6 replies to this topic

[ski_acres]

I looked at some of the most unique chairlifts in the USA. If you have anything to add, please comment.

(Not in order)

1). Ray's, Sundance UT
This up and over lift has 33 towers, 5 lift shacks with controls, and 8 different points to load or unload.

2). Poma, Hurricane Ridge WA
This surface lift is detachable and has many different and interesting tower setups with at turn as well.

3). Skiway, Timberline OR
This is literally a aerial bus. Like, how cool is that?

4). J-Bar, Black Mountain NH
This is the oldest running skilift in the US. It was built in 1935.

5). Single Chair, Mad River Glen, VT
This is the oldest running chairlift in the US. It was built in 1948.

6). Slide Brook Express, Sugarbush VT
This chairlift's length is 11012 feet. It is the longest chairlift in the US.

7). Ramcharger 8, Big Sky MT
This 8 person detachable chairlift with heated seats and a bubble. Luxurious.

8). G1, Mount Snow VT
It was a 2 person gondola, but it allowed skiers to keep their skis on the entire time. It's like a bubble chairlift.

9). Imperial SuperChair, Breckenridge CO
The highest chairlift in North America.

10). Chair 1 & 2, Mt Baker WA
This is technically two chairlifts, but the tower setup at one point is really interesting with the two chairlifts intersecting. Here is a photo mt-baker-021.jpg (2304×3072) (wordpress.com)

This post has been edited by ski_acres: 23 April 2022 - 12:19 PM

[Lift Dinosaur]

#9- The first detachable quad was Quicksilver, not Imperial.
Dino

[ski_acres]

Ah, okay. Thank you for fact checking it.

[ne_skier]

Technically, the single is not the oldest operating chairlift in the US. That title belongs to the single at Mt. Eyak, Alaska, originally the Christmas lift at Sun Valley, ID installed in 1939 and moved to Alaska in 1974. The lift remains original other than new chairs and Riblet clips.

[sheave]

ne_skier, on 23 April 2022 - 06:08 PM, said:

Technically, the single is not the oldest operating chairlift in the US. That title belongs to the single at Mt. Eyak, Alaska, originally the Christmas lift at Sun Valley, ID installed in 1939 and moved to Alaska in 1974. The lift remains original other than new chairs and Riblet clips.

And a new drive...

[liftinspect]

ski_acres, on 20 April 2022 - 02:24 PM, said:

I looked at some of the most unique chairlifts in the USA. If you have anything to add, please comment.

(Not in order)

1). Ray's, Sundance UT
This up and over lift has 33 towers, 5 lift shacks with controls, and 8 different points to load or unload.

2). Poma, Hurricane Ridge WA
This surface lift is detachable and has many different and interesting tower setups with at turn as well.

3). Skiway, Timberline OR
This is literally a aerial bus. Like, how cool is that?

4). J-Bar, Black Mountain NH
This is the oldest running skilift in the US. It was built in 1935.

5). Single Chair, Mad River Glen, VT
This is the oldest running chairlift in the US. It was built in 1948.

6). Slide Brook Express, Sugarbush VT
This chairlift's length is 11012 feet. It is the longest chairlift in the US.

7). Ramcharger 8, Big Sky MT
This 8 person detachable chairlift with heated seats and a bubble. Luxurious.

8). G1, Mount Snow VT
It was a 2 person gondola, but it allowed skiers to keep their skis on the entire time. It's like a bubble chairlift.

9). Imperial SuperChair, Breckenridge CO
The highest chairlift in North America.

10). Chair 1 & 2, Mt Baker WA
This is technically two chairlifts, but the tower setup at one point is really interesting with the two chairlifts intersecting. Here is a photo mt-baker-021.jpg (2304×3072) (wordpress.com)

Chair 10 Kirkwood CA.

[liftmech]

That tower at Baker you show was a fun one to wire. In addition to the standard tower safety ('derail') circuit on each lift, I had to add brittle bars on one lift that would stop the other, and vice versa. Four switches per assembly in contrast to the usual two.