Sunday River "Chondola"

[Vortex]

take a look at all this complete thread and debate and pictures....


http://www.sundayriver.com/community/index.php?showtopic=9035&st=0&start=0

 

[DJAK]

That's a Chondola - We're stoked!

 

[wa-loaf]

That's a Chondola - We're stoked!

Are they all six-packs?

 

[loafer89]

Mount Orford Chondola 1-15-04:

 

[MichaelJ]

I hope they're kind to Escapade, as it seems that the new lift would go right over it (as a replacement/extension to lift 7). That's una_dogger's second favorite trail at SR!

I'm not sure how I feel about this; it does seem like it will get more un-ready beginner traffic onto North Peak; however, I do like the idea of one less lift to get me over to Oz (and to clear out South Ridge in the morning).

I guess the big question is where exactly will it unload? The top of North Peak doesn't have a lot of room between Lift 3 (which I love) and the Perfect Turn Express (6). But then again, if it's meant to get people up to the lodge, perhaps it will unload at the lodge, meaning no access to Dream Maker/Escapade/Quantum Leap but instead Paradigm/Downdraft?

 

[deadheadskier]

I hope they're kind to Escapade, as it seems that the new lift would go right over it (as a replacement/extension to lift 7). That's una_dogger's second favorite trail at SR!

I'm not sure how I feel about this; it does seem like it will get more un-ready beginner traffic onto North Peak; however, I do like the idea of one less lift to get me over to Oz (and to clear out South Ridge in the morning).

I guess the big question is where exactly will it unload? The top of North Peak doesn't have a lot of room between Lift 3 (which I love) and the Perfect Turn Express (6). But then again, if it's meant to get people up to the lodge, perhaps it will unload at the lodge, meaning no access to Dream Maker/Escapade/Quantum Leap but instead Paradigm/Downdraft?

That's a good point. I forget, can you take the Backside/Polaris Trail off of Paradigm over to Dream Maker?

There is a huge amount of open space next to North Peak for which to put the unloading area, but as you point out, it kind of limits your options on where you can branch off to.

Someone had mentioned replacing Aurora with a HSQ. Personally I think Tempest shoudl be replaced prior to it with a HSQ. That's really the only lift at the river that drives me crazy

 

[loafer89]

Someone had mentioned replacing Aurora with a HSQ. Personally I think Tempest shoudl be replaced prior to it with a HSQ. That's really the only lift at the river that drives me crazy

I mentioned replacing Aurora though I agree with you on replacing the White Cap Quad, it stopped so many times last weekend and took forever to get to the top.

 

[Jonni]

Seeing that there is some confusion from previous posts as to how chondola works here's a good representation of how it actually works using the Tahoe Zephyr as an example:

Basically there are two places on the lift to load and two places to unload. If you want a gondola cabin you stand in one line and if you want a chair you go into another line. In the setup above, the gondola cabin loads right after the cabin has entered the terminal. Once the cabin reaches the middle of the contour (or halfway between the downhill side of the terminal and the uphill side of the terminal) the doors close on the gondola car until it reaches the top station.

The chair, on the other hand, passes through the gondola loading area to the other side of the terminal where it loads the same way it would on a normal high speed lift. The loading gates for the skiers loading the chair ensure that people don't try to load when there is a gondola cabin. At the top the process is the same just backwards. The chair unloads on the uphill side of the terminal and the gondola cabin unloads on the downhill side of the terminal.

This is basically what's going in at Sunday River, maybe even with that terminal design. Hope this helps.

 

[Telemechanic]

Blowing bubbles in the wind

I wish places had the covered chairs you see everywhere in Europe. On a windy day, it's nice to be able to close the hatch.

...and hang on tight! http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZtcFa2lB1lc

 

[gladerider]

traditional chair is designed primarily for skiers. chairs are uncomfortable for snowboard riders. in order to get on the chairs, riders unbuckle one binding and the entire snowboard ends up hanging off another. this is believed to cause ankle injuries.

i know majority of this board members are skiers and skiers don't necessary like riders but this chondola is a huge plus for riders in ankle pain.

 

[deadheadskier]

traditional chair is designed primarily for skiers. chairs are uncomfortable for snowboard riders. in order to get on the chairs, riders unbuckle one binding and the entire snowboard ends up hanging off another. this is believed to cause ankle injuries.

i know majority of this board members are skiers and skiers don't necessary like riders but this chondola is a huge plus for riders in ankle pain.

