Colorado Lift News 5th Year Anniversary Edition: Summer 2006
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This chairlift survey marks ColoradoSkiHistory.com’s fifth anniversary on
the Internet. Since 2002, the number of new chairlifts installed annually
has increased by 78 percent. This year resorts are reaching deep in their
financial pockets, building expensive projects that reflect last winter’s
record skier numbers.
Breckenridge contracted Leitner-Poma last spring to construct the long
awaited gondola from the free parking lots to developments on Peak 7,
moving to the Peak 7 base, and finally up to the Colorado Super Chair.
The system will cost about twenty million dollars and will feature eight-
passenger cabins built by the Swiss company CWA.
Aspen Skiing Company is continuing with their one billion dollar
renovation of Snowmass. For this season, look for two new lifts: the Elk
Camp Gondola and Assay Hill Quad. Both projects are being
constructed and engineered by Leitner-Poma of Grand Junction. The
gondola will replace the old Riblet Funnel lift and extend down to the base
of Fanny Hill. Weitz is overseeing additional base area construction
located at the bottom of the Village Express, which will eventually include
new lodging, a conference center, retail shops and restaurants.
Doppelmayr CTEC has two projects this year in Colorado, including an
eight-passenger gondola at Beaver Creek and a high-speed quad at Wolf
Creek. The gondola will originate in the town of Avon and will connect to
the Beaver Creek Mountain lifts near the free parking lots off of US
Highway 6. The new high-speed quad at Wolf Creek is their first express
lift and their fourth new CTEC brand chair.
New Ski Lifts:
Area
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Lift Name
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Type
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Manufacturer
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Capacity
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Avon/Beaver Creek
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River Front
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HSG8
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Doppelmayr CTEC #
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N/A p/h
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Breckenridge
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BreckConnect
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HSG8
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Leitner-Poma
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3,000
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Crested Butte
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East River
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HSQ
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Leitner-Poma
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2,400
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Kendall Mountain
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Main Lift
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FGD
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Poma *
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1,200
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Snowmass
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Elk Camp
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HSG8
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Leitner-Poma
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N/A
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Snowmass
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Assay Hill
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FGQ
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Leitner-Poma
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2,400
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Steamboat
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Sunshine
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HSQ
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Poma **
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2,400
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Winter Park
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Eagle Wind
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FGT
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Yan ***
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1,800
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Wolf Creek
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Raven Express
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HSQ
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Doppelmayr CTEC
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2,400
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Notes: Lifts relocated from: * Vermont, ** The Canyons, UT, *** Outrigger at Winter Park, ^ Snowmass,
# Lift will not be completed until the '07-'08 season
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Removed Ski Lifts:
Area
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Lift Name
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Type
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Manufacturer
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Capacity
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Crested Butte
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East River
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FGT
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Poma
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1,800 p/h
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Snowmass
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Assay Hill
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FGD
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Hall
|
1,200
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Snowmass
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Funnel
|
FGD
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Riblet
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1,200
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Steamboat
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Sunshine
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FGT
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Doppelmayr
|
1,800
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Vail
|
Chair 1/Giant Steps
|
FGD
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Riblet
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1,200
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Wolf Creek
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Dickey
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FGD
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Borvig
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1,200
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Modified Ski Lifts:
Area
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Lift Name
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Type
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Manufacturer
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Capacity
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Aspen Mountain
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Silver Queen
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HSG6
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Poma
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2,400 p/h
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Gondola cabins were replaced with new CWA Omega models.
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Copper
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R & S
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FGT / FGT
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Yan / Yan
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1,800
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Yan carriers replaced with new Doppelmayr CTEC chairs.
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Keystone
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A-51 & Checkerboard
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FGD
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Yan
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1,200
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Yan carriers replaced with new Riblet double chairs.
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Steamboat
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Headwall & Southface
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FGT / FGT
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Yan / Yan
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1,800
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Yan carriers replaced with Doppelmayr chairs from the former Sunshine triple chair.
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Telluride
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Gondola: 1, II, III
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HSG*
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CTEC Garaventa
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N/A
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Unspecified modifications by Doppelmayr CTEC
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Lift Construction Pictures:
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* Removed Chairlifts:
* Lift Removal Pictures:
Removal of Funnel at Snowmass
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* Lifts Being Constructed:
Breckenridge:
Breck's gondola as of mid-June
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Pictures of the lower terminal in late August.
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More lower terminal pictures.
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Pictures of the Shock Hill mid station.
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Snowmass:
Various projects including the Elk Camp Gondola at Snowmass
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More pictures of the Elk Camp Gondola.
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Beaver Creek:
The new gondola from Avon to the Beaver Creek Landing off of US Highway 6.
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The gondola terminal on the Beaver Creek Landing side.
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The gondola terminal on the Avon side.
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Echo Mountain:
Early snow hits Echo's slopes as they enter their second season.
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Copyright © coloradoskihistory.com All Rights Reserved.
Pictures thanks to: Vons, John Holm, Patrick from Austin, Aspen SkiCo, Brad C., Lift Dino
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