SAM Coverage
New Ideas
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Idea Files :: July 2025
A portable mock control panel for training lift operators. CONTROL PANEL TRAINER Monarch Mountain (Colo.) lift operations supervisor Robert Clarkson wanted to make it…
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Idea Files :: May 2024
Clever solutons for on-hill signs, sanitary trash cabinet access, and lift chairlift carriers. SKI TRIPODS This story is from the SAM print archive Subscribers…
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Idea Files :: March 2024
A toolbox makes the perfect housing for an on-mountain phone. PHONE IN A TOOLBOX This story is from the SAM print archive Subscribers can…
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Michael Hammes Named GM at Virginia’s Massanutten Resort
SAM Magazine—Massanutten, Va., Feb. 7, 2024—Industry veteran Michael Hammes has been selected as the new general manager and vice president of Massanutten Resort, a four-season…
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Idea Files :: January 2024
Fan gun monorail, hose roof, and welder cart. This story is from the SAM print archive Subscribers can read the full digitized article…
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Idea Files :: September 2023
A creative counterweight, conveyor location labels, and inexpensive ski racks. This story is from the SAM print archive Subscribers can read the full digitized…
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Idea Files :: May 2023
Ski and snowboard hoods, an accessible snow play area, and uphiller warning lights. The SAM editors had never seen a ski area use covers…
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Idea Files :: January 2023
DIY compressor hoist, bike racks, and conveyor skirting. COMPRESSOR HOIST Saddleback, Maine, snowmaking, grooming, and parks manager Andrew Roy and his team constructed a…
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Idea Files :: November 2022
Clever solutions from Sunlight, Colo., Camelback, Pa., and Lost Valley, Maine, to solve your signage, lift loading, and cup-holding conundrums. Resort signage is often…
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SAM Idea Files :: November 2021
Clever solutions from Mount Pleasant, Pa., for outdoor seating and sled storage. SEATING ALFRESCO To meet a need for outdoor seating, Mount Pleasant,…
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Idea Files :: May 2021
Reused chairs, touchless water fountain, and height measurement. RECYCLE, REUSE, RELAX This idea, and photo, pre-dates the pandemic by 15 years, but it…
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Idea Files :: January 2021
Resorts have crafted a variety of DIY solutions to Covid challenges, such as the mobile signage and temporary walls we describe here. Plus, we…
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Idea Files :: November 2020
Clever solutions for cat track repairs, RTVs, and ice-prone switches. CUSTOM CARRIER Bear Creek’s Kubota RTV is one versatile machine—note the multiple custom…
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Idea Files :: March 2020
DIY motor-room door, big water-bottle holders, and a sheave-wheel carrier. Door for Detachables With their protruding springs and rollers, detachable grips need a…
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Idea Files :: January 2020
DIY auxiliary motor switch, electric panel protector, and best idea of 2019. A WINCH IN TIME SAVES … Removing and hanging chairs on a…
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An Eye for Ideas
A profile of the man who originated this regular feature and how he came to chronicle the collective genius of the mountain ops community.…
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Idea Files :: September 2019
Thermometer calibrator, pipe welding crib, chair winch. THERMOMETER CALIBRATOR A good thermometer is a vital instrument at ski areas, especially for…
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Idea Files :: July 2019
Creating a portable stop gate, carriage travel switch, and sun shade. PORTABLE STOP GATE Portable stop gates are a common accessory for…