Sunday River Chondola?

[uphillklimber]

x

 

[Vortex]

One side for chair the other side for the Gondola. Official opening Dec 20th at 6pm. I have seen it running and load tests have been taking place. I don't know anyone who has taken a ride yet.

http://www.chondola.com/

more info. History on the process in the blog as well. I'll be there opening night.

 

[vcunning]

SR certainly has a clever banner ad (I've seen it pop up here at AZ). I usually don't even pay attention to them, but they have an animated bigfoot checking out the Chondola.

 

[tcharron]

Anyone used it yet? How does it work? I'm thinking that as people get on the lift, how do they co-ordinate between those on the chairs keeping their boards/skiis on and those hitting the gondola having to remove theirs?

I saw the first one go up umm, week before last? I couldn't really make out as they hadn't put any chairs on it yet, but I got the impression that the gondolas detach differently then the chairs. There are 3 chairs (big, huge arse, like, wide as a friggen bus chairs) to one gondola. So I assume it cranks thru further along then the chairs, then slows down, while the chairs slow down earlier.

Did I mention those chairs are friggen HUGE?

 

[Vortex]

Its a 6 pack and I think its a 4 to 1 ratio. Next year they will have a garage up top to switch around the ratio as needed. Wjeness is all over this stuff. I'm sure he will pop in.

 

[WJenness]

Hey Bob...

Bob's got it right... ratio is 4 to 1 (64 6-person chairs / 16 8-person gondi cabins)
Gondi cabins load / unload on the downhill side and the chairs load / unload on the uphill side (as normal on any chair lift). They will load from separate lines so you can choose if you want to ride a chair or a gondi.

Plans indicate a carrier garage for north peak to be built (possibly next year), then they can have whatever mix of carriers on the line that they want.

I'll be there 12/20 for the opening of the lift and the start of SR night skiing. (saw the M&G thread Bob, I'll do my best to pop in).

-w

 

[tcharron]

And here's I think the best image to show how this would work. Side view of the load area:

So while the 8 people are getting into the slowly moving gondola, 18 people are potentially loading into the chairs.

 

[Vortex]

Please do. I probably should do a thread in the trips and event folder.

Here is a linc
http://forums.alpinezone.com/43934-sunday-river-sat-night-dec-20th-chondola-opening-party.html

 

[tcharron]

I wasn't happy with the way the above picture actually showed how it would work. I DID find a better picture of another. Panorama image of a Chondola load area from Europe someplace. Note the Gondola load is to the right of the picture, the chairs to the left.

 

[tcharron]

Found a picture of the load area. Simular thing, note the chair lines to the left, and the building on the right. The Gondola loading would happen by that building.

 

[tjf67]

I am trying to figure out why they have something like this. I am guessing because it is cheaper than a full out ghondi?

 

[Vortex]

It is to offer 4 season access to the mountain. Weddings in the summer at the North peak lodge, allow non skiers in the winter to get to the lodge. Night time dinner options fro skier and non skiers. Sr has a large base that goes off mountain after hours. This may help keep some of us on mountain. A lift was needed anyway to evacuate South Ridge. Just gives a practical sales value multi season. Not to mention on cold night skiing night it might be nice to ride the gondola part.

 

[WJenness]

Found a picture of the load area. Simular thing, note the chair lines to the left, and the building on the right. The Gondola loading would happen by that building.

Not quite, Right side is uphill side.

Gondi's will load on the left side, chairs on the right.

-w

 

[deadheadskier]

How does it rate capacity wise compare to a similar standard 6 pack or Gondola?

 

[Edd]

I've seen it turn a few times lately and I'm excited for it. The spot that it unloads allows skiers to hit the base of Aurora, North, Spruce, Barker, or Locke peak in one shot. The more I think about it, the better I like this idea.

 

[deadheadskier]

I've seen it turn a few times lately and I'm excited for it. The spot that it unloads allows skiers to hit the base of Aurora, North, Spruce, Barker, or Locke peak in one shot. The more I think about it, the better I like this idea.

White Cap base as well.....

I like the positioning as well. I seem to recall a plan at one point to run a Gondola from Southridge up to the summit of Spruce. While that was an intriguing thought because you could access all 8 peaks from there, the amount of traffic it would put on very few trails would've been a mess. The chondola positioning is a better choice for both skiers and off slope uses.

 

[tcharron]

I am trying to figure out why they have something like this. I am guessing because it is cheaper than a full out ghondi?

Negative. Pure speed. One Gondola loads with 8 people, 3 chairs load with 18. Rinse, repeate. Sure, they get diminished capacity when they cannot use the chairs, but they have the ability to be 'dynamic'. Next year they intend on having extra chairs and gondolas, so they can dynamically change how it's loaded depending on the weather. So basically, it already IS a full gondola.

It also gives them mountain biking, etc in the summer, with a 'central access' to everything else.

 

[Johnskiismore]

Sunday River has done a great move putting in this lift, as posted previously, it will open up Sunday River to year round activities. Looking forward to seeing it in operation!

 

[Terry]

Was there for the grand opening last night. Awesome fireworks and celebration. That thing flies! Also smooth as silk. Very cold last night but had a good time. To bad that they don't have more terrain lit for night skiing though. Basically 2 runs down from North peak. The lighting needs to be tweaked a bit also. There were some fairly large dark patches. I'm sure that they will work it out! It was a good time.

 

[Johnskiismore]

We may be there Xmas Eve to check it out