New Chairlifts Top Off-Season Upgrades At Idaho Big Mountains
Getting busier by the year, a trio of Idaho's ski and snowboard resorts continued a recent trend of modernization this summer with four new high-speed lifts that aim to ease lift line congestion and get folks up and around the mountains more readily.
The Ikon Pass folks have bought Schweitzer, and the first move is to dramatically upgrade the easy slopes below the main base area. Gone is the 32-year-old Musical Chairs fixed-grip double, and up and running is the new high-speed quad Creekside Express. The detachable chairlift will triple capacity and cut ride time to 3.5 minutes between lower Fall Line parking and main lodge -- the mountain's only green-rated runs.
The new lift is a glimpse at what's to come in Schweitzer's easy-going area. The existing Creek Village housing area will get a new day lodge, expanded beginner and intermediate terrain, easy access from the upper mountain -- and much more parking.
The first investments by a reinvigorated ownership at Brundage Mountain (1,920 a.,1,921 vert.) arrived for this season, in the form of a much-needed second high-speed quad on the front side. The old Centennial triple has been replaced by a detachable four-seater that will nearly double capacity and cut time on the lift from 16 minutes to six -- dramatically reducing lift lines.
Next up for Brundage will a new guest service's center at the base, and the expansion of the main lodge -- both planned for the next couple years.
In the past couple of seasons at Sun Valley (2,457 a., 3,400 vert.), mountain planners worked to rectified traffic flow on the frontside. This summer, crews headed to the side-mountain Warm Springs area. Two new high-speed chairlifts that run side-by-side are ready to run. The base-to-top Challenger six-seater adds 50% capacity and a mid-station before the 7.5-minute ride to Lookout Restaurant.
The other new lift, a four-seater called Flying Squirrel, replaces the 35-year-old Greyhawk quad. It runs up the same route to the divide, where skiers and riders can dump into Frenchman's and other frontside sectors. A steep black section has been added as Lower Flying Squirrel, alongside newly opened Little Scorpion glades to put more variety into the runs back to the Warm Spring base.
Other improvements at Idaho ski and snowboard mountains this season include:
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A major overhaul of the Shoshone Lift beginner area at Grand Targhee.
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Glade clearing and trail regrading at Lookout Pass.
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Reinvigorating the long-ignored snowmaking system at Soldier Mountain.
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A new "family friendly zone" and terrain park beginner area at Tamarack.
