330 replies to this topic

[Peter]

Here's where it said it was a go...

http://www.snowjourn...p?cid=topic7793

[Jonni]

All they got was the ACT 250 permit for it. It means that they are allowed to build a HSS. The actual lift replacement I believe is slated for 2007.

[andyh1962]

I drove by Mount St. Louis Moonstone in Barrie Ontario Canada this past weekend. It looks to me like the Resort is progressing on slope preparation to replace a 1972 era Poma chair known as the Timberline Double (328 feet vert, 1620 feet long) AND a 1979 era Skyway chair known as the Stretcher Triple (450 feet vert , 2300 feet long) (both being removed). To possibly be replaced with a Six Pack (make unknown). Check out their website at www.mslm.on.ca. Have a look at their trail map and you will see what REAL mountain building is all about. The natural hill is about 350 feet high. They have added 150 feet on top by excavating earth off a huge 300 acre field directly behind the ski hill. Several million cubic feet of earth dug out of that field and piled up to build the Hump. The Promenade Six Pack, Adventure Express Six Pack and Louis Express Detach Quad all terminate on man made earth piles. Now it appears that they are going for earth pile number 5 ( or is it six? )
The new lift alone took over a million cubic yards of earth to build the ski run. Are they in the ski business or the earth moving business?

This post has been edited by andyh1962: 31 May 2006 - 06:36 PM

[WBSKI]

That is pretty cool! Talk about serious run congestion with 2 HS6, 1HSQ and only 165 acres!

This post has been edited by WBSKI: 31 May 2006 - 08:03 PM

[djspookman]

Jonni, on May 27 2006, 09:03 AM, said:

I contacted the VP at Smuggler's Notch about the Six-Pack and he told me that the six-pack is just a rumor. Here's the email that he sent back to me:
I haven't emailed him back yet, but I'm basically going to tell him that I think that a six pack would be a little bit overkill for such an area. Yes, it would be a good thing for marketing, as Stowe next door doesn't have any six-packs, but that I think that a six passenger lift would ruin the feel of the ski area.

I think Keith is trying to downplay everything... but who knows:)

Note: the following info is just dream land stuff of Smuggs from years past.. so take it with a grain of salt.
Knowing Smuggs though, they could be going in either direction. I saw a master plan a few years ago when I was working there to develop a lift parallel to the Morse Highlands lift (up in the valley though) that runs to the top of Morse (the true summit). I also heard rumors when I was working there of 2 other "possible" lifts, one being a triple that paralleled the Sterling lift (running up the old rope tow/poma line) and another that ran from the Madonna base are up to the top of Morse Mountain (the true summit)

So with all that said, who knows, maybe the 6 pack is a rumor, but if if isn't and they're just trying to cover it up, then my guess is that they're planning on putting the 6 pack in to plan for the future and future skiier traffic, as smuggs usually dosen't do things without looking at the big picture.

I dont' see anything happening this season up there though.. my ears up there have been open, and they haven't heard anything yet..

dave

This post has been edited by djspookman: 01 June 2006 - 12:09 PM

[jasdmd0]

djspookman, on Jun 1 2006, 04:05 PM, said:

I think Keith is trying to downplay everything... but who knows:)

Note: the following info is just dream land stuff of Smuggs from years past.. so take it with a grain of salt.
Knowing Smuggs though, they could be going in either direction. I saw a master plan a few years ago when I was working there to develop a lift parallel to the Morse Highlands lift (up in the valley though) that runs to the top of Morse (the true summit). I also heard rumors when I was working there of 2 other "possible" lifts, one being a triple that paralleled the Sterling lift (running up the old rope tow/poma line) and another that ran from the Madonna base are up to the top of Morse Mountain (the true summit)

So with all that said, who knows, maybe the 6 pack is a rumor, but if if isn't and they're just trying to cover it up, then my guess is that they're planning on putting the 6 pack in to plan for the future and future skiier traffic, as smuggs usually dosen't do things without looking at the big picture.

I dont' see anything happening this season up there though.. my ears up there have been open, and they haven't heard anything yet..

dave

On the flip side maybe the exact reason that they're thinking og a six pack is due to all of the demographic info they keep about all the families that they do a phenomenal job catering too is showing them that they have more families og 5 and 6 people than 3 and 4 people and would like to put in a lift to allow the family to ride together. Just a thought.

[djspookman]

jasdmd0, on Jun 1 2006, 10:30 PM, said:

On the flip side maybe the exact reason that they're thinking og a six pack is due to all of the demographic info they keep about all the families that they do a phenomenal job catering too is showing them that they have more families og 5 and 6 people than 3 and 4 people and would like to put in a lift to allow the family to ride together. Just a thought.

True. That is a vaild point!

dave

[Tin Woodsman]

A HSS on Sterling would, IMHO, be a big mistake. That area of the mountain is already pretty crowded b/c it where's the best cruising and snowmaking terrain is. It would require widening and realignment of several trails, per the existing Act 250 document, and would almost certainly overload that side of the mountain, not to mention the Back Bowls. A HSQ would be more than enough for theor capacity needs, and that's probably too big.

Now a lift up to the true summit of Morse would really be the smart next step. It would spread the crowds out dramatically and open up what looks to be some of the best available upper intermediate cruising terrain in their permit area on a vertical of between 1700' and 2000' depending on where the lifts originates.

[djspookman]

Tin Woodsman, on Jun 2 2006, 11:39 AM, said:

A HSS on Sterling would, IMHO, be a big mistake. That area of the mountain is already pretty crowded b/c it where's the best cruising and snowmaking terrain is. It would require widening and realignment of several trails, per the existing Act 250 document, and would almost certainly overload that side of the mountain, not to mention the Back Bowls. A HSQ would be more than enough for theor capacity needs, and that's probably too big.

