Italy gets new ropeways ahead of the coming ski season

Leitner Sodlisia Chairlift in Colfosco, Alta Badia, Sudtirol. Photo: Leitner. Italy gets new ropeways ahead of the coming ski season

Italy gets new ropeways ahead of the coming ski season

Modern LEITNER systems for the ultimate in comfort and safety

 

Italy’s ski resorts are gearing up fast for the coming winter season. And proven partner LEITNER is constructing numerous new ropeways that will help to increase quality, modernize the resorts and ensure safe transport.

Ladurns cablecar by Leitner. Photo: Leitner. Italy gets new ropeways ahead of the coming ski season
Ladurns cablecar by Leitner. Photo: Leitner. Italy gets new ropeways ahead of the coming ski season

Starting this coming season, a 10-passenger gondola lift will connect the pistes of the Tofane in Cortina, one of the most famous and distinctive mountain groups of the Dolomites in the province of Belluno, with the slopes of the Cinque Torri ski area. The new gondola lift, “Torri I and II”, will have 52 cabins and will span 4.5 kilometres over two sections, with a middle station in Cianzopè. The project is an essential element in developing tourism around the Cortina d’Ampezzo region. The gondola lift will also take a lot of traffic away from the busy road between Cortina and the Falzarego Pass. The new connection also has an important, strategic significance in view of the 2026 Olympic Games.

In Cortina, LEITNER has realized another project this year: In the Ra Valles area, at the foot of the Tofane, a 4-seater chairlift with bubbles from another ski area was repositioned. The installation replaces two old chairlifts and was modernised in the course of the repositioning.

Continue reading “Italy gets new ropeways ahead of the coming ski season”

Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.

Peak 2 Peak Gondola in Whistler Blackcomb. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.

Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.

If you love skiing and boarding, and you don’t want to skin up or climb a mountain, then it is more than likely that you will be taking one kind of lift to get up to the top.

So how many ski lifts can you think of? Here is my humble list:

  • The rope tow:  Classic first lift for many of us, where skiing started. Just a rope with a small motor that activate it to go up (and down). You have to grab it with your gloves and it could really drag your face into the snow if you did not do it well.
Rope Tow- Warren Miller Media. Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.
Rope Tow- Warren Miller Media. Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.
Chez Croux in Courmayeur with Monte Bianco painting- Martina Diez-Routh
The Chez Croux in Courmayeur with the Monte Bianco in the background. Painting of 80 x 60 cm, framed 100 x 80 cm. On sale in my shop for £1300. Painting by Martina Diez-Routh. Prints are also available.
  • The magic carpet: this is a moving carpet belt that is used mostly for beginners’ slopes. This is an improvement on the surface lift explained below, as it is easier for beginners to just let themselves slip into it and maintain the skis parallel to come up. Boarders have to undo one strap and try to balance on top of it – or if it is an easy slope, maybe is easier to walk up. The cons of this is when it is very cold and your skis have some freeze ice drops stuck on the bases, and you’ll notice that your skis sometimes tend to slip down, so you can go down towards the tips of the person just behind you…. Not very convenient!
  • A covered magic carpet in Mount Snow - Photo courtesy Mount Snow. Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.
    A covered magic carpet in Mount Snow – Photo courtesy Mount Snow. Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.
  • The covered magic carpet – this is the same as above, but usually used in places where lots of wind could cover the belt, so this protects the people riding it, and there is no need to keep on cleaning the belt.

Continue reading “Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.”

Stranded tourists heli-ported after Stanserhorn CabriO cable car breakdown

The Stanserhorn Cabrio cablecar. A double decker. Different types of lifts on resorts (I can think of) and how to ride them.

Stranded tourists heli-ported after Stanserhorn CabriO cable car breakdown

From Swiss.ch

Around 150 tourists stranded at the top of the Stanserhorn mountain in central Switzerland had to be rescued by helicopter after the cable car they came up with broke down.

On Friday evening, the monitoring system of the open-air cable car triggered an emergency shutdown due to a technical defect, said the operators. Passengers in the cabins were able reach both ends thanks to a backup mechanism. However, those who were at the top of the mountain were stranded. They had to be transported by three helicopters to the valley below.

The Stanserhorn Cabrio is arriving to the top station in Stanserhorn mountain. Stranded tourists heli-ported after Stanserhorn CabriO cable car breakdown.
The Stanserhorn Cabrio is arriving to the top station in Stanserhorn mountain. Stranded tourists heli-ported after Stanserhorn CabriO cable car breakdown.

“At no time were they in any danger,” said the Stanserhorn cable car operators.

Repairs were scheduled for Saturday morning and the cable cars are expected to return to service Sunday morning. A similar incident took place a week ago on the Niesen mountain in the Bernese mountains. The breakdown of the funicular railway had necessitated a rescue by helicopter.

More information: Swiss.ch

Continue reading “Stranded tourists heli-ported after Stanserhorn CabriO cable car breakdown”

The EagleVail chairlift to Beaver Creek was not accepted by the Forest Service.

