Burke submits act 250 application for new Lift

[threecy]

Mt. Snow and Sugarloaf will likely have their new lifts fully operational in time for the Christmas holidays.

If Burke makes an announcement now, but doesn't have a lift functional until the middle of the season, the PR could be detrimental.

I believe Ragged's detach opened on Feb. 1 in 2002.

 

[Boardguy]

Anything new happening up there this week?

 

[thetrailboss]

Going to check up on it this weekend.

 

[nelsapbm]

Someone on the NELSAP board posted that the new lift is going to be a Leitner-Poma HSQ. Truth? Hearsay? See what you can find out TB!

 

[thetrailboss]

Someone on the NELSAP board posted that the new lift is going to be a Leitner-Poma HSQ. Truth? Hearsay? See what you can find out TB!

Yes. I've seen and heard that Poma is doing the job. I am going up in a bit.

 

[thetrailboss]

Just got back from visiting MidBurke. In the two months since I have been up there they have completely regraded the MidBurke base area from the Willoughby Quad all the way to the base of the new lift, which is uphill from where the Act 250 map had it located. The grading is nice and folks will be able to cruise down from that side of the mountain to the new HSQ. They have excavated the area where the new base will be. Royal Trail Works (who did the other work in 2005) is on the site. Other than that, nothing new. They are repainting the Poma as well. Pics soon.

 

[thetrailboss]

Here are the pics.

Royal Trail Works is doing the site work, no indication that Poma is doing the lift:

RV's and footing frames:

Base of the new lift looking up:

Much closer to MidBurke than originally planned:

Most likely where the base footings will go:

Not quite sure if these were bikers, workers, or something else:

Regraded base area where the parking lot used to be:

Regraded base area from the Willoughby Quad all the way to the new quad.

Quite a bit lower than the original trail:

What remains of the timing shack:

Poma is getting a paint job:

 

[thetrailboss]

I went up on Friday afternoon and they are making progress. Pictures coming tonight. The base area is fully excavated and graded. It is right below the old parking lot. It also is probably the most scenic base loading area you can imagine with the stunning view of Willoughby Gap behind it. They have surveyed and realligned the lift line. The pylon locations are marked--there are only going to be three pylons between the base of the lift and the Poma. One pylon is literally right beside looker's right of MidBurke so the lift will go over part of the building's roof. The foundation cages are the only components on site still, but a large crate has appeared with the bolts/fasteners for the pylons as were some components for the "Stowe" job.

 

[thetrailboss]

And for those that did not read the Mount Snow Chair Blog, you might want to because in the comments one can see:

Brandon Swartz says:
August 12 at 5:23 am
Looking great guys! After experiencing this kind of project myself this year at another mountain, I can relate to how much work it is. But also how exciting it is when things actually start coming together and taking shape. I believe the forms will be heading to Burke Mountain after your done. I believe we are flying towers for our lift around that date and then the company is probably going up your way! Exciting times

And:

askier says:
August 11 at 4:33 pm
Burke Mountain for next Poma installation? Any pictures of summit site work?

 

[riverc0il]

C'mon Burke. Why the radio silence? I don't care if Poma can or cannot guarantee installation by Christmas.... let the PR rip. Everyone is going to see the construction when they go to Burke even if the lift is not yet completed.

 

[thetrailboss]

C'mon Burke. Why the radio silence? I don't care if Poma can or cannot guarantee installation by Christmas.... let the PR rip. Everyone is going to see the construction when they go to Burke even if the lift is not yet completed.

Well Riv, in the meantime, both FTNEK and I will continue to update you all...at least until I am out west for good in October. We will have to ask Burke for our paychecks as their HSQ PR Squad I guess :wink:

Here is the way things looked on Friday....the base is completely excavated, towers sites are being marked, and some other components came by way of Stowe:

Dropping in to be first in line I guess:

Soon-to-be Tower 2:

Soon-to-be Tower 3 is at the stake, literally feet away from MidBurke Lodge:

Tower 4 will sit on the hillock near the Poma:

And speaking of Poma, some new green paint. Look closely...no more Poma derailer. The Pomas are going to be fixed on the cable like last season.