Now a lift up to the true summit of Morse would really be the smart next step. It would spread the crowds out dramatically and open up what looks to be some of the best available upper intermediate cruising terrain in their permit area on a vertical of between 1700' and 2000' depending on where the lifts originates.

I totally agree with you Tin. Sterling already gets skiied off early, unless you know where to go:)

As for a lift up in the Morse "bowl", yes, that would be the smarter route, however, that's bear habitat, so I know the permitting process would get hampered because of that. There is some great terrain in there, but don't ask me how I know :-)

dave

[cascadeparks]

Well, the Sunshine Express is a definite go. It was just e-mailed to me:

"The Sunshine project includes the replacement of the Sunshine triple chairlift
with a high-speed
detachable quad chairlift"

[cascadeparks]

A bit more info on the upgrade:

"Sunshine Express High-Speed Quad Chairlift Powered By Solar/Wind Energy: Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation is installing a Leitner-Poma of America high-speed quad chairlift replacing the Sunshine fixed grip triple chairlift. The Sunshine Express will significantly enhance the guest experience by reducing travel time from 11 minutes to 5.5 minutes. Sunshine Express will have a vertical rise of 1,400 feet, a slope length of 5,500 feet, and a top speed of 1,000 ft/min.

Due to the tight construction timeline, which will feature heavy truck and helicopter traffic throughout the fall, the new lift is expected to be ready to carry its first riders in early to mid December.

As a part of its long-standing commitment to the environment, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation will purchase renewable energy certificates to offset the electricity needed for the new Sunshine Express lift. Steamboat is purchasing renewable energy certificates from 3 Phases Energy Services to ensure the delivery of clean, natural power to the "grid", thereby displacing an equivalent amount of energy that otherwise would have been created by non-renewable sources. Under the energy certificates, the Sunshine Express will operate on a combination of wind and solar power. "

Wow cutting the ride time in half

[Lift Dinosaur]

Wow cutting the ride time in half
[/quote]

wow, HOPING to have the lift open for Christmas!

[vons]

This is the lift from the Canyons, right? If so Anyone know who is doing the take down-move-install?

[Peter]

Heres some info on the move of Tombstone to Steamboat

It's official: Lift being replaced
Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. unveils plans for Sunshine

By Tom Ross, Staff Reporter

Wednesday, June 7, 2006

Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. executives made it official Tuesday night -- the old Sunshine triple chairlift is being replaced with a high-speed quad this summer.

The new lift is part of a broader effort to make the intermediate trails in Sunshine Bowl more family friendly. The upgrade is included in a package of capital improvements valued at $7 million that was announced by Ski Corp. President Chris Diamond and Vice President of marketing Andy Wirth during a semi-annual appearance before City Council on Tuesday.

The new Sunshine Express will be the reincarnation of the "Tombstone" lift that has operated on the slopes at The Canyons resort near Park City, Utah, for about seven years. Steamboat and The Canyons are owned by American Skiing Company. Wirth said Tombstone will be replaced by a much-needed six-seat chairlift in a congested area at the Utah resort.

"The lift is in great shape," Wirth said. "The need and the focus is to put a fast quad in place for reliability and safety. I don't think our customers will know the difference," between the used lift and a new one.

Because of a tight schedule, the lift may not be open until mid-December.

The Leitner Poma of America chairlift will be refurbished, Wirth said, and new "hangars" (the top of the "T" on the lift towers) will be installed. Ski Corp. will purchase renewable energy certificates from 3 Phases Energy Services that correspond to the amount of electricity needed to power the Sunshine Express.

Other highlights of the capital improvement plan include almost $1 million in remodeling the Thunderhead and Rendezvous food courts. The redesign of the Thunderhead dining area will include a historical theme at the food serving stations. It will allow the addition of 52 seats, bringing the total to nearly 480.

The remodeling of the food service area at Rendezvous and the new chairlift are the major components of an effort to make Sunshine Bowl more appealing to families. The bowl begins above 10,000 feet on the southeast side of the Priest Creek area but offers some of the longest low-intermediate trails on the mountain. One exception is a single steep pitch at the top of Tomahawk that causes some skiers and riders to freeze.

Steamboat will fix the Tom�--ahawk challenge with a new trail that bypasses the steep pitch while traversing back to the High Noon trail and Rendezvous Saddle. In addition, the beginner trail, Broadway, will be widened and its steepness will be reduced. Wirth said a family adventure trail will be installed.

Terrain park enthusiasts haven't been forgotten in this year's budget. Steamboat will spend a half-million dollars on new grooming equipment including a Zaugg superpipe cutter. The Zaugg was designed to create an elliptical shape in the pipe, which makes for smoother transitions in the landing zone. It also allows riders and free skiers to accelerate with greater ease, leading to more hits per run.

This post has been edited by Skier: 08 June 2006 - 08:56 PM

[SkiBachelor]

It seems like a project like this would be finished rather quickly. The current towers can easily be reused if the profile allows it which would save a lot of time and money.

BTW, the lift is actually 9 years old.

[Peter]

"new "hangars" (the top of the "T" on the lift towers) will be installed"

Why?

[SkiBachelor]

Unless L-P just came out with a new tower head design, this seems rather foolish because I don't believe the tower head design has changed at all since 1997.

[SkiBachelor]

I can't find that big of a difference between the two tower heads.

[floridaskier]

Skier, on Jun 9 2006, 01:13 AM, said:

"new "hangars" (the top of the "T" on the lift towers) will be installed"

What's that for? Do they just mean that the towerheads (obviously) need different sheaves for the new profile? The lifting frame design is the same one that's on new LP lifts now

[SkiBachelor]

I just realized that Steamboat was talking about how they have to put new towers heads on the towers since the ones now on the triple won't work since it's not the right guage.