• A planning document shows Big White has applied to build two lifts east of Black Forest Express called Backcountry and Backcountry Connector.
• Snow King Mountain’s expansion officially enters the National Environmental Policy Act pipeline.  Proposed lifts are a 1,500 pph gondola with cabin storage, a 3,015′ backside fixed-grip quad, one 679′ T-Bar or platter and two new carpets.
• The iconic Volkswagen funitel marks 15 years of operation, having delivered over three million vehicles from factory to test track.
• A proposed urban gondola in Loveland, Colorado would be built by Leitner-Poma with up to five stations.
• Arapahoe Basin drops its new trail map showing the big Beavers expansion.
• An avalanche takes out the last tower of a Doppelmayr six-pack in New Zealand.

• Skytrac is hiring for project foreman and general construction positions.
• Denver Post alum Jason Blevins, now writing for the Colorado Sun, traces the remarkable ski industry journey of the Mueller family from Vermont to Colorado.  Insights from his must read piece: Tim and Diane Mueller took out a second mortgage on their home to buy Okemo, invested in Catamount before it failed, nearly bought Steamboat and once bid to operate Winter Park.
• Windham’s retired F lift heads to Greek Peak to upgrade lifts 3 and 5.
• The New Mexico State Fair will sport a new skyride-style chairlift beginning next month.
• Alterra Mountain Company hires an Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer from Wall Street and looks to name a Vice President of Planning and Resort Development.
• Enjoy the most detailed glimpse yet of the world’s longest lift.
• The name game continues: Wolf Creek’s newest high speed quad is now Charity.
• One of the world’s oldest high speed quads is going away in favor of a six pack.
• I’m in New Mexico this weekend checking out as many lifts as I can.  First stop: Taos, where this yet-to-be-named Leitner-Poma detachable quad is the fourth new lift in five years!