Ikon Pass signs three more mountains to the two day bonus tier: Grouse Mountain & SilverStar in BC and Ski Butternut in Massachusetts (full Ikon only, subject to blackout dates.)
A jury finds the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and a drop ride manufacturer liable for $205 million after a child’s death; the gondola-accessed park says “the size of the total jury verdict award puts the existence of Glenwood Caverns at serious risk.”
Amid removal rumors, I asked Hunter Mountain about D-Lift and the Highlands Poma. GM Trent Poole shared the following:
“We’re in the process of removing the D-Lift. Thanks to last year’s Epic Lift Upgrade – the new Broadway Express – our updated lift infrastructure provides faster, more efficient access than what D-Lift provided, and similar terrain can be accessed at Hunter North via the Northern Express. At this point, the lift is both redundant and outdated, and the time and resources needed to revive this lift are better focused where guests will see a positive impact to their experience on mountain, like our snowmaking upgrades.
The Highlands Poma is something our team has discussed as part of long-term planning. We’re always exploring ways to enhance the guest experience, and that lift remains part of the broader conversation. For now, our focus is on showcasing the significant upgrades we’ve already delivered—Broadway Express, Otis, and automated snowmaking additions—along with maximizing the terrain available on Hunter North, West, and East. It’s also worth noting that Hunter is the only ski resort in New York to feature three high-speed six-passenger lifts: Northern Express, Katskill Flyer, and Broadway Express. For now, we’re confident in the strength and efficiency of our current lift system.”
This fall is your last chance to ride the iconic Cannon Mountain Aerial Tram in its current form. The state-owned New Hampshire mountain announced this morning the conclusion of public operations with planning underway for a new system to be constructed in the coming years. The current tram opened in 1980, making it 45 years old with more than nine million passengers carried. It was built by Italian manufacturer Agudio and replaced an American Steel & Wire tram that served the summit from 1938 to 1981. “She’s aged gracefully, but like all legends, she deserves a dignified retirement,” said Jace Wirth, General Manager of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch State Park. “It’s time to begin writing the next chapter.”
Planning is underway for a third-generation tram but there’s no set timeline for reopening. In 2022, the state considered building a much cheaper gondola, but public feedback revealed a strong desire to continue Cannon’s tram legacy. The following year, the state put out an RFP for modernization of the current tram with a projected budget of $18 million. Leitner-Poma was the only bidder and came in $11 million over that amount. The project was put on hold while state leaders sought more funding.
Cannon’s original American Steel & Wire tram carried 27 riders per car, the current “ketchup and mustard” cars hold up to 80 and the next version may carry even more. “With $27.2 million secured through New Hampshire House Bill 25, along with additional capital resources anticipated, a structural analysis—pending Governor and Executive Council approval—will soon begin to confirm the renovation strategy for existing towers, terminals, and foundations,” Cannon wrote today. “This analysis will also help refine design requirements and load considerations for the next-generation tram system.” While $27 million is a great start, it’s nowhere near enough to build a completely new system at current prices. Skiers and sightseers will likely be without a base-to-summit lift for a number of years while the new tram is designed and built. In the meantime, the summit can still be accessed by a series of chairlifts in the winter.
A specific date for the tram’s final laps will be announced in the coming weeks.
Indy Pass adds a slew of mountains including Loveland, Colorado; Bear Creek, Pennsylvania; Bear Valley, California; Bousquet, Massachusetts; Bruce Mound and Christie Mountain, Wisconsin; Camp Fortune, Massif du Sud and Mont Rigaud, Quebec; Cazenovia and Hunt Hollow, New York; Lost Valley, Maine; and Mt. Holiday and Norway Mountain, Michigan.
After the only bid to replace the Cannon Mountain tramway came in millions more than expected, the State of New Hampshire investigates whether it can reuse existing towers.
Canada’s Competition Bureau to probe whether the Arizona company behind the Jasper SkyTram and Banff Gondola unfairly competes with ski area sightseeing gondolas.
Titus Mountain pays tribute to ski patroller Rick Finch, who is believed to have died when his backpack became entangled with a chair.
Les Otten, designer of Sunday River and The Canyons, talks about his dream for 23 lifts at The Balsams, building America’s longest chairlift, the Killington-Pico interconnect and more.
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