Burke submits act 250 application for new Lift

[riverc0il]

Well, as a buyer, I certainly wouldn't want to start cutting a new liftline prior to making a deal with the seller. Cutting a liftline would suggest to the seller that the buyer is already committed and could lead the seller to extract a higher price. Either the article is incorrect, Burke is getting a new HSQ, or Burke is planning a contingency for a new lift if the Ascutney deal does not go through and knows it will install a HSQ this summer no matter what.

How late can a deal on a HSQ happen from the manufacturer? Probably depends on how many other installs are already scheduled?

 

[threecy]

Well, as a buyer, I certainly wouldn't want to start cutting a new liftline prior to making a deal with the seller. Cutting a liftline would suggest to the seller that the buyer is already committed and could lead the seller to extract a higher price. Either the article is incorrect, Burke is getting a new HSQ, or Burke is planning a contingency for a new lift if the Ascutney deal does not go through and knows it will install a HSQ this summer no matter what.

How late can a deal on a HSQ happen from the manufacturer? Probably depends on how many other installs are already scheduled?

My guess is they probably had a P&S on the lift that has been delayed or has fallen through. With the situation at Ascutney, the lift probably has liens on it, thus making any sort of transaction a slow, risky process.

I'm not sure what Poma or Doppelmayr require for lead time on an HSQ (March can be considered too late for a FGQ), but if Burke attempted to order a brand new lift tomorrow, they'd likely pay a premium to get it for this year.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

What I was referring to was the fact that Burke is cutting a lift line and beginning work, but has apparently not finalized the purchase of the Ascutney lift. So it is not clear as to what, if anything, will be installed!

Gotcha, totally agree.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

This summer, Next summer is not an option. There are other plans for next summer.

Well they better get a move on.

 

[Masskier]

Well they better get a move on.

They started last week and are moving full speed ahead.

 

[thetrailboss]

They started last week and are moving full speed ahead.

With which lift? A new lift or the retrofitted Ascutney lift?

 

[threecy]

With which lift? A new lift or the retrofitted Ascutney lift?

I suspect we'll see news articles if/when the Ascutney lift is removed.

They won't need a lift on site until the fall - a significant portion of the install process is prepping the lift line and pouring footings.

Even if they close on the Ascutney lift, I suspect they'd need to make significant modifications, as it is smaller than the 6,200 lift being proposed.

 

[from_the_NEK]

I suspect we'll see news articles if/when the Ascutney lift is removed.

Most likely. I've been trying to follow the Upper Valley news outlets for such a story.

They won't need a lift on site until the fall - a significant portion of the install process is prepping the lift line and pouring footings.

Although waiting too late in the fall to get the top station installed may lead to difficulties with the weather.

Even if they close on the Ascutney lift, I suspect they'd need to make significant modifications, as it is smaller than the 6,200 lift being proposed

The Ascutney lift is around 5,365 ft. making the lift line 835 feet longer means they would have to splice in 1670 feet of new haul rope. Other than that, I'm assuming they would need a couple of new towers (and maybe some more chairs) to cover the added length as well. Are there other "significant" mods that would have to be done?


Let's start a list of names for this thing...

I'll start:
"WALE" = Was Ascutney's Lift Express
"Not North Peak Express"
"TNFWTTT" = The NEW Fast Way To The Top
"Finally! Flyer"
"Laurelmor Lightning"


More seriously now
"Kingdom Flyer"
"NEK Express"
"Summit Direct"

 

[from_the_NEK]

"Darling Express"
"NEK Flash"

 

[deadheadskier]

Pow Killer Express :razz:

 

[thetrailboss]

I would imagine a completely new haul rope will be used.

As for names:

* Dixi's Dream;
* OMG There Are Footrests!
* McFlurry
* Ginn's Giddy Up
* Olympic View
* Doug's Destroyer


OK....

East Side
Hubbard's Express
Caledonia
Powderhorn

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

New Lift Names:

The Not So New Lift

AHOLE (Ascutney's Heap of Old Leftover Equipment)

The hey this lift is actually ten years old, so does this mean we get a new one in 10 years instead of twenty? Lift.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

They started last week and are moving full speed ahead.

