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SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN, IDAHO
Schweitzer has torn down its venerable Chair 1 and is installing two new Doppelmayr/CTEC lifts this summer that will speed access from the base and ease accessibility to more low-angle intermediate terrain for skiers and snowboarders, including the freestyle terrain park. The lifts increase the resort’s uphill capacity by 28 percent, to 12,800 people per hour, and will relieve traffic pressure on the main Great Escape quad—all for just $6 million.

The Basin Express, a 3,700-foot high-speed detachable quad, will originate in the base area and rise 1,060 vertical feet. From there, the new 2,235-foot fixed-grip Lakeview Triple will rise 775 vertical feet, effectively replacing the top portion of the former Chair 1 and providing access to mostly expert terrain. The Basin Express has an initial capacity of 2,000, and a design capacity of 2,400. It’s driven by a 500 hp motor. The Lakeview capacities are 1,200 initial and 1,800 design, and it’s powered by a 250 hp motor.

Additionally, Schweitzer is sinking $2 million into utilities and an additional $2 million in Prinoth groomers and TechnoAlpin snowmaking equipment, improvements to the Lakeview Lodge, and other chairlift upgrades—making this the largest one-year, on-mountain investment in Schweitzer’s history.


BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN, IDAHO
Like its neighbor, Schweitzer, to the north (see story, above), Brundage is also making its biggest one-year on-mountain investment, $3.1 million, in its history (all 46 years of it), also by installing two new chairlifts—only here, both are Doppelmayr/CTEC triples. The new lifts will add nearly 160 acres of brand new terrain, provide easier access to low-angle terrain, and more than double the total uphill capacity—from 3,100/hr to 6,700/hr.

The Bear Chair, spanning 2,482 feet, with a vertical rise of just over 600 feet, will unload at the top of what is known as Bear Mountain, previously serviced only by a platter tow. This vastly improves service to the mostly novice and low-intermediate terrain and eases congestion elsewhere during busy times. The lift has a 200 hp bottom drive and hydraulic bottom tension; capacity is 1,800/hr.

But the big news is a second new triple chairlift that opens up nearly 160 acres of brand new terrain on the south side of Brundage Mountain. This includes four new runs which vary from rolling slopes to steep pitches, as well as extensive gladed intermediate terrain. “This fills that middle ground that we just haven’t had,” says general manager Rick Certano. The lift will span 3,175 feet, with a vertical rise of 805 feet. This will be a 250 hp DC top drive with bottom tension.

All this leaves Brundage poised to develop 388 acres of land at the area’s base, land it gained via a land swap with the Forest Service. Watch for news of this in the near future.


MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CALIFORNIA
Mammoth is replacing its legendary Chair 9, an aged 1969 Yan double, with a lift more appropriate for the high-volume demands Mammoth now places on it: a $6.5 million high-speed detachable Doppelmayr-CTEC six-pack, dubbed the Cloud Nine Express.

Equally noteworthy is the manner of installation. Despite a low-snow year, Mammoth moved much of the heavy equipment into place over the snow, to avoid the environmental consequences of building roads. The big stuff included several avalanche-worthy tower foundations and five towers, all hauled up by snowcats. The resort also moved sheaves and crossarms over the snow.

The new lift is 5,640 feet long, with a vertical rise of 1,650 feet. The 80 carriers will travel at 1,000 fpm, powered by a DC top-drive 805-hp motor. The lift cuts the ride time in half, to about 6 minutes, and serves the relatively secluded and uncrowded western slopes of Mammoth. "While we anticipate increased usage of the terrain around Chair 9, the chair upgrade will also provide more convenient access to the other side of the mountain," says Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory. As many as 25 percent of weekend customers start their day at the western portal, Eagle Lodge, he notes.


STEAMBOAT, COLORADO
As part of a $16 million on-mountain investment this summer, Steamboat is replacing a series of three older chairlifts with a Leitner-Poma high-speed detachable six-pack. It will become the second major lift out of the base area, in addition to the gondola.

The Christie Peak Express will be 4,700 feet long, with a capacity of 3,200 per hour. It will cut the ride time up Christie Peak from 15 minutes to 5. An angle mid-station with unloading capacity provides lower-mountain, beginner-area access. “The new Christie Peak Express will radically change the entire lower mountain experience,” says Doug Allen, vice president of mountain operations. And it’s environmentally friendly, too. Steamboat will offset the Christie Peak Express’ electricity use with alternative energy, as it has the wind-powered Burgess Creek and solar/wind-powered Sunshine Express lifts.

Steamboat is also dividing the base-area Headwall into three distinct trails, installing two new Magic Carpets and relocating three others as part of the Headwall project, adding a new Headwall chairlift, upgrading the snowmaking system with ductile iron pipe (see related story, page 44) from TRM North America, and improving drainage in the base area. Not to mention $6 million in real-estate upgrades.


BEAR CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA
Since this fast-expanding resort’s hotel sold out nearly every weekend and many midweek nights last season, Bear Creek is adding 65 hotel rooms, to be ready in November 2007. These include 32 standard rooms, 28 suites, four two-story loft suites and one executive suite. The new addition will also feature an outdoor pool and children’s wading pool and a 900-square-foot exercise facility.

With the resort’s popularity for wedding receptions and business conferences, the resort is adding a second 4,500-square-foot banquet facility, a second restaurant, and a spa. The new restaurant/bar will be deli-style service and adjoin the new pool. Last but not least, Bear Creek is adding two corporate board rooms, a conference room with state-of-the-art AV equipment, and a business center.