3 replies to this topic

[snoloco]

I have noticed that gondolas usually have a weight limit per cabin posted at the bottom and top. It is usually between 1,300 and 1,500 pounds for an 8 person. This does not seem like a high enough weight limit to carry 8 people and equipment. I have noticed that cabins are often loaded more than their weight limit.

At Mountain Creek, NJ, The Cabriolet has a weight limit of 1,360 pounds and 8 passengers. If you put eight 200 pounders in there, the weight would already be at 1,600. For this reason, they only load the cabins with 7 people, but with seven 200 pounders, the weight would still be at over 1,360. With equipment, there is probably even more weight in these cars.

At Killington, VT, the K1 Gondola has a weight limit of 1,460 pounds. It also has the same issue with weight that The Cabriolet does. However, they always load 8 to a car, so almost every car is over its weight limit.

How dangerous is it to send a cabin up that is over the weight limit? What is done to combat this at other mountains?

[mikest2]

As far as the codes go, I believe the B-77 passenger weighs 170 lbs, and the Z98 passenger weighs 77 kg

[kwoodsparky]

At Mountain Creek we do not load 7 people because of weight issues, it is mostly because we have many beginners here and they cannot load 8 consistently in the allotted time and we keep the stops down that way. Mikeest2 is correct, it is calculated at 170 lbs per person, 170 x 8 = 1360. We should always check our facts before we post on here.

This post has been edited by kwoodsparky: 01 April 2014 - 03:53 AM

[snoloco]

kwoodsparky, on 01 April 2014 - 03:51 AM, said:

At Mountain Creek we do not load 7 people because of weight issues, it is mostly because we have many beginners here and they cannot load 8 consistently in the allotted time and we keep the stops down that way. Mikeest2 is correct, it is calculated at 170 lbs per person, 170 x 8 = 1360.

Thanks for the information. I go to Mountain Creek all the time and they sure do get beginners, and they always seem to have issues loading this thing. How can it be so hard to load a gondola? I was almost certain that they load it with 7 for weight issues because there is no way that 8 fully grown men in there with equipment is under 1,360. I'm glad they don't load with 8 because it is like the NYC Subway at rush hour if they do. I don't think that The Cabriolet even runs at full design speed either. I have noticed that Granite has a slower "normal speed" on weekends due to loading issues. South and Bear definitely seem to run the fastest on weekends, is this true?

Why does Mountain Creek get so may beginners anyway. There is only 1 green down from the top on one of the 4 peaks. The entire South side has no greens at all. Also, from my perspective, they cater to the park kids the most (I am one of them). It must be the proximity to NYC that causes them to get so many beginners.