What happens if Ascutney, the lawyers, and owners can't agree or complete an agreement on the sale of the lift? I am guessing Burke wouldn't be moving forward if they didn't have some sort of assurance, or would they?

Also you said they have to do it this year because next year is going to be out of the question, well if that is the case what becomes of the liftline they are cutting now?

 

[threecy]

The Ascutney lift is around 5,365 ft. making the lift line 835 feet longer means they would have to splice in 1670 feet of new haul rope. Other than that, I'm assuming they would need a couple of new towers (and maybe some more chairs) to cover the added length as well. Are there other "significant" mods that would have to be done?

That's a good question...I'm no expert on detachable lifts.

The vertical drop of the Burke layout would be about the same as the current Ascutney layout, so in theory the drive could handle it (700HP). That said, I believe it was mentioned the lift was underpowered and thus ran slower than most HSQs.

Towers shouldn't be a problem - heck, Burke reused double chair towers for their other HSQ. Unless they plan to run the lift like the Ragged HS6, then they'd need to purchase more chairs.

In regard to cable, I know that areas are now allowed to splice additional cable into a haul rope for fixed grip lifts, so I suspect they may be able to splice that into a hypothetical lift.


It does seem very late in the season to not have some sort of deal and/or announcement in place. It's certainly not unprecedented to have a ski area cut a lift line and not install a lift right away. Surely one would think Burke would be singing from the mountaintops by now if the HSQ was a done deal for this season, merely on the basis to spur season pass sales and generate off season cash flow.

 

[thetrailboss]

The vertical drop of the Burke layout would be about the same as the current Ascutney layout, so in theory the drive could handle it (700HP). That said, I believe it was mentioned the lift was underpowered and thus ran slower than most HSQs.

The reason why Ascutney was not running it full speed was that they did not spend the money to bring it to state code to run it full speed. It had nothing to do with the drive being underpowered.

Towers shouldn't be a problem - heck, Burke reused double chair towers for their other HSQ. Unless they plan to run the lift like the Ragged HS6, then they'd need to purchase more chairs.

The Willoughby Quad was built in 1988-1989 and utilizes the Hall pylons from the 1966 lift, albeit reinforced.

The Sherburne, which is a Poma Leitner, utilized the Hall Double-double pylons.

It does seem very late in the season to not have some sort of deal and/or announcement in place. It's certainly not unprecedented to have a ski area cut a lift line and not install a lift right away. Surely one would think Burke would be singing from the mountaintops by now if the HSQ was a done deal for this season, merely on the basis to spur season pass sales and generate off season cash flow.

Yes, this is very odd. But then again when they installed the Sherburne, which was part of the Ginn sale, they waited until June to make it known officially. But that was a much tamer install than this one will be.

 

[threecy]

The reason why Ascutney was not running it full speed was that they did not spend the money to bring it to state code to run it full speed. It had nothing to do with the drive being underpowered.

What part of the code was it not up to?

 

[thetrailboss]

What part of the code was it not up to?

My understanding was that the lift did not have the sufficient tensioning or sensor systems (this was an add on). As a result, the state issued a conditional license and capped the speed of the lift. There has been a discussion in here about that. It was not because of the size or hp of the drive.

 

[thetrailboss]

More specific information from last year's Ascutney thread:

[quote="mountainman]The HSQ could only run at 600 fpm, due to some issues that were not taken care of when installed. There is no electricity at the top of the lift and we had to run a generator to get the lift up and running. It took some time to even get that lift pre-op.[/quote]

 

[threecy]

My understanding was that the lift did not have the sufficient tensioning or sensor systems (this was an add on). As a result, the state issued a conditional license and capped the speed of the lift. There has been a discussion in here about that. It was not because of the size or hp of the drive.

More specific information from last year's Ascutney thread:

That's what I had remembered posted (I had said 'underpowered' as opposed to not having enough HP - 700HP should be in theory enough for that size). Interestingly enough, I don't recall that lift operating that slow when I rode it.

 

[ceo]

So the Sherburne quad runs on one side of the old double-double towers, like its predecessor? Or did they replace the crossarms with conventional ones?