Mt Snow Thread

[Whitey]

"3 lifts with issues - Challenger, Seasons, and Ego. And on each one, it took the mob to out them on the status of the lifts. Zero transparency."

I think you are missing another 2, at least. Grand Summit Express is a Frankenstein monster of mashed together parts from different manufacturers. Major failure of that lift coming sometime in the next 2-3 yrs or less. And Bluebird. While it feels like a "modern" lift, people forget that it was the first 6 pack and the first bubble lift in the US and is now 15 years old. There's a reason conventional wisdom states; "never buy a vehicle in the first year of its production run" and I agree with that "rule" (I was in the auto & truck business and saw it 1st hand - You need to let them "get the bugs out" from the experience they get with the first gen before you buy it). Bluebird was a 1st gen version of that type of lift and they've never really gotten all of the bugs out. Whether they can keep it going without major overhaul/replacements, remains to be seen.

 

[urungus]

"3 lifts with issues - Challenger, Seasons, and Ego. And on each one, it took the mob to out them on the status of the lifts. Zero transparency."

I think you are missing another 2, at least. Grand Summit Express is a Frankenstein monster of mashed together parts from different manufacturers. Major failure of that lift coming sometime in the next 2-3 yrs or less. And Bluebird. While it feels like a "modern" lift, people forget that it was the first 6 pack and the first bubble lift in the US and is now 15 years old. There's a reason conventional wisdom states; "never buy a vehicle in the first year of its production run" and I agree with that "rule" (I was in the auto & truck business and saw it 1st hand - You need to let them "get the bugs out" from the experience they get with the first gen before you buy it). Bluebird was a 1st gen version of that type of lift and they've never really gotten all of the bugs out. Whether they can keep it going without major overhaul/replacements, remains to be seen.

Bluebird (2011) was not the first 6 pack in the US. Boyne installed the high speed 6 “Mountain Express” almost 20 years before that in 1992. First 6 pack in North America was installed a year before that at Mont Orignal, Quebec - the Télésiège Sextuple

 

[Whitey]

Bluebird (2011) was not the first 6 pack in the US. Boyne installed the high speed 6 “Mountain Express” almost 20 years before that in 1992. First 6 pack in North America was installed a year before that at Mont Orignal, Quebec - the Télésiège Sextuple

A distinction without a difference. . .

I should have said "1st bubble 6 pack lift in the US".

 

[urungus]

I should have said "1st bubble 6 pack lift in the US".

Yes, since it was neither the first 6-pack, nor the first bubble lift in the US



https://www.facebook.com/HighlandsHarborSprings/posts/️-throwback-to-1963-when-we-were-building-the-worlds-first-triple-bubble-chairge/1207541384743509/

 

[Whitey]

Yes, since it was neither the first 6-pack, nor the first bubble lift in the US, both of which you claimed

https://www.facebook.com/HighlandsHarborSprings/posts/️-throwback-to-1963-when-we-were-building-the-worlds-first-triple-bubble-chairge/1207541384743509/

Thank you for the admonishment. It is really important to get these details correct that change nothing about my overall point which was made on a lightly trafficked skiing website that will be read by less than 50 people.

I hadn't intended to spend more than the 2 minutes I did to make that post with info that was off the top of my head. But thanks to you policing this, I've now spent 3 minutes on this thread. Next time I will make sure to consult the Lift Blog, Wikipedia, the Vermont state archives, and do site visits before I comment on anything.

 

[SLyardsale]

today 12/31/25

11:31am Lift 11 Grand Summit Express will be delayed for mechanical issues. No ETA at this time
(it was scheduled to run starting at 9am, so their friendly notification was 2 1/2 hours late)

12:28pm Lift 11 Grand Summit Express is now open

1:07pm Lift 17 Bluebird express is now closed for mechanical hold

 

[Zand]

They should replace Grand Summit with a Dopp Bubble 8 and put Bluebird out to pasture.

 

[oldfartrider]

Except Vail doesn't buy bubble lifts

 

[SLyardsale]

they had a clown "entertaining" customers in the 25-30 min bluebird line this morning - as seen on the facebook MS season passholders page - with the then closed GSE in the background. So clown show moniker is in play for this operation. I skied this morning and was over there once around 10:20 but went back and lapped sundance after waiting 15 mins in the singles line

 

[Zand]

@drjeff must've had a break from setting up gates and found a side gig

 

[icecoast1]

They should replace Grand Summit with a Dopp Bubble 8 and put Bluebird out to pasture.

I was surprised the grand summit didn't get replaced before sundance. Canyon quad is getting up there in hours too because of mt biking in the summer, thats either going to need replacement or major overhaul too

 

[drjeff]

@drjeff must've had a break from setting up gates and found a side gig

Nope, clown was an interesting touch. Northface after they dropped the ropes for the day with 3-4" of fresh over a mostly groomed subsurface was worthy of 4 or 5 repeats, then laps over at Carinthia was fun.

The main base area lift situation needs to be fixed for sure. Not sure how that happens this year. Likely going to require multiple new lifts.

Another 3-4" on my deck this morning, cold and windy. About to go get some laps. Active snowmaking in progress on multiple trails

 

[SLyardsale]

Nope, clown was an interesting touch. Northface after they dropped the ropes for the day with 3-4" of fresh over a mostly groomed subsurface was worthy of 4 or 5 repeats, then laps over at Carinthia was fun.

The main base area lift situation needs to be fixed for sure. Not sure how that happens this year. Likely going to require multiple new lifts.

Another 3-4" on my deck this morning, cold and windy. About to go get some laps. Active snowmaking in progress on multiple trails

That 3-4 on your deck was at least 8 on the hill. This little storm over performed. Still issues from the operators of Mt Snow, though. To Vail, New Years Day is not a holiday so lifts opened at "9am" Bluebird was down at the bell. GSE was scheduled but delayed for no reason given - it did finally open approx 9:45. I lapped Sundance in the meantime as Canyon coral looked like a large mess. Hop was A+ early. I got on GSE just before 10 and went to NF. Freefall primo, but only 2 routes down at NF, Freefall & plummet. Snowmaking at Chute had it roped and Skyline was closed too so it was the schlep back from Outpost lift.

Some other observations...

• It was very crowded, prob due to the 8" pow - but lift lines were not overwhelming except on Canyon and later Bluebird when it opened around 11am. I attribute that to no seasonal groups cutting the lines at each lift (New Years is not a holiday) maybe they should rethink that line cutting perk which was just given after covid.
• Lift communication by Vail still sucks. No tweet when Bluebird opened and the My Epic app was never updated to show Bluebird opened. It was on hold all day in the app. No mention as to why GSE did not open until 9:45.
• North Face was meh. How is that the case at this point ? Why hasn't snow been made on timbers?
• Iron Loft at Carinthia base lodge - might as well close it down. It's a nice spot but Vail won't staff it.
• Normal people you interact with on the lifts hate Vail with a passion, especially those just visiting for the holiday week but also long time passholders. Patrollers are not shy about saying so too. Employees also chime in about "pathetic decisions"
• I did not see a rope drop all day. I did hear Uncles did eventually open. Tons of poaching

Freefall



Chute from Outpost