Hunter quad disaster!!!

bvibert · Dec 29, 2009

threecy said:
This seems like the boy who cried wolf to me - every time a lift has an issue, it's a disaster with multiple exclamation points. No one was hurt, no one died, and there was no catastrophic failure on the lift. Not a disaster.

I think it's more of a PR disaster. The main lift has failed several times already this season, and has a history of failing for the last few years.

catskills · Dec 29, 2009

The old Jackson Hole Tram ran for 40 years. I don't see the problem with older lifts. Hunter's oldest lift is the 40 year old E-Lift which was built in 1969. With a good maintenance schedule this is not a big deal.

Take a look at the old lifts still running in Vermont and all over New England here at ChairLifts.org Smugglers, for example, has a number of lifts built in the 1960s.

The older lifts are safe.

threecy · Dec 29, 2009

I don't believe I've heard anyone say what's actually wrong with the lift. HSQs are much more complex than most machinery - I'd wager a guess that the lift maintenance crew has replaced a bunch of parts in trying to fix this, only to have a similar issue. It's not uncommon to see errors being tossed up by the computer on one issue, only to have it be something seemingly unrelated. I doubt they opened this season thinking there was still an issue.

dmc · Dec 29, 2009

threecy said:
It's also a bit of a stretch to say Poma is 'at fault.' If your 22 year old pick up breaks down, do you say Ford is at fault?

Poma supposedly refurbished the part that broke yesterday.

andyzee · Dec 29, 2009

dmc said:
Poma supposedly refurbished the part that broke yesterday.

Bout time you woke up!

marcski · Dec 29, 2009

catskills said:
The old Jackson Hole Tram ran for 40 years. I don't see the problem with older lifts. Hunter's oldest lift is the 40 year old E-Lift which was built in 1969. With a good maintenance schedule this is not a big deal.

Take a look at the old lifts still running in Vermont and all over New England here at ChairLifts.org Smugglers, for example, has a number of lifts built in the 1960s.

The older lifts are safe.

With the exception of the JH Tram, most if not all of the old lifts are fixed grips...which I agree, they last. HSQ's and other detachables, just by their nature of having a more complex mechanism is not going to last like a fixed grip lift without consistent maintenance and a major overall.

bvibert · Dec 29, 2009

marcski said:
With the exception of the JH Tram, most if not all of the old lifts are fixed grips...which I agree, they last. HSQ's and other detachables, just by their nature of having a more complex mechanism is not going to last like a fixed grip lift without consistent maintenance and a major overall.

That's what I was thinking. I wonder how many 20+ year old detachables are in operation?

dmc · Dec 29, 2009

andyzee said:
Bout time you woke up!

Been observing.. Nothing to relaly add..

threecy · Dec 29, 2009

bvibert said:
That's what I was thinking. I wonder how many 20+ year old detachables are in operation?

Offhand, I'm not familiar with any detachables (that don't rhyme with 'con') that *aren't* in operation.

For example, the Four Runner (Dopp) at Stowe is a year older than Hunter's and the once-summit quad (Poma) at Waterville is a year younger.

threecy · Dec 29, 2009

dmc said:
Poma supposedly refurbished the part that broke yesterday.

What part?

With FG lifts, set point meters are often sent out to be refurbished, as to save money, but don't always work out.

dmc · Dec 29, 2009

threecy said:
What part?

With FG lifts, set point meters are often sent out to be refurbished, as to save money, but don't always work out.

Something to do with gears...

marcski · Dec 29, 2009

threecy said:
Offhand, I'm not familiar with any detachables (that don't rhyme with 'con') that *aren't* in operation.

For example, the Four Runner (Dopp) at Stowe is a year older than Hunter's and the once-summit quad (Poma) at Waterville is a year younger.

If I'm not mistaken, there is a lot of noise up at Stowe about replacing the four-runner as well. Also, don't they need to replace the entire detachable mechanism after so many years? I don't know what maintenance has been done on the Hunter lift over the years. If they have been diligent, perhaps this was just a bout of bad luck.

catskillman · Dec 29, 2009

I was not on the lift, this time - I have been stuck multiple time, and long enough to get the free cookie coupons they hand out at the top when you get there.

Regulars are furious - people who bought real eastate are talking class action. Day trippers are heading elsewhere. People in the hotel are looking for freebies.

Read below for a litte more detail on the latest breakdown -

FROM THE HUNTER SKI SCENE SITE

Hi all - Hunter greeted the start of the holiday week with a major quad breakdown - full lift evacuation via the rope chairs from about 9:15 to 12:15 - that's right - some were stuck for 3 hrs. The gear box blew with a big bang and froze the bull wheel so not even the backup motor could be used. Fortunately I was not on it at the time. Supposedly a tech from Poma (the lift mfgr) is on his way here and some spare parts located in Vermont are also enroute but until they open it up they do not know what they have.......what a mess! There is a sizeable holiday crowd and as you can imagine

sullydog · Dec 29, 2009

The White Peaks Express up Waterville runs like a champ, however it's a winter only operation unlike Hunters POS.

Eski · Dec 29, 2009

I rode the quad today, it got me where I needed to go but I only rode it once ... been stuck on it several times in the past, not a good feeling ... the sweet snow and sunshine helped me forget how cold it was out

catskills · Dec 30, 2009

As you can see, everyone likes the Hunter High Speed Quad today.

SIKSKIER · Dec 30, 2009

catskills said:
As you can see, everyone likes the Hunter High Speed Quad today.

OMG! Is that line a normal occurance?I'd be long gone if I saw a line like that.

ta&idaho · Dec 30, 2009

Eski said:
the sweet snow and sunshine helped me forget how cold it was out

How's the west side skiing? I assume Annapurna will be back open this weekend...Westway?

kingslug · Dec 30, 2009

I rode it all day yesterday in high winds. Even though I was on it when it got stuck..I figured what the hell, whats the chance of geting roped down twice ...ever. It ran fine but needs to be replaced before they get nailed with huge lawsuites if anyone ever gets hurt. This would be a case of negligence since they know its failing. thank God it didn't happen yesterday as temps where below zero. The west side is closed, windblown sheet of shyt..for now. They will resume blowing once the wind dies down as it was hitting 40 mph and just blowing everything off. Conditions yesterday on the fron side where stellar as most of what they blew stuck...Minya Konka was deep powdery moguls!! I got 2 free tix for my troubles.

catskills · Dec 30, 2009

SIKSKIER said:
OMG! Is that line a normal occurance?I'd be long gone if I saw a line like that.

Hunter changed the position of the base webcam after you posted your comment. You can not see the length of the line for the Hunter HSQ anymore.

Lets take a look at Windham's and Plattekill's base area. :smash:

http://www.windhammountain.com/mountain/webcam/

http://www.plattekill.com/winter/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=35

The only thing waiting in line at Plattekill Mountain is that line of pine trees. :wink:

Hunter quad disaster!!!

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