Detachable vs Fixed Grip Lifts
- Thread starter Harvey
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Ripitz
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- Dec 23, 2020
This little ripper makes short work of them. Badass comes in pint-sizes too.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
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MarzNC
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- Jul 18, 2020
That won't be me for hike-to terrain at Big Sky. Way too many rocks. Even negotiating the top of Challenger to get to the terrain on the front side requires careful attention when the snow cover is on the thin side. Even the top of Liberty is often about avoiding the rocks.
I've improved my technique in the past decade to the point of enjoying double-blacks at Taos in good snow. That means deep powder, going between trees, and no worry about hitting bottom. Haven't done the Ridge hike often, and so far mostly with an instructor. Double-blacks at Taos is the type of terrain I won't ever ski alone. Have done it often enough in the last few years to know it's been worth it more to spend the time and money for lessons during trips out west, as well as at Massanutten. The surprise was that now I enjoy bumps too. The reason to learn to ski bumps was to be able to learn to ski trees where the powder stays fresh a lot longer.
I ski a lot more terrain at Alta these days than before I started taking lessons regularly after knee rehab in 2012. The first run down the far side of Supreme Bowl at speed was quite a rush. Especially since my daughter had already followed Bill earlier that day and was right behind me. She was a better skier than I was by the time she was 11 at Alta Ski School. By that day I knew more than enough to keep up speed and just follow Bill and trust that he knew where he was going. That was not the type of run where there was any place to stop and re-set for quite a while. Probably took less than 3 minutes until there was a place to stop below the bigger rock bands but it felt longer than that. The memory is both fresh and fuzzy at the same time.
Andy_ROC
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- Feb 23, 2021
Because I'd rather spend my time skiing, exploring another run, getting exercise, not sitting on some slow poke chair. What am I missing?
This question is like a golfer saying, "what's wrong with waiting on the group in front of you every shot?" Because I'd rather be hitting the ball and walking to my next shot, not standing around.
This question is like a golfer saying, "what's wrong with waiting on the group in front of you every shot?" Because I'd rather be hitting the ball and walking to my next shot, not standing around.
MarzNC
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- Jul 18, 2020
How much more are you willing to pay for having a bunch of detachable lifts? My sense is that the starting price is at least $1 million and is more likely to be $2-3 million. A fixed-grip quad is a few hundred thousand. Can save even more by moving an existing quad that is still an upgrade to an existing double or triple. That's the approach Boyne has taken in more than one resort over the years.
I fully appreciate having a detachable combined with fixed-grip lifts. Grand Targhee, Waterville Valley, Jiminy Peak, Timberline in WV, and Sugar in NC have taken that approach. I'm sure there are others as well.
Wachusett took the long view and invested in three detachable years ago, including one that only serves two long green trails. But that's essentially an "urban" ski area that has a lot of volume from Boston (under an hour's drive for many people). There are seniors and other who can ski midweek in the mornings, lots of school kids in the afternoons, and all ages at night including the race leagues.
Tjf1967
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- Jul 21, 2020
Jimmy has a high speed six pack that services 95% of their terrain. If they didn't already have the old doubles around I don't think they would install them now.
MarzNC
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- Jul 18, 2020
Agree. But I don't think JP is in any hurry to replace the old lifts. If the 6-pack didn't exist and was a fixed quad, JP would ski very differently midweek. Lines on weekends would be much longer out of the base. The fixed quad that loads mid station is a way to avoid going back to the base for a few runs. I assume that line doesn't get that long on weekends.
Waterville Valley opted to move an old fixed grip triple to Green Mountain instead of spending money on another detachable. I assume that lift doesn't build up much of a line on weekends compared to the detachable that goes up almost to the summit and serves a wide range of terrain from easy blue to black. There are other fixed grip lifts too. The oldest and slowest is going to be replaced soon.
Found the WV MDP from 2019.
Brownski
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- Jul 19, 2020
I know I've said this before so it might be tiresome but Jimmy Peak is the prime example of a high capacity lift ruining a mountain. A fixed grip quad would be plenty there, even on a weekend. I'm glad they're doing well and that they're business is thriving but the "right" thing to do to increase capacity would have been to reacquire and reopen Brody. The hill isn't big enough to handle the number of skiers they get on a weekend. It never will be. It used to be a cool hill. The terrain is great. I haven't been back in a long time but last time I was I thought that it had become a Hunter equivalent. It makes me sad.
raisingarizona
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- Aug 4, 2020
Same here. I’ve always been a proponent for Snowbowl and the new bling bling lifts but the 6 pack was too much. The ski runs are a zoo now. I’m happy for their success but we’ve lost our cool, funky local ski hill.
