Where to Ski And Snowboard - Jackson Hole announces new lift

Jackson Hole announces new lift

24th February 2012, by Chris Gill

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming USA is to invest $5 million in a new fast quad to serve intermediate terrain for 2012/13.

The new lift is due to replace the existing Casper triple chair, which dates back to 1974 and serves the upper part of the mountain (to skiers left of the main Bridger gondola). It will follow a similar line, starting from the same place but finishing a little more northward – skiers left of the current top station.

The plan is to increase uplift capacity and access; and the new lift will be capable of shifting 2000 people per hour, as opposed to the current 1185 maximum. Instead of a ten-minute ride, the new chair will whisk skiers and boarders up to the ridge in 3.5 minutes. This is also part of a bigger project to improve the intermediate trails in that area of the mountain – and so that the resort will appeal to a broader clientele (not just the hardcore bunch for which it is renown) .

The downside of that deal is that the slopes served by the new Casper chair could get busier as the lift drops off more people at the top, faster. But most skiers here are experts, so likely to be using other lifts to gain access to the higher, steeper bowls.

Jackson’s plan for a new lift follows this winter’s installation of the new Marmot double chair that goes from the base of the Thunder chair to the top of the Bridger gondola. This makes moving across the mountain, without returning to base, a lot easier.

The resort has witnessed a lot of investment recently, which also includes more for families and better terrain parks.

www.jacksonhole.com

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