Beaver Creek photo: Jack Affleck. Vail Resorts. The EagleVail chairlift to Beaver Creek was not accepted by the Forest Service.

The EagleVail chairlift to Beaver Creek was not accepted by the Forest Service.

A chairlift has been discussed since the 60’s in EagleVail.

From Vail Daily and Aspen Times

The Forest Service and Vail Resorts have cited wildlife impacts to deny building a chairlift connecting EagleVail to Beaver Creek.

Aaron Mayville, district ranger for the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District has written to Steve Barber, EagleVail Metro District Manager that “a chairlift from EagleVail, across National Forest and into Beaver Creek is not possible right now.”

And Vail Resorts Executive Vice President, Mountain Division has also written to Barber stating that “we are not interested in discussions regarding a lift from EagleVail to Beaver Creek at this point.”

EagleVail golf putting green photo. Chris Dillmann. Vail Daily. The EagleVail chairlift to Beaver Creek was not accepted by the Forest Service.
EagleVail golf putting green photo. Chris Dillmann. Vail Daily. The EagleVail chairlift to Beaver Creek was not accepted by the Forest Service.

The officials of EagleVail were interested in a lift as EagleVail residents also were, as it helps increasing property values as a boon for homeowners and a catalyst for renewal.

Vail Resorts owns and operates Beaver Creek Resort.

David Warner, VP of EagleVail Metro District board and longtime proponent of the lift said: “It’s definitely a setback; these were not good letters.”

A lift of U$D 5.2 million

The lift was envisioned to stretch from the current location of the driving range of the EagleVail Golf Club up to Allie’s Cabin or Rose Bowl.

The proponents believe they had been backed up by Vail Resorts about this lift idea in 2016. A chairlift has been discussed in EagleVail since its inception in the ‘60s.

Even before Beaver Creek was built, there was a plan considered to connect EagleVail with the old Meadow Mountain Ski Area.

Warner said he received a bid for U$D 5.2 million from a lift company to build a 11,250-foot-long lift from the driving range to Rose Bowl. People favouring this envisioned asking voters to get an additional sales tax or using revenue from the tax passed in 2018 to finance the construction and operation of the lift.

The proposed EagleVail lift alignment. The EagleVail chairlift to Beaver Creek was not accepted by the Forest Service.
The proposed EagleVail lift alignment. The EagleVail chairlift to Beaver Creek was not accepted by the Forest Service.

The Property Owners Association board’s members came to a Metro District meeting in April asking the Metro Board for its blessing to conduct a U$D 15,000 study that would examine if there were ‘fatal flaws’ in the lift plan.

But then the Members of the Metro District suggested to just reach out to the Forest Service and Vail Resorts to see if they support the concept, and the answer was a resounding “no.”

Protection of wildlife, mainly the elk herd.

Mayville wrote in the May 4 email that ‘the entire hillside above EagleVail is an ‘elk refuge’ of sorts – when Beaver Creek was built, (a memorandum of understanding) was signed between the Forest Service, Division of Wildlife, Vail Associates, and others to set aside the area for the protection of wildlife (mainly the elk herd).”

Continue reading “The EagleVail chairlift to Beaver Creek was not accepted by the Forest Service.”

The Patriata chairlift rescue operation was completed after 10 hours.

The Patriata chairlift rescue operation was completed after 10 hours. Muree, Pakistan.

The Patriata chairlift rescue operation was completed after 10 hours.

From The News of Pakistan.

The operation to rescue the picnickers stranded in the Patriata chairlift, Murree in Pakistaan, has been completed after the area’s main attraction broke down on Saturday.

The Patriata chairlift rescue operation was completed after 10 hours. Muree, Pakistan.
The Patriata chairlift rescue operation was completed after 10 hours. Muree, Pakistan.

“All 90 tourists stuck in the cable cars have been rescued to safety and all of them are safe and sound,” said Patriata cable car manager Mohsin Fazal, while talking to Geo News. “Whole cable car system will be checked before it is allowed to resume operation. The cable car operation will remain on hold while the chairlift will remain operational.”

As many as 90 people remained marooned in the air for 10 hours.

The cable car manager said help was sought from the district administration, Rescue 1122, the Civil Defence and the Pakistan Army.

DC Rawalpindi Chaudhry Muhammed Ali Randhawa said there were eight to nine people in every cable and none of the rescued is injured.

Continue reading “The Patriata chairlift rescue operation was completed after 10 hours.”

74 Employees from Vail stuck at Eagle Bahn Gondola- now evacuated.

Eagle Bahn gondola. Photo from LiftBlog. 74 Employees from Vail stuck at Eagle Bahn Gondola- now evacuated.

74 Employees from Vail stuck at Eagle Bahn Gondola- now evacuated.

The Eagle Bahn gondola in Vail Mountain broke down Wednesday morning at 8.35 AM with employees going up to Eagle Nest.

From Vail Daily

Vail Resorts employees going to Eagle’s Nest had to be evacuated on Wednesday morning when the Eagle Bahn gondola stopped. The employees were evacuated safely by Vail Ski Patrol.

