The Ski Resort Gudauri in Georgia is rebuilding one lift and adding six new lifts by Doppelmayr and Poma.

The ski resort Gudauri is rebuilding one of its lifts and is installing six new lifts by renowned companies Doppelmayr and Poma. These lifts will increase the skiers uplift capacity by 3.5 times and help in reducing queues.

As a result of this, the ski area will be expanded with new trails by 20 per cent due to the installation of the new lifts and the reconstruction of the existing one. A second phase of installation of artificial snow making system will be installed in Gudauri. This will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season in a second piste. The first phase was installed for the 2015 ski season.

Gudauri ski resort will reconstruct one lift and add six new lifts from Doppelmayr and Poma. Photo: Mountain Resorts of Georgia.
Gudauri ski resort will reconstruct one lift and add six new lifts from Doppelmayr and Poma. Photo: Mountain Resorts of Georgia.

The Mountain Resorts Development Company, which depends from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, has trained its staff’s qualification in accordance to European standards. We have already reported of this in a post. Employees understood a series of technical training this year.

Continue reading “The Ski Resort Gudauri in Georgia is rebuilding one lift and adding six new lifts by Doppelmayr and Poma.”

Vallnord-Pal Arinsal, Andorra. Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift

A chairlift takes you up Vallnord-Pal Arinsal . Photo Vallnord- Pal Arinsal. Vallnord-Pal Arinsal, Andorra. Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift.

The director of the Vallnord-Pal Arinsal (Andorra) ski resort, Josep Marticella, has assured that these degradations will not affect the station’s opening forecast, set for December 1st. He denounced, however, an attempt to “sabotage”.

The Andorran police opened an investigation after an alleged “sabotage” attempt against ski lifts at the Pal ski resort in Vallnord, in the parish of La Massana, one of the seven in the principality, it was reported Tuesday with the police.

Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift.
Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift. Ouest France Facebook page

The police were required Monday by the station officials for “a cable cut” on a chairlift while the station has not yet opened.

Continue reading “Vallnord-Pal Arinsal, Andorra. Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift”

Cairngorm Mountain’s funicular to be shut for the ski season?

The Cairngorm Mountain's funicular might not open this coming season. Photo: Cairngorm Mountain

 CairnGorm Mountain’s funicular railway could be out of action for the whole of the upcoming ski season- as per the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The UK’s highest railway has already been closed for about one month due to problems with the structure supporting its tracks.

Early December there will be a report from engineers on their investigation of this issue.

Cairngorm Mountain's economy might suffer if the funicular does not open this season.
Cairngorm Mountain’s economy might suffer if the funicular does not open this season.

HIE said that the ‘worst case scenario’ would be for the railway to be closed. Obviously this raised alarm bells and is cause of concern on the impact it will have locally.

Continue reading “Cairngorm Mountain’s funicular to be shut for the ski season?”

New investments in Whistler Blackcomb to enhance the guest experience will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season

Whistler- The effect that looks like a sea of clouds- Photo by Paul Morrison - Whistler Blackcomb - Vail Resorts. New investments in Whistler Blackcomb to enhance the guest experience will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season
  • Whistler Blackomb, owned by Vail Resorts, has invested CAD66 million (USD 52 million) at Whistler Blackcomb, including a new gondola-to-gondola-to-gondola connection.
  • This historic investment accelerates the Renaissance plan’s mountain improvements, with a focus on the heart of the resort, and defers consideration of new water park

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) announced last year that the historic investment of CAD$66 million (USD$52 million) at Whistler Blackcomb for the 2018-19 season which focused on three new lifts at the heart of the resort. This transformative investment featured the addition of a new gondola on the Blackcomb side of the mountain, as well as several other lift infrastructure upgrades, providing quicker, easier access to all levels of terrain. The plan also represented the largest single-year capital investment program in the resort’s history, and the Company’s decision to accelerate the mountain improvements included in the Renaissance plan, while deferring consideration of the new water park.

