Glacier Lift Reconstruction Begins at Big Mountain

Sat 28 April 07

$5.2 million is being spent giving the quad-chair a complete overhaul

Big Mountain Resort has begun reconstruction of Chair 1 (Glacier Chaser), the high-speed quad chairlift that services the summit of Big Mountain. The original Chair 1 was a fixed-grip double chair constructed in 1960 and was replaced in 1989 by the current high-speed quad.

“After 18 years of service, we’re investing significant capital to give the chairlift a complete overhaul,” said Chester Powell, operations manager for the resort. “We’re installing new tower assemblies, new cable, new chairs, completely rebuilding the top and bottom terminals, adding lower tower extensions, and replacing the communications line.”

The resort will spend $5.2 million on the rebuild, which is scheduled to be completed by September. This summer, no lift access to the summit will be available and the Summit House will be closed. The resort will operate Chair 3 from June 20 – July 31, as well as offer a wide range of summer adventure activities through Sept. 3, including an expanded outdoor concert series featuring Steve Holy (July 21), Lou Gramm, lead singer of Foreigner (July 28), Sammy Kershaw (August 4) and The Marshall Tucker Band (August 11).

Due to the lift construction, there will be periodic times when Big Mountain will close the area around Chair 1 for safety reasons. The Danny On Hiking Trail and the Summit Bike Trail will also be closed at times due to construction activities. Hikers and bikers are asked to refrain from using the area during these times. Signs will be posted in the Cedar and Dogwood parking lots, as well as near the Chalet building.

Related Pages

• Fishbowl Terrain Park expanding
  Whitefish (Big Mountain) resort are set to enlarge the park creating a new beginner freestyle area and improve the existing obstacles -21Aug07
• Big Mountains big plans
  There's a new $10million Day Lodge and beginner skiing area project, and next season (2007/8) will see the Glacier Chaser replaced with a quad chair -2Sep06
• Big Mountain's new superpipe
  Big Mountain Resort has announced the grand opening of the resort's new Super Pipe. 450 feet long, 57 feet wide, with 18-foot high walls, and a 16-degree pitch -3Mar06

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