Lifts 1978

The new lifts of 1978 represent an increase of 51 percent over last year, which itself was an upturn year from 1976. Most impressive of all, the total VTFH increased a stunning 80 percent. (VTFH stands for vertical transport feet per hour—the number of skiers who can be carried 1,000 feet vertically in one hour—and is a more sensitive measure of investment.)

The growth was all in chairlifts, which went from 66 in 1977 to 109 this year. The surface lift total of 18 was identical to last year’s, but, as a function of all lifts, this category dropped to 14 percent. Clearly, chairlifts increase their dominance.

In addition to the new lifts shown, there was a lot of new capacity added to the total inventory through re-engineered and updated lifts. As many as ten important lifts got new drive terminals, for instance.

A part of life we have come to live with, however, is the lack of new lift-served ski areas, and we again can find only four—the same as last year—coming on line. (A number of new operations have started up with wire rope tows, and perhaps this is what we’ll see more of in the future: the typical 1950’s pattern, where you got into the ski area business with a modest investment in up-ski capability and then built from there.)

A slight skew in the total statistics this year results from the incredible investment made by Keystone (Ralston Purina) in completely rebuilding their newly-purchased Arapahoe Basin. Also influencing the statistics were the big VTFH lifts in the West. There were no less than six with VTFH of over 2,000, and two of these—Sun Valley’s—were in excess of 3,000.

But despite this, the trend toward short, high capacity lifts continues. As last year, 44 percent of all chairs were either triples, quads or were built with the double-double capability. With rising costs a major factor today, it is worth noting that several areas are buying future capacity with 1978 dollars by installing one side of double-double chairlifts—or one side of a double-quad.

Geographically, the greatest growth was in the West, which showed an increase of 122.7 percent in new VTGH, but the figure is misleading, because the West was hurting last year from their snowless winter of 1976-77. If we compare 1978 with 1976 we see a more understandable 29 percent increase. In that light, the more dramatic increase is in the East, where the progression in new lift construction goes: eight in 1976, 15 in 1977 and 33 in 1978.

Canada also shows a healthy increase in VTFH of 55.6 percent over 1977, though this view should be modified in the light of its being a more modest increase of 18 percent over the 1976 figure.

As we said at the beginning, you can look at it from any perspective, but 1978 spelled commitment, investment, future.

Wonderful what a great snow year can do.

TABLE I – WIRE ROPE TOWS

Manufacturers	New Tows	VTFH
Harusch	10*	780
Stadeli	5	500 (est.)

TABLE II – NEW SKI AREAS AND LIFTS BY REGION

Region	New Areas	New VTFH	Surface	Chair	Gondola	Total
East	1	23,108	5	28	–	33
Midwest	1	10,130	–	18	–	18
West	2	52,460	2	43	–	45
Canada	–	22,687	11	20	–	31
Totals	4	108,385	18	109	0	127

TABLE III — COMPARISON WITH PRECEDING YEARS

Region	New Lifts ’78	New Lifts ’77	New Lifts ’76	New Lifts ’75	VTFH ’78	VTFH ’77	VTFH ’76	VTFH ’75
East	33	15	8	16	23,108	12,338	4,046	12,923
Midwest	18	20	12	13	10,130	9,591	4,749	4,901
West	45	25	33	37	52,460	23,551	40,666	24,927
Canada	31	24	25	31	22,687	14,577	19,200	17,534
Totals	127	84	78	97	108,385	60,057	68,661	60,285

TABLE IV – NEW LIFTS BY MANUFACTURER

Manufacturer	Surface	Chair	Gondola	Total
Borvig	1	12	–	13
CanaPoma	2	3	–	5
CTEC	–	1	–	1
Doppelmayr	4	3	–	7
Hall	3	30	–	33
Harusch	2	1	–	3
Lift Engineering	–	21	–	21
Mueller	–	5	–	5
Poma	3	1	–	4
Riblet	–	26	–	26
Samson	1	1	–	2
Skyway	2	3	–	5
Stadeli	–	2	–	2
Totals	18	109	0	127