A family uses the Peak to Peak Gondola in Whistler Blackcomb. Photo by John Entwistle- Whistler Blackcomb- Vail Resorts. New investments in Whistler Blackcomb to enhance the guest experience will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season
A family uses the Peak to Peak Gondola in Whistler Blackcomb. Photo by John Entwistle- Whistler Blackcomb- Vail Resorts. New investments in Whistler Blackcomb to enhance the guest experience will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season

A new 10-passenger gondola is replacing the Wizard and Solar chairlifts and ascend from the base to the top of Blackcomb Mountain, terminating adjacent to the existing PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which transports guests to and from Blackcomb and Whistler. Upon completion for the start of the season, the new gondola will offer guests a more comfortable and weather-protected experience in the first three-gondola connection in the world, enhancing the longest continuous lift system. The new gondola is expected to represent a 47-percent capacity increase and move 4,000 people per hour, the highest capacity in North America.

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News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19

Ischgl - Copyright: Tirol Werbung- Jarisch Manfred. News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19.

News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19

Tirol, the renowned winter sports destination in the Alps, keeps investing in its infrastructure. The Tirolean lift companies are dedicated to ensuring the balance between nature and tourism. Here’s a quick look at the most important news and events this winter.

  • Ischgl invests €25 million in its ski area

The Gampenbahn, built in 1988, will be demolished and replaced by a six-person chairlift. It will start at 1924 m and carry up to 2,800 passengers per hour to 2,848 m above sea level. The 900 m height difference will set a world record for this kind of ski lift. In addition, two new restaurants will open in the area.

Valley Station Gampenbahn  with restaurant. Copyright: Silvrettaseilbahn AG. News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19.
Valley Station Gampenbahn with restaurant. Copyright: Silvrettaseilbahn AG. News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19.
  • Two new lifts for Kitzbühel

In Kitzbühel, two new lifts within the existing ski resort boundaries will start running on 08.12.2018. These lifts will improve capacity in the increasingly popular Kitzbüheler Horn while maintaining its status as a quiet family ski area. The cost of this along with the expanded snowmaking facilities amounts to around €17 million.

The “6SB Brunelle” chairlift features special wind stabilisers, which will keep wind sensitivity to a minimum. The new lift will also be equipped with heated seats made from real leather, covers and mechanical safety bars.

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Vail Resorts closes it acquisition of Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

Crested Butte. Colorado, photo credit Robb Pennie. Crested Butte is now part of Vail Resorts and is EPIC, with Okemo Mountain Resort and Mount Sunapee Resort.

Vail Resorts closes it acquisition of Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

  • The Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass and Military Epic Pass now include unlimited, unrestricted access to Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the 2018-19 season
  • Passes for the 2018-19 season are currently on sale, with prices increasing Oct. 7
Okemo resort is one of the resorts sold by the Mueller's to Vail Resorts. Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort are now EPIC.
Okemo resort is one of the resorts sold by the Mueller’s to Vail Resorts. Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort are now EPIC.

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today announced that the Company has closed on its acquisition of Triple Peaks, LLC, the parent company of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado. The Company purchased Triple Peaks from the Mueller family for a final purchase price of approximately $74 million, after adjustments for certain agreed-upon terms. As part of the transaction and with funds provided by Vail Resorts, Triple Peaks paid off $155 million in leases that all three resorts had with Ski Resort Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Oz Real Estate.
Continue reading “Vail Resorts closes it acquisition of Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort.”

Launch of the new SCHILTHORN 20XX cableway project

The planned aerial shuttle cableway consists of 3 sections with 2 cabins each (Stechelberg – Mürren – Birg – Schilthorn). Its distinguishing feature is the replacement of the existing transport cableway from Stechelberg to Mürren by a new shuttle cableway as the 1st section, thus eliminating the need for a changeover.

Around 50 years after access to the Schilthorn – Piz Gloria was opened up by cable car, Schilthorn Cableway Ltd has presented the new project SCHILTHORN 20XX. The idea behind it is to replace the current cable car with a new aerial cableway. Based on the existing buildings and lines, the new infrastructure and cableway will ensure public transport connections to and from Gimmelwald and Mürren and optimize access to the Schilthorn – Piz Gloria excursion peak.

A model image of how the Schilthorn 20XX project will look like. Schilthorn 20XX.
A model image of how the Schilthorn 20XX project will look like. Schilthorn 20XX.

The current aerial cableway dates from 1965 (linking Stechelberg – Gimmelwald – Mürren – Birg) and 1967 (Birg – Schilthorn). While many electromechanical components have been continuously replaced, the structural infrastructure remains largely in its original state. The 2016 – 2026 financial plan includes age-related measures on the aerial cableway, which are due to be implemented in the next few years to comply with existing regulations. The cableway has also comprehensively exhausted its capacity reserves. Today, the 100-passenger cabins can only carry a maximum of 80 passengers, due to increasing space requirements (passengers now weigh more on average; rising transport volumes of equipment for leisure activities etc.) At the same time, passenger numbers have risen both in summer and winter in recent years.

