Sugarloaf projects

[threecy]

I was just wondering is technology and rope tension had gotten to the point where a running lift stands no less of a chance of derailing as a non-running lift in high winds.

While a lift can still derail when stopped, it's more likely to in motion (as movement around bullwheels and over/under sheaves cause additional carrier movement). An advantage of newer lifts, ie detachs vs. fixed grip chairs, is that carriers can be parked in really bad weather.

 

[snowman]

In theory I think you're right - assuming there isn't much going on on the lower portion in terms of swaying and assuming there's no tree/wire threat, this could be done - though it would be critical to have the carriers return to the downhill line at mid station (an unloaded carrier can be at just as much risk as a loaded carrier in windy conditions).

I'm assuming the old gondi there had 2 haul ropes and 2 drives when it was all in-tact. I could be wrong. I just assumed that where they tore down the lower half and left the top. Could they maybe do a one line gondola and store the cabins for the top half in the top station on windy days and just run the line thru the top of the mountain empty on windy days to avoid the cross-wind threat on the upper mountain?? That would most likely involve the base station having 2 hydraulic tension pre-sets? Hmmmmm

 

[thebigo]

Also, a lot of ski areas have a heck of a time with food concessions - some in fact liscense out the operations.

As far as I know the loaf contracted out the food service as recently as the last few years. Not sure any specifics on the arrangement or if it will change with the sale.

 

[snowman]

I know you're just doing this as a rough example, but I doubt you'd see the 150k extra skiers come in the first year - that'd be 50% growth overnight. Even getting up them by the third year would be a stretch in that location, especially just for a lift. Also, a lot of ski areas have a heck of a time with food concessions - some in fact liscense out the operations. An increase of $10 gross revenue on each skier visit just from a lift location might be a bit much too - there are quite a lot of skier visits from regulars who don't necessarily buy much, if anything, from the food courts. In addition, there's also the cost to operate and maintain the gondola - with at least four drive units in theory (1 haul rope, 3 detachment terminals including midstation), which would eat away at any gains rather quickly.

Needless to say, a gondola could certainly pay itself off it its reliable and useful - but not in three years, in my opnion - especially at a place as remote as Sugarloaf, unless there was a significant build up around it to draw the masses in. Too many run on sentences.

Yeah, I know. I was just pointing out how fixing some fU%$ed up stuff at a major resort and having a real understanding of guest patterns and psychology can result in major net revenue returns. In the meantime I've concluded that installing a magic carpet from the foot of the lodge to the base of the boardwalk double or over to the super quad would pay for itself in 1 year. Given the cost of those and my certainty that the lodge at the loaf is avoided like the plague because of the dreaded hike, I'm quite sure on that one. I've been in both the ski business and more importently club management for years and any club I've ever managed has gone from 0 to sixty in short fashion due me simply figuring out what's going on in the club in terms of guest and staff psychology and fixing the problems from there. I'm quite sure there have been university educated managers thru Sugarloaf who haven't even contemplated the fact that the hill between the lodge and the lift means they sell on average a minimum of $1000 less in beer every day.

 

[skiNEwhere]

I'm assuming the old gondi there had 2 haul ropes and 2 drives when it was all in-tact. I could be wrong. I just assumed that where they tore down the lower half and left the top. Could they maybe do a one line gondola and store the cabins for the top half in the top station on windy days and just run the line thru the top of the mountain empty on windy days to avoid the cross-wind threat on the upper mountain?? That would most likely involve the base station having 2 hydraulic tension pre-sets? Hmmmmm

Yes, you are correct. The lift used to operate totally independent of each section, so that they could close off the top if it was too windy.

Personally, I'd like to see a funitel, even if it was just mid-mountain, but thats only cuz those are bad @$$. On the other hand, have the only funitel on the east coast and only the second in the country would draw a lot of attention to the resort......

 

[skiNEwhere]

Hey snowman can you split your posts up into paragraphs? One giant post makes it hard to read....

And we all wanna hear what ya have to say

 

[snowman]

Hey snowman can you split your posts up into paragraphs? One giant post makes it hard to read....

And we all wanna hear what ya have to say

Quite a few people on here don't even spit up their sentences, never mind their paragraphs. I was just conforming :razz:

I didn't actually expect anyone to be listening. I just thought I was venting about the short sightedness of typical resort management to myself! lol :smile:

I can tell you right now a funitel is not going to happen at the loaf. A regular gondola like the old one is going to come in at 10 million or so. Funitels seem to run around 40 + million. It would take way to long for the loaf to pay that one off, if they could ever. I think there's some technology out there for multi-rope gondolas which aren't quite as elaborate as a funitel. That's what I was refering to, as opposed to a full blown funitel.

 

[skiNEwhere]

40 million? where do you get these figures from??

O well, nevermind then. Lets just make it simple, put in a single chair, is american steel and wire still in business?

 

[snowman]

40 million? where do you get these figures from??

O well, nevermind then. Lets just make it simple, put in a single chair, is american steel and wire still in business?

That's the number I think they were kicking around when they built the one at Squaw, and that was 10 years ago. The peak to peak being built at Whistler right now is over 50 million and doesn't even have any towers.

 

[skiNEwhere]

That's the number I think they were kicking around when they built the one at Squaw, and that was 10 years ago. The peak to peak being built at Whistler right now is over 50 million and doesn't even have any towers.

Actually, it has four but yea i see what your saying. You know when they are gonna be done with that anyway? I'm going there in December

 

[snowman]

Actually, it has four but yea i see what your saying. You know when they are gonna be done with that anyway? I'm going there in December

It's under construction now and is not supposed to be done until December 2008. It's a pretty big project and is pretty new technology (meaning lots of problems to work out), thus the build time of years vs. weeks.

 

[K2Trav]

Here are some pics of mid station

http://www.k2trav.com/2005/pics/gondimid.html

 

[wa-loaf]

Here are some pics of mid station

http://www.k2trav.com/2005/pics/gondimid.html

Nice pics. I like the below pic with all the steel beams. They'll probably get a few bucks for those at the scrap yard.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Please please please don't put high speed lifts to the top of the loaf.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

As far as I know the loaf contracted out the food service as recently as the last few years. Not sure any specifics on the arrangement or if it will change with the sale.

I'm pretty sure its still being done by Boston Consulting Group....aka BCG. Don't know if Boyne will change that or not...Bill...Bill...???