TABLE V – TOTAL NEW LIFTS BY MANUFACTURER AND VTFH

Manufacturer	Total Aerial	Total Surface	Percent Aerial	Percent Surface
Borvig	8,723	62	8.5	1
CanaPoma	3,158	827	3	10
CTEC	2,340		2.5
Doppelmayr	2,510	3,192	2.5	39
Hall	16,396	708	16.0	8.5
Harusch	549	623	.5	7.5
Lift Engineering	30,900		31
Mueller	6,363		6.5
Poma	302	1,892	.5	23
Riblet	23,419		23.5
Samson	1,038	161	1	2
Skyway	1,035	717	1	9
Stadeli	3,470		3.5
Totals	100,203	8,182	100	100

LIFTS BY STATE

EAST

Location	Type	Manufacturer	Lgth.	Vert.	Cap.	Speed
CONNECTICUT
Mt. Southington, Southington	3C	Borvig	2156	345	1800	450
Mohawk Mt., Cornwall	3C	Hall	2882	560	1800	400
MAINE
Big Rock Ski Area, Mars Hill		Poma	3769	946	700	787
MARYLAND
Wisp, Oakland	2C-ddos	Hall	2418	538	1200	460
MASSACHUSETTS
Blue Hills, Boston	2C	Hall	1192	318	1200	400
Jiminy Peak #3, Hancock	2C-ddos	Riblet	1148	191	1200	400
Jiminy Peak #4, Hancock	2C-ddos	Riblet	3820	1094	1200	500
Mt. Tom, Holyoke	2C	Borvig	3212	660	1200	500
Springfield SC, Blandford	2C	Hall	2143	436	1200	465
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Loon Mt., Lincoln	2C-ddos	Hall	4040	1067	1200	500
NEW JERSEY
Ski Mountain, Pine Hill	2C	Hall	954	127	1200	460
Vernon Valley, Vernon	2C	Borvig	1972	167	600	450
NEW YORK
Big Tupper, Tubber Lake	2C	Hall	2333	619	800	460
*Bonds Lake Park, Williamsville	T	Hall	895	124	1000	450
Greek Peak, Virgil	3C	Hall	3329	646	1725	460
Whiteface Mt., Wilmington	T	Hall	980	440	350	335
Whiteface Mt., Wilmington	2C	Hall	4220	1458	800	465
Win-Sum Ski, Ellicottville	2C	Hall	2096	457	1020	460
PENNSYLVANIA
Big Boulder, Lake Harmony	2C-ddos	Borvig	2010	378	1200	450
Doe Mt., Macungie	2C	Hall	1085	189	1000	400
Eagle Rock, Hazleton	2C-ddos	Borvig	2495	498	1200	450
Mt. Pleasant, Cambridge Spring	T	Poma	1627	254	650	463
Seven Springs, Champion	3C	CTEC	2728	650	3600	400
Shawnee, Shawnee	2C	Borvig	3088	665	1200	480
Shawnee, Shawnee	2C	Borvig	680	90	1200	350
Spring Mt., Spring Mountain	2C	Hall	1933	343	1043	400
TENNESSEE
Chattanooga, Tiftonia	2C	Riblet	1720	450	750	200
Gatlinburg	2C	Riblet	1566	279	500-750	200-300
VERMONT
Burke Mt., E. Burke	2C-ddos	Hall	3997	604.5	1200	490
Mt. Snow	3C	Lift Engineering	7370	1545	1800	550
Pico Peak, Rutland	P	Poma	2500	800	1000	793
Sugarbush, Warren	3C	Borvig	2775	825	1800	450
Suicide Six, Woodstock	2C	Poma	1600	302	1000	492

