Detachable vs Fixed Grip Lifts

[Milo Maltbie]

For a long time Windham had a fixed triple running parallel to the detachable quad. There was rarely any wait for the triple, and HS quad was faster to the top even if the corral was full. They still have a fixed grip double that unloads at the steepest part of the mountain and loads above the congestion at the base. Even early before the crowd builds up you can lap the steep side faster on the double than on the HS lift. It was even better when the approach to the loading zone required side stepping up about 10 feet. That made it a private lift for locals, but they ruined it by regrading the entrance.

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[Milo Maltbie]

Although I'd love every lift to be full speed all the time, I find that the close chair spacing / slower speed model is ultimately better. This is because many lifts designed with wider chair spacing still aren't running at full speed, and at abysmal throughput. With tighter chair spacing, a decent capacity can still be maintained at a slower speed.

The K lift at Windham is the perfect example of that. It's a painfully slow fixed grip triple that it still stops often because it mostly serves beginners and adaptive kids. The rope speed you need to load enough chairs on a fixed grip to match the capacity of a detachable is too slow for a practical lift of any length. I'd rather wait at the bottom than ride a lift (and be exposed to wind) for the same amount of time. YMMV

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[Harvey]

Maybe you never spent much time on a 6000ft (or longer) fixed grip chairs - think Killington Peak double, Stowe Mt Mansfield double/single, Mt Snow main double, Gore East double @ 7300ft long to the Saddle.

Nothing compares to the Madonna(?) lift at Smuggs. Seemed like it was running very slow even for a FG.

 

[Ripitz]

Why doesn’t Platty have a detachable? What’s wrong with them? Lol

Lots of good discussion around here and I value everyone’s opinion.

I’m glad we have choices and if I had to choose between Smuggs and Stratton it would be Smuggs e v e r y time.

 

[raisingarizona]

Speaking on lifts I'm working in Big Sky this summer and oh my god this place is pimpiddy pimpin on that front. It's nuts.

 

[raisingarizona]

Nothing compares to the Madonna(?) lift at Smuggs. Seemed like it was running very slow even for a FG.

That's one I wouldn't mid if it were a HSQ but it's really open to the wind etc. so maybe just a new, fast FG would be better.

It's F-in cold man!

 

[Ripitz]

Speaking on lifts I'm working in Big Sky this summer and oh my god this place is pimpiddy pimpin on that front. It's nuts.

Oh yeah, super nuts. They’re not done either.

 

[Campgottagopee]

It's F-in cold man!

It most definitely can be brutal there. M1 will test your long britches, for sure!

 

[tirolski]

this place is pimpiddy pimpin

Please translate.

Tis it good, bad or somewhere in between?

 

[Campgottagopee]

Nothing compares to the Madonna(?) lift at Smuggs. Seemed like it was running very slow even for a FG.

Most likely due to wind, or the possibility of gusting winds. M1 is the only chair I've ever banged off a tower on. Talk about pooping your Gore-Tex.