Willoughby is all ready for skiers and riders:

A good picture of how high MidBurke now is compared to the base area:

 

[riverc0il]

I didn't ride the Poma last season so I didn't notice the fixed grip status. I assume they need to slow it down a little for that to work?

 

[thetrailboss]

I didn't ride the Poma last season so I didn't notice the fixed grip status. I assume they need to slow it down a little for that to work?

Yes. Last season I noticed that the Pomas were all on the haul rope and asked the Dawn Patrol what the deal was. Apparently during the season the track and release lever broke and Poma could not replace or repair it because they no longer make it. So they ran it and would push the Pomas through which required it to run slower. This summer they removed the track and release altogether as you can see. I imagine they could run it a little bit faster, but probably not as "bat out of hell" fast as it once was.

 

[Newpylong]

Is Poma doing the lift at Sugarloaf too or is someone else?

Is 3-4 projects in one season a lot for one manufacturer?

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Maybe I have missed it during the last week or so, but has the resort still not said a word about the lift being installed? Seems odd if in fact that they are not releasing info or tooting their horn. These types of things can really drive season ticket sales and buzz.

 

[thetrailboss]

Is Poma doing the lift at Sugarloaf too or is someone else?

Is 3-4 projects in one season a lot for one manufacturer?

IIRC Doppelmayr/CTEC is doing Stowe and Sugarloaf. Poma is doing Burke and Mount Snow.

 

[thetrailboss]

Maybe I have missed it during the last week or so, but has the resort still not said a word about the lift being installed? Seems odd if in fact that they are not releasing info or tooting their horn. These types of things can really drive season ticket sales and buzz.

No, you are not missing anything. They have not said anything. In fact they go so far as to delete any questions about it on their FB page. Not sure what the secret is, but I imagine it has to do with the very late start on the project.

Here is what is new. I picked up a Cal Rec from this past weekend. There was an excellent series on the Kingdom Trails. A positive article in the Cal Rec? Who would have thought?

But there was an article buried in the back about Burke. Tim McGuire went before the Burke DRB last week and unveiled the latest plan. They want to start pre-selling and building single family homes near MidBurke this winter. They also plan to eventually pre-sell and build a hotel at MidBurke. The work will begin at MidBurke and they will work in one area at a time. They plan on a 10-20 year buildout timetable. They want to start the [serious] PR campaign this winter. No word in the article about specific ski area improvements or the HSQ. I will defer to Mass skier for more specifics. He has closer ties and more skin in the game up there.

The project has been scaled back, but will involve a much more gradual transition rather than a sudden transformation into a Stratton/Okemo monstrosity.

 

[drjeff]

Is Poma doing the lift at Sugarloaf too or is someone else?

Is 3-4 projects in one season a lot for one manufacturer?

About a decade ago when there was way more new lifts being installed per year than in the last few years, each manufacturer was doing easily 3 to 5 projects a piece in the Northeast and between 40 and 50 nationwide

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm a little late, but here is the update for Friday, August 19th.

There's nothing to see here:

Presumably the electrical or comm lines:

The excavation is done and the lift manufacturer is onsite beginning with the install process. The footings have been sorted out and nuts are on each bolt:

????

Load testing:

They have divided the components up for each tower:

The footing for Tower 11:

Wonder what it will look like? Judging by the footing, this tower, along with Towers 4 and 5 will have a "riser" section and look like this:

While the others will be standard four-bolt towers that will look like this:

Tower 12:

And who is doing the work? Wait for it....

No surprise. I met a truck on MidBurke road with some workers in it.

The base or summit terminal:

[

 

[deadheadskier]

Wonder what it will look like? Judging by the footing, this tower, along with Towers 4 and 5 will have a "riser" section and look like this:

[

IIRC, that's the type of tower setup that failed at Blackcomb