MIDWEST

Location	Type	Manufacturer	Lgth.	Vert.	Cap.	Speed
INDIANA
*Paoli Peaks, Paoli	4C	Hall	1465	286	2400	370
MICHIGAN
Mt. Brighton, Brighton	3C	Hall	977	171	1800	350
Mt. Holly, Holly	4C	Hall	1158	183	2000	360
Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs	4C	Riblet	1735	398	2400	400
Swiss Valley, Jones	3C	Hall	1157	180	1800	400
MINNESOTA
Buck Hill, Burnsville	4C	Hall	1194	251	2400	360
Mt. Kato, Mankato	2C	Hall	1159	162	1200	400
Mt. Kato, Mankato	2C	Hall	647	85.6	1000	340
Wild Mt., Taylors Falls	4C	Borvig	1156	268	2400	400
OHIO
Alpine Valley, Chesterland	4C	Hall	1491	212	2300	400
Brandywine, Northfield	4C-dqos1	Borvig	1051	168	2400	350
Clear Forks, Butler	4C	Riblet	999	190	2400	400
Sugarcreek, Bellbrook	4C	Riblet	935	150	2400	400
SOUTH DAKOTA
Terry Peak, Lead	4C	Riblet	3210	810	1920	400
WISCONSIN
Cascade Mt., Portage	4C	Hall	2456	404	2400	420
Devil’s Head, Merrimac	4C	Hall	1322	306	1641	400
Whitecap, Montreal	4C	Hall	1902	326	2400	400
Wilmot Mountain, Wilmot	4C	Riblet	780	187	2400	350

WEST

Location	Type	Manufacturer	Lgth.	Vert.	Cap.	Speed
ALASKA
Anchorage Ski Club	2C	Riblet	4544	1214	1200	500
Eaglecrest, Juneau	2C	Riblet	3160	632	1200	450
CALIFORNIA
Boreal Ridge	2C	Lift Engineering	900	120	1200	300
Echo Summit, S. Lake Tahoe	2C	Riblet	1383	426	1200	400
Echo Summit, S. Lake Tahoe	2C	Riblet	1400	423	1200	400
Goldmine, Big Bear Lake	2C	Riblet	1965	600	1200	400
Heavenly Valley, S. Lake Tahoe	3C2	Lift Engineering	3720	1624	1800	550
Holiday Hill, Wrightwood	2C	Hall	838	74	1200	315
Homewood	2C	Lift Engineering	3630	1029	1200	500
Homewood	2C	Lift Engineering	2730	709	1100	500
June Mt., June Lake	2C	Riblet	1250	350	1100	300
Sundown, Kirkwood	3C	Riblet	3604	689	1800	450
Sundown, Kirkwood	2C	Riblet	3060	784	1200	500
Mt. Baldy	2C	Mueller	2691	1020	1400	450
Sierra Ski Ranch, Twin Bridges	2C	Lift Engineering	5240	1596	1200	500
Sierra Ski Ranch, Twin Bridges	2C	Lift Engineering	3455	852	1200	475
Squaw Valley	3C	Lift Engineering	7440	1624	1800	550
Squaw Valley	2C	Lift Engineering	2905	692	1200	475
Yosemite & Curry	T	Hall	1845	358	1200	450
COLORADO
Arapahoe Basin	3C	Lift Engineering	2775	711	1800	475
Arapahoe Basin	2C	Lift Engineering	3520	1329	1200	525
Arapahoe Basin	2C	Lift Engineering	3780	910	1200	500
Arapahoe Basin	2C	Lift Engineering	415	62	1200	350
Breckenridge	2C	Riblet	3360	916	1200	450
Snowmass, Aspen	2C	Riblet	4725	1354	1125	500
Winter Park	3C	Lift Engineering	5375	1170	2000	525
IDAHO
Sun Valley	2C	Lift Engineering	1170	186	1200	475
Sun Valley	3C	Lift Engineering	4290	1739	1800	550
Sun Valley	3C	Lift Engineering	5135	1844	1800	550
MONTANA
Big Mountain, Whitefish	3C	Stadeli	5400	1830	1000	500
Bridger Bowl, Bozeman	2C	Riblet	4640	1165	1200	500
Bridger Bowl, Bozeman	2C	Riblet	3945	540	1200	450
Showdown, Great Falls	3C	Stadeli	4170	1025	1600	450
NEVADA
Ski Incline	2C	Lift Engineering	805	50	1200	450
NEW MEXICO
Sierra Blanca, Ruidoso	2C	Riblet	900	110	1200	300
OREGON
Mt. Ashland	2C	Lift Engineering	2050	751	1200	500
Timberline, Govt. Camp	2C	Riblet	5721	1642	900	500
UTAH
Alta	2C	Lift Engineering	5120	1305	1200	475
Brianhead, Cedar City	3C	Lift Engineering	2240	425	1800	475
Parley’s Summit, Park City	2C	Hall	2069	439	1025	460
WASHINGTON
49-deg North	2C	Riblet	5100	1595	950	500
*Skyline, Dayton	J	Borvig	1050	103	600	400
*Skyline, Dayton	3C	Borvig	4541	1123	1800	500
WYOMING
Jackson Hole	2C	Riblet	4120	1202	1175	450
Wyoming Slide, Jackson	2C	Hall	2016	555	1200	475

