Thunderhead – Blacktail Mountain, MT

IMG_4699
Heron-Poma top terminal that came from Steamboat.
IMG_4702
Tower 26.
IMG_4766
Lower half of the lift below the mid-station.
IMG_4774
Yan tri-leg tension-return terminal.
IMG_4782
Half towers before the mid-load point.
IMG_4787
Upper lift line from the mid-station.
IMG_4794
View down the upper half lift line.
IMG_4804
Note the Heron tower with Heron sheaves next to a Yan tower with Yan sheaves.

11 thoughts on “Thunderhead – Blacktail Mountain, MT

  1. Cameron Halmrast's avatar Cameron Halmrast August 19, 2017 / 12:09 am

    Interesting Heron-POMA / Yan. First one I’ve seen like this. Yan tension, but Heron-POMA vault drive.

    Like

    • Max Hart's avatar Max Hart February 9, 2018 / 3:15 pm

      It looks like there are a couple of 1960s era Poma towers mixed in as well. This lift is the definition of a franken-lift.

      Like

    • Collin's avatar Collin February 9, 2018 / 4:02 pm

      That doesn’t look like a Poma tower. Actually think it’s a Miner Denver. I think there’s maybe one unmodified Miner Denver still out there and obviously this one isn’t it.

      Like

  2. Frank's avatar Frank October 30, 2018 / 9:15 pm

    This is the old Thunderhead from Steamboat…it was originally Miner-Denver with Heron drive and plenty of Yan modifications including tension, some towers, and chairs. At Steamboat, it was the upper section of the lift that had the M-D towers, now it appears that the opposite is true. At any rate, great to see it live on.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Ryan's avatar Ryan July 20, 2019 / 10:08 pm

    there does look like a couple of Miner Denver towers and sheaves.. VERY VERY cool. Makes me smile to see some old Miner Denver stuff from Steamboat go on to be used elsewhere.

    Like

  4. michael hammerberg's avatar michael hammerberg December 3, 2021 / 11:09 pm

    It is great to ride Thunderhead Lift, I remember riding it back in the mid 70’s while going to school at DU. I ride it every winter since 1998 when Blacktail Ski Area opened!! Many, many found memories!!

    Like

  5. liftnerd's avatar liftnerd February 16, 2023 / 5:43 pm

    Per Google Earth, the inclined length is ~4842′ and the vertical is ~1422′.

    Like

  6. RIBLETRIDER's avatar RIBLETRIDER January 10, 2024 / 5:53 pm

    Cool Three-sheave assembly’s on this lift

    Like

Leave a comment