The Mt. Spokane ski area is located in Mt. Spokane State Park, approximately 30 miles northeast of Spokane, Washington. The presently operating ski area was established in 1956 with the installation of a Riblet chairlift and several rope tows. Prior to 1956, two other locations had been utilized briefly for rope tows and an old converted bicable-type freight tramway that was used as a double chairlift for a few years with minimal success due to the improper location on the mountain.
Between 1956 and 1977, an additional lodge and three additional chairlifts were installed to serve the intermediate and expert skiers of the eastern Washington and northern Idaho skier market. The terrain of the mountain always precluded the installation of a chairlift to serve the absolute beginning skier, thus making it very difficult to attract and develop beginners. In the spring of 1977, permission was received from the State Parks Commission to perform a 30,000 cu. yd. excavation and leveling project, to shorten the existing Chairlift #2 and install a beginner’s Chairlift #5 on the resulting man-made beginner terrain.
The selection of a very slow speed of 300 fpm was made to provide a very soft contact between the chair seat and skier during the loading process. This has been vindicated by the ability of the absolute beginners to ride the chairlift after only 10 to 15 minutes of walking around on shortie skis. Most of the beginning ski classes start out on this “Bunny Special.” After riding it a few times, they are able to cope with Chairlift #3, which has a top speed of 450 fpm, but actually takes them on a ride of about 3500 feet to additional beginner and lower-intermediate terrain.
The basic specifications of the unit are:
| Slope length | 1000′ |
| Rise | 149′ |
| Snow depth – lower terminal | 1′ |
| Snow depth – upper terminal | 5′ |
| Snow depth – along line | 5′ |
| Capacity | 1200 pph |
| Maximum speed | 300 fpm |
| Number of chairs | 67 double centerpost |
| Number of towers | 6 pylon-type |
| Lower Terminal | overhead tension, bullwheel load |
| Upper Terminal | overhead drive, bullwheel unload |
| Prime Mover | 40hp squirrel-cage electric motor w/fluid coupling |
| Auxiliary power unit | V8 automobile engine w/automatic transmission |
| Traction rope | 1-1/8″ diameter |
| Line gauge | 10′ |
The single-speed design, using a fluid coupling with squirrel-cage electric motor, was selected due to the fact that speeds slower than 300 fpm are not needed for absolute beginners, and the squirrel-cage motor and fluid coupling are the simplest and most reliable drive combination available. Operator’s training is at a minimum with this type of drive since the chairlift is either “go” or “stop.” There is no speed control required to be learned.
We believe this experience at Mt. Spokane Chairlift #5 is of major importance to the skiing industry at large since the installation and utilization of chairlifts of this caliber make it possible for even the middle-aged nonskier to enjoy himself the first time he puts on a pair of shortie skis and starts up the lift.
The one-year history of this machine has proven this point and has attracted many nonskiers to the sport already. It should be pointed out that three of the chairlifts on Mt. Spokane operate day and night and the new #5 is one of these.
Some apprehension was present concerning the shortening of Chairlift #2 and the creation of the beginner’s lift immediately in front of the lodge, which dictated that all of the skiers, including experts, would have to use Chairlift #5 to leave the lodge area. It was felt that some of the experts would object to this, but such has not been the case. Apparently, the experts all realize that it is absolutely necessary that the industry broaden its facilities to provide “something for the bunny.”