CANADA

LIFTS BY PROVINCE

Location	Type	Manufacturer	Lgth.	Vert.	Cap.	Speed
ALBERTA
Assiniboine, Sunshine Village	T	Doppelmayr	1686	276	1210	600
Fortress	2C	Doppelmayr	2707	630	1300	500
Mt. Joy Ski Club, Lloydminster	T	Skyway	2074	286	1200	410
Paskapoo	3C	Hall	1768	330	1800	400
Rabbitt Hill, Edmonton	3C	Hall	1346	229	1800	400
Sunshine Village, Banff	2C	Mueller	4127	1282	1200	500
Wa-Wa, Sunshine Village	T	Doppelmayr	2384	538	1300	600
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Apex Alpine, Penticton	2C	Riblet	4630	1554	1200	500
Diamond Head, Squamish	3C	Harusch	1645	305	1800	450
Fernie Snow Valley, Fernie	2C	Mueller	5085	1082	1200	500
Garibaldi, Whistler	2C	Mueller	4094	881	1440	450
Murray Ridge, Fort St. James	T	Doppelmayr	6470	1673	830	790
Panorama	2C	Doppelmayr	1672	407	1400	470
Mt. Arrowsmith, Vancouver Isl.	T	Harusch	2095	460	750	520-600
Mt. Arrowsmith, Vancouver Isl.	T	Harusch	1840	370	750	520-600
Tillicum Valley, Vernon	2C	Mueller	2615	[illegible]	1200	475
White Water, Nelson	T	Doppelmayr	2211	[illegible]	1300	570
MANITOBA
Mt. Agassiz, McCreary	2C	Skyway	2872	506	1200	475
ONTARIO
Bethany	3C	Borvig	1620	333	2100	450
Blue Mt., Collingwood	2C	Canapoma	3730	671	1800	425
Caledon SC, Mississauga	3C	Hall	774	206.5	1800	400
Dagmar SC, Ashburn	3C	Skyway	1100	165	2100	450
Devil’s Elbow SC, Bethany	2C	Skyway	573	68	1200	410
QUEBEC
Castor, CAFB, Val Cartier	2C	Samson	4120	865	1200	500
Caniapiscau, James Bay	T	Samson	1700	230	700	450
Edelweiss Valley, Wakefield	2C	Canapoma	2900	560	1200	480
Le Parc du Mont Comi, St. Donat	P	Canapoma	2015	595	800	650
Mont Ste Marie	2C	Canapoma	4780	1065	1200	480
Olympia, Piedmont	3C	Doppelmayr	3091	623	1800	455
Ski Montcalm, Rawdon	T	Canapoma	2060	351	1000	420
SASKATCHEWAN
Duck Mt., Kamsack	T	Skyway	1525	312	1200	450

Legend:

• *New area for 1978-79
• ddos: Double-double one side
• dqos: Double-quad one side
• 1. Both sides one hill, 1800/slope
• 2. Gondola operation in summer