Lift News - Summer 2005 Edition

Colorado Lift News
Summer 2005 Edition

This summer is shaping up to be another strong summer for resort
improvements. Two resorts are replacing aging high-speed quads, which
might be a more popular trend here in summers to come. Since many of
Colorado's first high-speed quads were constructed in the mid-1980's, they
are approaching their maximum design life.

Aspen Ski Areas are spearheading resort improvements for this summer. At
Snowmass, the Fanny Hill Express will be removed and replaced by a
high-speed six passenger chair. The new lift will extend to the summit of
Sam's Knob. A mid station will also be available. In conjunction with the
new Snowmass Village, a pulse gondola is being installed between the new
base and the Snowmass Mall. Both projects are being engineered by
Leitner-Poma.

Aspen Highlands is constructing the long awaited Temerity chair this
summer. The lift will negate the need for the long access out of the
Steeplechase run and Highlands Bowl. The lift will built by Leitner-Poma.

Breckenridge is now taking the claim for the highest quad ski lift in the world.
The new Summit Express will crest over 12,840 feet on Peak 8 this
summer, beating Loveland's Chair #9. Chair #9 held the highest chairlift
record for this hemisphere since its opening back in 1998. Due to the
extreme nature of Peak 8, the chair will be a low capacity quad, meaning the
chair spacing will be very long. This will also limit the amount of skiers on
the mountain at any given time. The new chair will also be constructed by
Leitner-Poma.

Beaver Creek is upgrading the slow Larkspur lift this summer. Doppelmayr
CTEC will be engineering this project. This will be the forth new
Doppelmayr lift at Beaver Creek in recent years.

Modified Lifts:

Telluride's Gondola
Stage 2

Aspen's Gondola

Snowmass' Burlingame

New Ski Lifts:

Area	Lift Name	Type	Manufacturer	Capacity (inital/design)
Breckenridge	Imperial Express	HSQ	Leitner-Poma	600/1800 p/h
Aspen Highlands	Deep Temerity	FGT	Leitner-Poma	1,085/1,085
Snowmass	Sky Cab	PG6	Leitner-Poma	530/530
Snowmass	Village Express	HSS	Leitner-Poma	3,000/3,000
Beaver Creek	Larkspur Express	HSQ	Doppelmayr CTEC	2,400/2,600
Echo Mountain ^	Milk Run Special	FGT	Yan	1,500/1,500
Crested Butte	West Wall	FGQ	Leitner-Poma	1,200/1,800
Winter Park	Super Gauge	HSS	Leitner-Poma	2,600/3,200
Notes: ^ Lift is a used Yan comprised of three triple chairlifts from Heavenly, California.

Removed Ski Lifts:

Area	Lift Name	Type	Manufacturer	Capacity
Beaver Creek	Larkspur	FGT	Doppelmayr	1,800 p/h
Snowmass	Wood Run	FGT	Riblet	1,800
Snowmass	Fanny Hill	HSQ	Poma	2,400
Squaw Pass *	T-Bar	T	Roebling	800
Powderhorn	Lions Lift	Poma	Heron	800
Crested Butte	T-Bar	T	Doppelmayr	1,200
Winter Park	Summit Express	HSQ	Poma	2,400
Winter Park *	Outrigger	FGT	Yan	1,800
Notes: * Lifts were not in operation prior to their removal.

Modified Ski Lifts:

Area	Lift Name	Type	Manufacturer	Capacity
Snowmass	Burlingame	FGD	Riblet	1,200 p/h
The chairlift was shortened to allow for the alignment of the new Village Express.
Telluride	Gondola Stage 2	HSG8	CTEC Garaventa	N/A
The return bullwheel was replaced.
Steamboat	Sundown Express	HSQ	Doppelmayr	2,400
Protective bubbles were removed from the quad chairs.
Aspen	Little Nell	FGQ	Poma	2,400
The bottom station was moved horizontally for hotel construction such that the lift now has a 2 degree bend.
Aspen	Silver Queen	HSG6	Poma	N/A
The lift's grips were rebuilt and next season new cabins will be added as well as a new drive system.