Detachable vs Fixed Grip Lifts

[Ripitz]

As for a certain poster's (cough cough Ripitz) reference to skiing Smuggs every time vs Stratton, go to Smuggs on a midwinter Saturday with temps in the single digits and the wind is blowing steady 20mph with gusting and wait around for 20 minutes for your turn to get on the Madonna double and then enjoy the 17 minute ride (including stops)to the top. Then tell us how much fun that was.

I haven’t been to Smuggs in 35 years and I should really get there before they ruin it. I was at Magic three years ago when the temps were single digits and waited 30 minutes for the Red Chair to open. There was a breakdown the week before that had left people stranded leading to an evac and this was the reopening after repairs. I got 3rd chair wondering if it would make it to the top. Because of situations like this, I always ski with a pack with extra clothes and on the coldest days, a small down quilt. I made it to the summit and had a fun time skiing the only run open, Magic Carpet. It’s not for everyone and that’s what’s great about it.

 

[raisingarizona]

Since yer raisingarizona figured ya’d like it.

The Coen boys are genius.

Albso-fucking-loutely

 

[raisingarizona]

Madonna lift stats and reviews from Lift Blog
Hall Double installed in 1963, Dopplemayer CTEC did some refurbishment in 2002 including lowering some towers
Length 6719ft, 174 chairs
Vertical 2150ft
Capacity 800
There are 2 different posters who have claimed the Madonna speed they measured is 530FPM/12:45 ride time and 550FPM/12 min ride time. Doubles can easily run at 500FPM with the proper chair spacing. Mad River Glen claims they run the single at 600FPM.

Madonna – Smugglers’ Notch, VT

Visit the post for more.

liftblog.com

The loading and unloading of doubles remain issues with lots of stopping/restarting negating the potential 550FPM speed.
Also, the chair gap needed to run at these speeds kills some capacity which is a huge problem on weekends here in the East. One more factor is the wind playing havoc with the lighter double chairs (a big boy like Camp bounced into a tower?!?) vs heavier quads and larger chairs of today. When you add all these factors up, there is a lot of extra standing around in the lift lines that we lived with prior to HS lifts.

As for a certain poster's (cough cough Ripitz) reference to skiing Smuggs every time vs Stratton, go to Smuggs on a midwinter Saturday with temps in the single digits and the wind is blowing steady 20mph with gusting and wait around for 20 minutes for your turn to get on the Madonna double and then enjoy the 17 minute ride (including stops)to the top. Then tell us how much fun that was.

Now I know that Smuggs has awesome terrain, but if you are only getting a little more than 1 run an hour on a normal weekend day, you are not going to get to see much of the mountain.

7-8 laps on liftline with soft snow and we good!

 

[Harvey]

There are 2 different posters who have claimed the Madonna speed they measured is 530FPM/12:45 ride time and 550FPM/12 min ride time. Doubles can easily run at 500FPM with the proper chair spacing. Mad River Glen claims they run the single at 600FPM.

If that thing is only 20% (100 fpm) slower then the MRG single, I am stunned. That single seems way fast to me.

Maybe it's because I feel like I am going to fall out of it.

Or maybe the Madonna seems slower because it's like 4,000,000 feet long.

Or maybe it's both.

 

[tirolski]

If that thing is only 20% (100 fpm) slower then the MRG single, I am stunned. That single seems way fast to me.
Maybe it's because I feel like I am going to fall out of it.
Or maybe the Madonna seems slower because it's like 4,000,000 feet long.
Or maybe it's both.

Hope y’all know time traveling is legalized.
All ya ever get is now.

 

[x10003q]

If that thing is only 20% (100 fpm) slower then the MRG single, I am stunned. That single seems way fast to me.

Maybe it's because I feel like I am going to fall out of it.

Or maybe the Madonna seems slower because it's like 4,000,000 feet long.

Or maybe it's both.

Those observations might have been taken in perfect conditions of high enough demand and mellow weather to warrant those speeds. Also, MRG claims they run it at 600, but that might be under perfect situations, too. Running slower uses less electricity/less cost. I would guess most places run their lifts slower in low demand times or not at all.

 

[Milo Maltbie]

ANSI standards are that singles may run a 600 fpm, and doubles at 550. I think the MRG single runs at full speed most of the time, and I also think they overclock in at peak times. I think it's unusual for doubles to run at full speed. IME experience running doubles faster has always cause empty chairs and lots of stoppages. I suspect the maximum capacity of a double requires less than full speed. Maximum capacity of a fixed quad requires a managed corral and speeds something like the North chair.

mm

 

[raisingarizona]

Hope y’all know time traveling is legalized.
All ya ever get is now.

I did a little time traveling a couple weeks ago with some scotch, wine and beers. I think it was a good time but the two days after are highly overrated.

 

[tirolski]

I did a little time traveling a couple weeks ago with some scotch, wine and beers. I think it was a good time but the two days after are highly overrated.

My best time traveling happens when I sleep or nap and dream.

The hounds get there paws and yips going at times when they’re asleep.
They be totally sober.

 

[tirolski]

I did a little time traveling a couple weeks ago with some scotch, wine and beers. I think it was a good time but the two days after are highly overrated.

It’s turtles all the way down.

Yer mileage may vary.