Like some of the other lifts at Alyeska, this double requires avalanche protection at the top.As of 2020, the lift has been retired but remains standing.Top bullwheel.Breakover towers.This was the last standing of seven Riblet doubles here.Many years, there is not as much snow down here as in this photo.Lower lift line.Looking up the line.Drive-tension station.Lift line.Loading area.Lift overview.
Possibly but it would probably have to go to the very top of the mountain and not the middle and it would have to be a tram with no towers to avoid being hit by avalanches.
They are an aftermarket version. Not sure if Superior Tramway made those, or some other manufacturer, but the traditional Riblet Sheaves are long out of stock and manufacture. They look to be the correct diameter though.
They superficially resemble Riblet’s last sheave design (1990-ish to 2003) but when I zoomed in I see what you mean. They’re a snap-ring flange design, and Riblet bolted their flanges on all the way through the end of their run.
One thing I do find interesting is that this chair doesn’t have the center pole but the common bail. Riblet also put in a chair at Arctic Valley the same year as this chair but they have the center pole design. Possible the chairs could have been replaced at some point.
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Have they considered replacing this with a lift that goes about twice as high up the mountain?
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It’s a giant slide zone I don’t think they will
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Possibly but it would probably have to go to the very top of the mountain and not the middle and it would have to be a tram with no towers to avoid being hit by avalanches.
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This lift must have been installed elsewhere before it was here.
Riblet only produced that tower design from 1957 – 1965.
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Also, they didn’t build that drive terminal until the early 70s. Pieces/parts of two different ones from elsewhere on the hill?
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those sheaves don’t look anything like riblet sheaves.
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They are an aftermarket version. Not sure if Superior Tramway made those, or some other manufacturer, but the traditional Riblet Sheaves are long out of stock and manufacture. They look to be the correct diameter though.
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The chairs are Superior Tramway if you look closely at where the chair connects with the hanger.
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They superficially resemble Riblet’s last sheave design (1990-ish to 2003) but when I zoomed in I see what you mean. They’re a snap-ring flange design, and Riblet bolted their flanges on all the way through the end of their run.
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Is this lift still standing in 2023?
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Yes it is as of today 5/9/23
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It’s still here as of January 30 2024
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Why is this lift closed?
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Because Alyeska doesn’t have the parts for it and they are working on trying to have it run again.
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One thing I do find interesting is that this chair doesn’t have the center pole but the common bail. Riblet also put in a chair at Arctic Valley the same year as this chair but they have the center pole design. Possible the chairs could have been replaced at some point.
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The bail and centerpole chairs were both an option in the 60s and 70s.
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God knows why anyone would go with the center pole other then cost
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I believe that Tanaka will be replaced with a T-Bar if it can’t run.
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ya
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