Vail's Eagle Bahn gondola evaluation. Photo from Michael Shellenberger. Vail Daily.
Vail’s Eagle Bahn gondola evaluation. Photo from Michael Shellenberger. Vail Daily.

The gondola was not open to the public at that time and was only uploading the employees to get to work in the morning. The gondola and all Epic Discovery activities were closed for the day.

The company states that whatever has caused the gondola to stop will be fixed before re-opening. The Eagle Bahn Gondola was not opened today 4th July, but instead Gondola One out of Vail Village will be open for access via shuttle and hiking from Mid Vail to Eagle’s Nest for the Epic Discovery Activities, on-mountain dining and dinner at the Game Creek Restaurant. There will not be bike hauling availability.

Continue reading “74 Employees from Vail stuck at Eagle Bahn Gondola- now evacuated.”

Green light in Formigal for installation of a new chairlift

Formigal Panticosa ski map. Green light in Formigal for installation on a new chairlift.

Green light in Formigal for installation of a new chairlift

The new lift will improve the connections between Izas and Anayet and will increase the transport capacity.

Formigal, the Spanish ski resort has been given the green light for the installation of a new connection chairlift between the Izas and Anayet areas. In addition, the ski lift will improve the transport capacity that currently stands at 50,000 skiers per hour.

Formigal-Panticosa photo. Green light in Formigal for installation on a new chairlift.
Formigal-Panticosa photo. Green light in Formigal for installation of a new chairlift.

The Aragon Institute of Environmental Management (Inaga), has published in the BOA the resolution for the installation of a new lift, once the modification of the project to improve the connection of the valleys of Izas and Anayet in the expansion of Formigal, that ” you do not need to undergo an environmental impact assessment. ”

Formigal has 180 km skiable including Panticosa.

Continue reading “Green light in Formigal for installation of a new chairlift”

New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season

News lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season. Avoriaz photo.

New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season

Portes du Soleil will be improving its ski area and strengthen the lifts connecting the resorts. SERMA – (Avoriaz Ropeway Operating Company), is launching replacement works for the Léchère chairlift, as well as the construction of a new chairlift and a new red run on Les Cases. The chairlift manufacturer will be from the Bartholet company.

Avoriaz will open a third connection between its ski area and the Swiss resort of Champéry – Les Crosets. This will be made possible with the construction of two new lifts to facilitate the skiing opportunities throughout the Portes du Soleil ski area, composed of 12 resorts with 650 km of linked runs in France and Switzerland.

New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season. Avoriaz photo.
New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season. Avoriaz photo.

The first chairlift will replace the current triple chairlift La Léchère with a high-speed detachable sextuple alleviating the uplift of skiers and riders. The new sextuple will carry 2700 skiers per hour in comparison of the 1,800 carried by the actual triple.

Continue reading “New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season”

$60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

Arizona Snowbowl- Pinterest picture. Micayla Pins. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

$60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

From Arizona Republic

The Flagstaff resort development plans include new lifts, runs and amenities such as mountain biking and a mountain coaster.

Arizona Snowbowl has recently announced that it will invest $60 Million in upgrades including new lifts, night skiing and boarding, and new facilities.

Other activities they are envisioning to include which they are not currently offering are mountain biking, a mountain coaster, alpine slide, zip line tours, a climbing wall and outdoor concerts, broadening their offer for a four-seasons resort.

Arizona Snowbowl- photo: Arizona Republic. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.
Arizona Snowbowl- photo: Arizona Republic. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

General Manager J.R. Murray said: “Obviously there is a growing demand for outdoor recreation, and that is why ski areas are adding year-round activities to utilize the infrastructure on a year-round basis and respond to the demand. And also, the year-round activities diversify the business, so we are not so heavily reliant on winter.”

The improvements will be built over a period of time. If the plans get approval from the U.S. Forest Service, then the work will begin no sooner than 2021 and it will take 10 to 15 years to be completed, Murray said.

Continue reading “$60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.”

Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders flow.

Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

The two new chairlifts are part of the $35 million investment of Vail Resorts into four mountains including Stevens Pass.

These upgrades are aimed at slopes for beginners’ skiers and boarders.

This summer the chairlifts and loading terminals on both the Daisy and Brooks trails are receiving a complete overhaul as part of an investment by owner Vail Resorts.

Stevens Pass: A Frame is being lifted up for Daisy lift. Photo: Vail Resorts. Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders flow.
Stevens Pass: A Frame is being lifted up for Daisy lift. Photo: Vail Resorts. Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

Tom Pettigrew, GM of Stevens Pass Ski Resort said “We listened to what the team had to say about what we could do from an improvement standpoint. This seemed to be where we could focus our investment to have the greatest on-mountain experience change in a positive direction.”

The new quad chair on the Daisy lift access beginners’ terrain and will improve uplift capacity by 33% more. An updated loading area is designed to help beginners loading the lift.

The Brooks terminal is being regraded so skiers have a downhill approach and the chair will be now a quad, doubling the capacity of the double that stand there before.

Continue reading “Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.”