Do you find a foot rest helps? I'd imagine long lift rides without one could indeed put strain on an ankle.

 

[aveski2000]

I Googled Chondola:
http://www.doppelmayr.com/upload/prj1/inserate-broschueren/dpl_fld_kombibahnen_gb_ansicht.pdf

 

[ga2ski]

Does anyone have a picture of what one of these lifts look like???? I am a bit confused....it has both chairs and gondola cars?

http://www.sundayriver.com/TheMountain/chondola.html

 

[gladerider]

Do you find a foot rest helps? I'd imagine long lift rides without one could indeed put strain on an ankle.

It does, but the board angle/position of riders tend to bother next person's skis when on foot rest. and trying to put your board on that small foot rest area is work sometimes and likely to annoy skiers next. so often i just let mine hang.

 

[thetrailboss]

Any maps as to what line it is going to take? Will it replace one of the HSQ's? Will there be a stop for Bob R's condo? :wink:

 

[thetrailboss]

I just read this again...looks like Lift 7 is going to be yanked. And I also read that they are adding night skiing at South Ridge??? Wow, that sounds cool. Another thing that will send Bob R into space!

 

[dropKickMurphy]

....Tying in with possible night use is a plan to propose “12-hour skiing,” Bullen said, ending at 9 p.m.

This past fall, the resort applied to the Newry Planning Board for night skiing on the Dreammaker, Escapade and Broadway trails, beginning this season.

But after the town received some informal negative feedback from condominium owners regarding the possible visual impact of lighted slopes, the skiway withdrew the application....

I don't get this. People buy slopeside ski condos and then don't want SR to extend the skiing hours? They're only talking about running until 9 PM; I just find it hard to understand why the condo owners would object. I know if it were me, and I was going up for the wekend, I'd welcome the chance to get some runs in when I arrive on Friday night.

I'm not sure how I feel about this; it does seem like it will get more un-ready beginner traffic onto North Peak; however, I do like the idea of one less lift to get me over to Oz ....

How so? It currently takes 2 lifts (#2 -> #8) then you can ski from Spruce to the base of Oz.

Unless I'm missing something, I don't see how this will enable you to get from South Ridge to Oz without riding at least 2 lifts.

What would be nice is a HSQ from South Ridge to the summit of Spruce. This would put all the other areas within a single lift ride from South Ridge.

 

[deadheadskier]

I don't get this. People buy slopeside ski condos and then don't want SR to extend the skiing hours? They're only talking about running until 9 PM; I just find it hard to understand why the condo owners would object. I know if it were me, and I was going up for the wekend, I'd welcome the chance to get some runs in when I arrive on Friday night.

Not to mention it becomes a better selling point for renting your unit over others that don't have slopeside access to night skiing.

What would be nice is a HSQ from South Ridge to the summit of Spruce. This would put all the other areas within a single lift ride from South Ridge.

I recall at one point a discussion of putting a Gondola from the Base of South Ridge to the Summit of Spruce. While that would be great for access to the whole mountain, I couldn't imagine that many people on Risky Business or AMX. To be honest, I don't thing the terrain up there can handle more people than what the triple already puts on it.

 

[dropKickMurphy]

It sounds interesting, though I would rather see money spent on a HSQ for Aurora Peak.

I kind of like Aurora as it is. It's kind of a self contained area, with a nice mix of trails, that tends to stay pretty uncrowded. I really would not want to see anything that would bring more skiers into this area (HSQ, some type of base lodge, etc) . The South Ridge -> North Peak chondola is probably going to do this.

One of the reasons I'd hate to see heavy traffic off the peak of Aurora is that I can imagine some nasty scenes at that Vortex/Lights Out intersection.

 

[Vortex]

The problem I think, not sure was the lights shining on the Np condo's. Sounds like it they might move the lower mountain route to the base to ease that. Just what I heard I could be wrong.

The rental thing is a positive, except some of us don't rent. The clomping of ski boots at night will be intersting.(that is part of the concern of owners that I have heard.) The rental folks don't understand that.

I can't see it doing anything , but increasing our property values.

bingo TB. I can't wait to ski Friday night when i get up there.

As far as access it does say the lift will get you acces to 6 peaks. Another lift will be needed to get you to oz or Jordan.. I leave South ridge every morning like a jail break trying to beat traffic. This will be great. Beginners' and people just trying to leave south ridge will be seperated.