Loon Mountain Installs New High Speed Lift for 2004-05

[Greg]

Originally Posted by loonmtn.com

Loon Mountain Installs New High Speed Lift for the 2004-05 Ski Season - 28th June 2004

North Peak to get faster lift access, wider trails, lodge improvements

LINCOLN, N.H. - Loon Mountain, a premier New Hampshire resort, announced that they will be installing a new Doppelmayr CTEC high-speed detachable quad chairlift on its North Peak in time for 2004-2005 winter operations.

The chair will reduce the ride time to the summit from 9.5 to 4.8 minutes. The lift is 4820 feet long and rises to an elevation of 1563.

"The installation of this new lift is the start of many good things to come here at Loon," stated Rick Kelley, General Manager for the resort. "The North Peak, which is marking its 20th anniversary this season, offers our guests some of the best cruising terrian at Loon. This lift will make it easier and faster than ever to reach these trails. It will also reduce lift lines as skiers and riders will be able to get up and onto the mountain more quickly."

The addition of the lift is part of an overall upgrade to the North Peak area of the resort, which will include the widening of the Flume trail and clearing of glades, plus the addition of a deck around the Camp III mid-mountain lodge.

Loon opens for the winter season in mid-November 2004 and plans to have the new lift in place in time for Christmas vacation week.

Loon is open for summer operations June 26 through October 19, 2004, featuring gondola skyrides, horseback riding, climbing wall, mountain biking, summit restaurant, gift shops and fun family events. For more information on summer operations call 603-745-8111, or go towww.loonmtn.com.

Threedom passes for the 2004-2005 season are already on sale and may be purchased at www.threedompass.com or calling 1-866-271-8366. "With the new lift and North Peak trail improvements, Threedom Passholders will receive an even greater value than before. There's never been a better time to purchase a Threedom Pass," stated Loon's marketing director, Kathy Bennett.

Loon Mountain is located on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire, 2 hours north of Boston, 3 miles from Exit 32 off Interstate 93. In recent years, SKI magazine commended Loon Mountain for snow quality, grooming, family programs and accessibility. Loon is part of the Booth Creek family of resorts, which includes: Cranmore Mountain Resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe, the Summit-at-Snoqualmie and Waterville Valley.

Great news for Loon fans!!!

[riverc0il]

"It will also reduce lift lines as skiers and riders will be able to get up and onto the mountain more quickly."

this isn't exactly true. a HSQ will have roughly the same uphill capacity as the fixed grip triple. the only time skiers and riders will get up the hill quicker is at times when there was little to no line when the triple ran (which in my experience with loon, isn't very often). otherwise, they are just waiting in line longer instead of having a longer ride up the mountain. not to mention more the increased amount of people wanting to ride that lift 'just because' it's a HSQ. yup, this may actually increase the lines despite the faster lift.

i actually really like the north peak area and consider the trails between the current triple and angel street to be loon's best terrain. i actually would have preferred the triple remain instead of the HSQ. i have a love hate relationship with loon. i really enjoy the terrain on that part of the mountain, but never go due to crowds. i don't think the HSQ or the widening of a trail will increase my days at loon. although the clearing of more glades does sound nice.

[Greg]

What you're forgetting Steve is that the new quad will probably make the lines at the East Basin Double basically non-existent. The double, while a bit slow, is a great lift to the summit and one of my favorites at the mountain.

Crowds are a good thing for the industry. The key to Loon, like any mountain, is to start early and know how to ski it when it's crowded; or ski it mid-week.

I do wonder about the raitionale behind widening Flume though. It's pretty wide as it is and often gets wind-blown at the top...

[Charlie Schuessler]

This should open the East Basin Double chair.

[riverc0il]

i thought about the double lines, but i don't think they'll be substantially different. i think that many more people will want to be at that part of the mountain due to the quad that the quad line will lead to over flow on the double. i love doubles, they are my favorite lift.

while crowds are good for the industry, i appreciate a fine balance between enough revenue to operate and way too many people on the hill. loon is a fine mountain mid-week. the only way to ski loon is from the double and triple any day of the week.

[Greg]

Originally Posted by riverc0il

the only way to ski loon is from the double and triple any day of the week.

I like to start with a ride up Seven Brothers and then the Kanc quad first thing in the AM. Once the quad starts to get busy, it's on to the double for the rest of the morning. Later in day it's usually the triple or quad again. I usually avoid the gondola at all costs. We skied mid-week last season for four days and this approach worked out well.

[uphillklimber]

I am always happy to see a HSQ go in. When I get to a lift and the line is short, getting back to the top is quick. On busy days, you wait in line, or you wait on the slow ride up.... In any case the uphill capacity of a quad would be 33% more than a triple alleviating what line has gathered there. Of course, more will gather, so.... But on those days when it ain't so busy, va va va voom!!!!

[Greg]

Originally Posted by uphillklimber

In any case the uphill capacity of a quad would be 33% more than a triple alleviating what line has gathered there. Of course, more will gather, so....

Not exactly. The chairs on the HSQ need to be spaced further out than they are on the triple (read: less chairs overall) so it's hard to say exactly what the uphill capacity gain/loss will be. Even if more do gather, the ride is quicker so the wait time will probably be a wash on busy days.

Originally Posted by uphillklimber

But on those days when it ain't so busy, va va va voom!!!!

Good point there!

[uphillklimber]

Does anyone actually know what the uphill capacity of a HSQ is verses a triple for the the same length of run????? Perhaps someone in the know could compare a triple of 2000 feet at mountain "X" with a HSQ of 2000 feet at mountain "Y". I am now very curious.

[riverc0il]

it varies depending on legnth of chair and speed, but generally a HSQ will have the same uphill capacity as a fixed grip triple. given the same length, a quad has an extra seat and travels faster, but there are far fewer chairs on the haul cable and the chairs are spaced out further apart.

the key word here is "capacity" which is the max amount of people that can move from point A to point B. if there is a line and every chair is being filled to capacity, you will wait longer in line instead of having a longer chair lift ride with a HSQ (given that the uphill capacity is about equal to a fixed grip triple which is usually the case). i'd rather have a shorter line and a longer ride. given there's not a line, the HSQ is undoubtedly the better ride, but how often does a HSQ not have a line? well, there are exceptions such as wildcat and cannon where i rarely see lines but still...