2005. The UNI-GS series detachable originally operated at Tamarack Resort in Idaho before being installed at Brian Head in 2014. The incident is the third deropement leading to a rope evacuation in the last four days. On Thursday, the Aurora Quad at Sunday River de-roped near the bottom terminal and 200 plus riders were roped off. Then on Saturday, a deropement caused chairs to fall from the North Chair at Snow Ridge, New York, leading to another evacuation. All three lifts remain closed today.
Real Estate Development Plans Lifts Adjacent to Brian Head
Brian Head Resort and a developer jointly announced a project called Aspen Meadows yesterday, to include up to seven chairlifts and a two stage gondola linking to Brian Head Mountain. Construction has already begun on roads and utilities and Aspen Meadows Group is working with SE Group on ski terrain design. The concept includes more than 850 acres of new ski terrain to the north of existing trails on Brian Head Peak.
Aspen Meadows would include a third base area for the ski area with a village center, additional parking and skier services. Preliminary maps show mostly beginner and intermediate trails above the village with lifts up to 4,000 feet long and vertical rises ranging between 300 and 1,100 feet. The gondola would include a transport segment from the existing Navajo base lodge and a ski section within Aspen Meadows.
“Aspen Meadows is truly a special collection of alpine lands, with the perfect slope aspects for ski terrain never before seen by most visitors to this region of southern Utah,” said A. Flint Decker, president of the Aspen Meadows Group. “We’re proud to be a part of this new chapter in our community’s history as we share new ski terrain and resort amenities with the town of Brian Head and the guests of Brian Head Resort.”
No timeline has been set for the first lifts to go in.
News Roundup: More Than a Mechanic
- More huge lift openings this weekend: Creekside Gondola at Whistler Blackcomb, Disciples 8 at Boyne Mountain, Jordan 8 at Sunday River, Sunrise at Stowe, Wild Blue and Greenhorn Ranch Express at Steamboat and maybe Game Creek at Vail.
- Wildwood at Sundance will hopefully spin again Saturday after opening then closing due to a motor failure.
- Palisades Tahoe expects to reopen the Base to Base Gondola early next week as one continuous lift. Red Dog is delayed until January.
- The Colorado Sun looks at lift supply chain challenges.
- Cascade Mountain issues a letter to guests about delays with its lift project.
- Closed Mont-Sainte-Anne offers passholders a Stoneham season pass, a full refund, or a 15% refund and pass for once the mountain reopens.
- Jackson Hole’s owner wants to replace Sublette next.
- Mt. Shasta looks for creative solutions to uphill ingress to and egress from the new Gray Butte lift.
- Locals weigh the future of Silverton’s Kendall Mountain Ski Area.
- A child falls 20 feet from a lift at Brian Head.
- As snow and ice cripple Portland, the city’s Aerial Tram ramps up with 24 hour operations.
- Breckenridge reopens the Peak 8 SuperConnect after yesterday’s incident. Updated statement from the resort copied below.
Breckenridge Ski Resort confirms at approximately 10:35 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22, a chair dislodged from the haul rope of the Peak 8 SuperConnect as it was reaching the top terminal. One guest was on the chair at the time and fell approximately 13 feet. Ski patrol responded immediately. No injuries were reported and the guest declined further care.
The Peak 8 SuperConnect was closed for the remainder of the day on Thursday. The resort’s lift maintenance team was on site at the time of the incident and worked with the Colorado Tramway Safety Board to report the incident.
At the time of this event, the resort was following all standard operating procedures. The wind direction was predominantly favorable for operation of the Peak 8 SuperConnect when it opened for the day at 10 a.m., however an abnormal wind gust across the top terminal, in addition to the chair coming into contact with components of the upper terminal, created the circumstances of this event.
Since the event, the resort’s lift maintenance team has conducted a thorough inspection of the Peak 8 SuperConnect and consulted with the Colorado Tramway Safety Board. The lift resumed operations at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23.
News Roundup: American Rescue Plan
- Moosehead Mountain’s redevelopment is pushed back to 2023 at the earliest.
- Deer Valley moves toward replacing the Silver Lake Express, possibly with a gondola.
- A proposed development adjacent to Big Sky Resort includes a pulse gondola and two platter lifts.
- Whiteface’s new quad is named Warhorse.
- Snow King’s new gondola opens tomorrow but not for skiing.
- The first pieces of Waterville Valley’s Bartholet/MND six pack arrive stateside.
- A new map shows where Caberfae Peaks’ East Peak triple will go.
- Attitash permanently closes the West Double Double to “prep for it being replaced.”
- Mountain Capital Partners unveils a concept plan for 19 new lifts across thousands of acres at Brian Head.
- The Forest Service green lights construction of Mt. Hood Meadows’ first six pack.
- Breckenridge celebrates 60 years of massive growth.
- Bartholet plans to build its first RopeTaxi with cabins departing on demand in 2022.
- Cannon will seek American Rescue Plan funds for tram overhaul/replacement, possibly as early as 2023.
- Blacktail Mountain joins the Indy Pass.
- A video shows a loaded lift roll back in Kyrgyzstan.