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A fire destroys Chamonix cable car months before the resort opens for winter- Grands Montets ski area opening informations

A fire destroys Chamonix cable car in the Grands Montets ski area, but the area will open for the winter.

Compagnie du Mont Blanc press release- In the early afternoon of Tuesday 11th September, a fire broke out during work to repair the roofing of the upper station of the 1st cable-car between Argentière & Lognan (Les Grands Montets ski area). This work was entrusted to a specialist sub-contractor.
The fire spread almost instantaneously throughout all the buildings of the arrival station, creating severe damage to the infrastructures of the two cable-cars.

Les Grands Montets funicular on the ground, luckily there were no victims.
Les Grands Montets funicular on the ground, luckily there were no victims.

Continue reading “A fire destroys Chamonix cable car months before the resort opens for winter- Grands Montets ski area opening informations”

Leitner presents the “Matterhorn Glacier Ride” the world’s highest cablecar, located in Zermatt designed by Pininfarina and showcasing Swarovski crystals.

The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

Zermatt’s latest attraction, the “Matterhorn glacier ride”, is set to open at the end of September. The world’s highest 3S cableway, combining the ultimate in design sophistication with maximum comfort, will serve Europe’s highest cableway station. The new 3S cable car ride built by LEITNER ropeways will enable visitors to reach the Klein Matterhorn, a popular destination for excursions, 365 days a year. The making of the “Matterhorn glacier ride” is a story as extraordinary as the ride itself. A total of 38 companies from Switzerland and Italy have been involved in Zermatt Bergbahnen AG’s largest-ever construction project. With the project due to be completed in an incredible 600 working days, they are turning the vision of the “Matterhorn glacier ride” into reality.  Zermatt Bergbahnen AG and LEITNER ropeways worked together with Swarovski to produce a very special premium product: a state-of-the-art ropeway technology in Pininfarina design meets premium crystal finishing, and provides an as-yet unrivalled level of finishing and design.

The station for the 3s Bahn that will ride to the Klein Matterhorn. Zermatt Bergbahnen. Zermatt Tourism Office.
The station for the 3s Bahn that will ride to the Klein Matterhorn. Zermatt Bergbahnen. Zermatt Tourism Office.

Europe’s highest construction site

145 people from 38 different companies have been involved in the biggest construction project in the history of Zermatt Bergbahnen AG. From September 2018, the 3S (three-cable system) cableway will transport up to 2000 passengers an hour to Matterhorn glacier paradise (Klein Matterhorn) – 365 days a year.

The Klein Matterhorn usually has daytime temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees, wind speeds reaching 240 km/h, heavy snow and dense fog.

Continue reading “Leitner presents the “Matterhorn Glacier Ride” the world’s highest cablecar, located in Zermatt designed by Pininfarina and showcasing Swarovski crystals.”

Jungfrau V-bahn railway project gets green light overcoming opposition

Jungfrau v-bahn railway project gets green light.

The controversial Jungfrau V-bahn railway project gets green light overcoming opposition.

The Federal Office of Transport has approved a CHF400 million ($405 million) mountain railway project that will carry tourists faster up to the Jungfraujoch in the Bernese Alps. The project has been modified to appease local opponents who had raised environmental and aesthetic concerns.

At the heart of the controversial plan is a V-shaped cable car route that would allow more tourists to swiftly reach the Eiger Glacier station from where they can take the mountain railways to the Jungfraujoch “Top of Europe” tourist station.

Photomontage of the possible new situation in the ground in Grindelwald. Left the new Männlichenbahn, right the Eiger Express and the parking garage. Both planned new buildings are marketed under the name V project
Photomontage of the possible new situation in the ground in Grindelwald. Left the new Männlichenbahn, right the Eiger Express and the parking garage. Both planned new buildings are marketed under the name V project.

Local authorities and residents of the Bernese Alps feared the “Eiger express” line, which would start from the village of Grindelwald, would disfigure the landscape. Seventeen objections were made but advocates gave up the fight in February accepting in exchange a donation for a good cause.

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