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September 2008

Construction Site :: September 2008

Guests can look forward to bigger facilities, more terrain and more snow at many resorts this coming season.

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BRIDGER BOWL, MONTANA
As part of its first lift-served terrain expansion in 30 years, Bridger is installing a reconditioned double chair. The Schlasman’s Chair, named for the drainage it serves, will add 311 acres to its infamous expert-only Ridge terrain, which has had hike-to access only. The terrain expands Bridger’s official total by about a third. It’s gnarly stuff: the steep chutes and bowls of the Ridge terrain have no markings, no grooming, no signs. And that’s the inbounds terrain. The lift also provides access to unpatrolled backcountry terrain. Not surprisingly, skiers and riders will be required to have an avalanche transceiver to access this lift; partners and shovels are recommended.

The chair, Snowbird’s former Peruvian lift, is a 1976 Doppelmayr. Vertical rise will be 1,700 feet. Slope length is around 3,800 feet. This expansion will give Bridger a total of 2,600 feet of lift-served vertical.

Bridger brought the lift up to spec with new chairs, haul rope, and four new tower assemblies, along with new sheaves and liners. The top terminal has been redesigned a bit as well. The lift also has a new DC drive, but the existing 150 hp motor. Bridger is reusing the bottom terminal (but replacing the counterweight with hydraulic tensioning), towers, and gear box.

Given the remote location, the top terminal and several tower foundations were (or will be) dug with a mini excavator, compressor and jackhammer. Aside from the bottom terminal, which was installed in summer 2007, all concrete and towers will go in via helicopter. The challenge will be to complete the job before the snow arrives; work was delayed this spring by the late meltoff. Jeff Kelso of Summit Lifts is serving as foreman for the otherwise all-Bridger crew.


BRISTOL MOUNTAIN, New York
About 100 local volunteers joined forces with New Energy Works timberframers in June to hand raise a new lodge for Bristol Mountain’s 125-member volunteer ski patrol. The multi-year effort evolved from the patrol’s need to keep up with the resort’s expansion. The new lodge will serve as the main hilltop facility for patrol operations.

Scott Mundrick, Bristol’s ski patrol director, says the facility “will set the architectural tone for future buildings in that area.” New Energy Works designed the nearly 1,000-square-foot eco-friendly facility as a contemporary interpretation of a Swiss chalet. It has a traditional, eco-friendly timber frame of Douglas fir and white pine, pegged together with mortise and tenon joints (no nails). Other elements are state-of-the-art green. A Matrix wall system provides thermal efficiency, structural stability, and flexibility of electrical and mechanical systems installation. Structural insulated roof panels and a south-facing wall of windows add more thermal efficiency. One other green piece: The flooring is made of recycled rubber tires. A maintenance-free metal roof caps the entire project.


CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN
The new Crystal Spa, a $4 million, 13,000-square-foot expansion to the resort’s existing indoor pool and fitness center, will be good for the health of individuals and the planet, while adding to Crystal’s year-round attractions. It will focus broadly on health and wellness and will be among the first LEED-certified mountain resort facilities (and the first LEED spa) in the Midwest.

The spa facility is divided into “active” and “quiet” zones. On the active side, the resort is adding space to its existing pool and fitness center for updated cardio equipment, as well as for a movement studio and retail space. The low-energy quiet side of the spa is all about relaxation with three manicure, three pedicure, and 12 treatment rooms, including two wet rooms. Plus a relaxation room, and an outdoor meditation garden with hot tub and private patio garden that will operate year-round.

To obtain LEED certification, the new spa meets energy efficiency goals, uses no-chemical and recycled materials, relies heavily on natural light, and incorporates heat pumps. Crystal has also installed special insulation to greatly reduce air movement and taken water-saving steps throughout the spa.


THE SUMMIT AT SNOQUALMIE, WASHINGTON
Snoqualmie is replacing the Silver Fir triple chair, a Riblet installed in 1988, with the new $4.5 million Leitner-Poma Silver Fir Express quad this summer. Located just east of The Summit’s Central Base Area, the quad is expected to be ready by November, in time for the 2008-09 season. Silver Fir accesses many gladed trails “and allows for easy connectivity between two of our base areas, Summits Central and East,” says general manager Dan Brewster. “This improvement marks the start of an exciting new phase at The Summit.” It’s the first new lift at the area in a decade.

Workers began to disassemble the old chair (pictured here) in July. The new lift follows the same alignment and serves the same terrain as the existing chair, but ride time shrinks from 10-plus minutes to just over four minutes. Lift capacity increases to 2,400 skiers per hour. The lift rises 1,030 vertical feet over a length of 3,840 feet. It has a 500 hp AC drive, with bottom drive and tension.


WHITETAIL, PENNSYLVANIA
Whitetail Resort has added a beginner trail, its first terrain expansion since 1994, and is equipping it with snowmaking and lighting as part of a $2.7 million capital program this summer. The area is also installing a pre-owned Hall double for its terrain park.

The new trail, meandering for more than 2,800 feet in length and over 80 feet in width, fills the gap between Whitetail’s existing beginner area and its other novice terrain. The 26 Areco Standard fan guns (30-nozzle models) and a new VFD pump from Ratnik add firepower; Whitetail can now pump 7,700 gpm. The terrain park lift, a 1,000-foot Hall double chairlift circa 1980 that was last in service elsewhere in Pennsylvania, has been fully refurbished. It has bottom AC drive, a 35 hp motor, and bottom counterweight tensioning.