Do lifts turn in the off season

[Joshua B]

Aside from having to paint individual chairs, are there other circumstances when ski areas would fire up their lifts in the off-season? Maybe for certification? What about a place like Whaleback that is trying to keep their mountain in good shape while they try to find a buyer? Is there some reason to periodically get the double moving? Would it keep the cable from stretching out in the wrong places? Just wondering.

 

[IndyJones]

Some resorts open for mountain bikers so the lifts run then.

 

[threecy]

Areas will remove test chairs, which, unlike the commercials for Chevy trucks, they take the chairs off at the bottom terminal, not half way up the mountain.

 

[Greg]

Hey threecy. Welcome to the boards!

Many areas run a lift or two during the fall foliage season as well.

 

[Joshua B]

What are test chairs and how are they used?

 

[threecy]

The area will take a percentage of chairs off to do a throughough inspection of grips and etc. every fall. In addition, the rest of the grips will also be tested.

 

[Max]

Mt. Wachusett here in Mass runs theirs quite often for tourist purposes. Many times the base lodge is rented out to large groups (company outings, etc) and they run the lift for the party. And they have other events here too, like the Fall applefest. I also imagine many states require annual (or perhaps more often) lift inspections, just the same as they do for amusement park rides. Being a certified nuclear and military welding inspector, I often look at things like that with a judgemental eye. There are days when I cringe at the appearance of welds on equipment on which you trust your life. I'd probably be an amusement park's worst nightmare!

 

[teachski]

Yes, that is true of Wachusett, but...only for the summit lift. The other lifts I do not believe get run.

I just heard that there may be hope of new life for at least one of the doubles at Klein Innsbruck. I'll keep you posted as I hear details.