Wachusett New Lift progress?

[Mum skier]

Hi All,
Anyone know how the new lift installation at WaWa is going?
For this season our family dropped Epic (first time in 6 years) and only have Indy. However for the first time I bought myself a midweek WaWa pass. It’s about 45 minutes away and seemed worth it as I should get a few quiet days at work to get some short sessions in.
BUT….maybe I chose a bad year. If the summit lift is not finished that’s a significant drop in terrain. I saw photos showing old lift has gone and some news articles saying target mid December opening. But nothing on their web site? Or not like front page updates. Anyone know how it’s going?

 

[drjeff]

Hi All,
Anyone know how the new lift installation at WaWa is going?
For this season our family dropped Epic (first time in 6 years) and only have Indy. However for the first time I bought myself a midweek WaWa pass. It’s about 45 minutes away and seemed worth it as I should get a few quiet days at work to get some short sessions in.
BUT….maybe I chose a bad year. If the summit lift is not finished that’s a significant drop in terrain. I saw photos showing old lift has gone and some news articles saying target mid December opening. But nothing on their web site? Or not like front page updates. Anyone know how it’s going?

From a lift construction perspective, they seem to be on track for their targeted completion date. I wouldn't even fathom that it won't be operational this season, and likely will be ready to go from day 1 with what is left to complete the lift over the next 2+ months

 

[doublediamond]

They've been posting weekly update videos all summer. Check out their socials.

They are on schedule. Towers were flown last week.

 

[shawnanigans]

Lift construction is going well and on target. Towers and cross arms were installed via helicopter last week. They are targeting to open the mountain the Friday after Thanksgiving (11/28) with Monadnock and Minuteman lift served terrain. December 9th is the targeted date for the public opening of the new summit lift. I don't think you should have any fear of the summit not being available for an extended period of the season. Might lose a day or 2 mid-season if they need to resplice the haul rope due to stretching.

Weekdays are great up there. I live 20 minutes away and WFH so I typically take a long lunch and get about an hour on the hill most days. The place is pretty much a ghost town between 10:30-2:30 after the retired first tracks crew wraps up and before the after-school programs start arriving.

 

[Mum skier]

Thanks everyone. I usually do a couple of midweek days there and just pay for a ticket. But it’s my treat to myself (sadly I’m the only keen skier left in our family) this year to have that as an option.

 

[speden]

Kinda sad to see them put in higher uphill capacity to the summit. It was already overcrowded with a quad, so I can only imagine what it will be like with the new lift

 

[Mum skier]

Kinda sad to see them put in higher uphill capacity to the summit. It was already overcrowded with a quad, so I can only imagine what it will be like with the new lift

Apparently capacity will not be increased. The six seater chairs are further apart than on a quad so overall when operating at capacity the uphill amount is the same. But a shorter ride time on quiet weekdays will be nice. The old quad was running pretty slow I think

 

[drjeff]

Apparently capacity will not be increased. The six seater chairs are further apart than on a quad so overall when operating at capacity the uphill amount is the same. But a shorter ride time on quiet weekdays will be nice. The old quad was running pretty slow I think

Exactly... More seats on a carrier (chair) doesn't always mean more folks up the hill per hour. A quad with the standard 6 second carrier spacing and a six pack with the standard 9 second carrier spacing, have essentially the same hourly uphill capacity. Its simply a math game at the end of the day