Powder Monkey Lift Replacement

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That’s all folks. Powder Monkey is up and running! Thank you for following along on this adventure.

Powder Monkey Lift Grand Opening

The time has arrived! After many months of work, the new and improved Powder Monkey Lift is ready to ride. Help us celebrate the grand opening with a ribbon cutting and the first chairs up at 10:00am on Friday, December 15, 2023 at the bottom of Powder Monkey.

Lift Replacement Progress Updates:

For the first time since 2006, our mountain operations team will be installing a brand new chairlift here on the mountain. Powder Monkey, a fixed-grip triple installed in 1977 as one of Snowshoe’s original lifts, will be replaced with a fixed-grip quad ahead of the 2023/24 winter season. The new lift from Leiter-Poma & Skytrac will increase uphill capacity, ease congestion in the Basin area, and improve access to the Western Territory.

December 8, 2023 – We’re getting closer and closer to the first rides up Powder Monkey. The chairs are installed and the load test is complete. Our next step is to fire up the guns and connect our open terrain to Powder Monkey. Stay tuned to our social media for an opening announcement.

November 17, 2023 – What’s the best way to eat an elephant? One bite at a time. What’s the best way to set up a brand new haul rope? One twist at a time. Our mighty team got the haul rope wrapped and ran this week. Next up, lift chairs, which are staged and ready to go.

November 14, 2023 – The crew is still hard at work and we remain on track for a mid-December opening as planned. The bull wheel and top terminal got installed today and the haul rope is slated for install Friday, November 17. Check out that fresh paint!

November 7, 2023 – Things are really starting to come together now! After a successful tower installation, the crew began assembling the new lift chairs and ran the electrical cable along the towers. We’ve taken delivery of the top and bottom bull wheels and some new Snowshoe blue terminals. We are on track for our mid-December opening. Stay tuned for more.

October 13, 2023 – New lift towers and loading conveyor belt. Next up is terminal and haul rope installation.

October 3, 2023 – Lift Towers were flown in and placed via helicopter. It was a sight to see!

September 11, 2023 – Most of the lift work happens underground, like pouring concrete footings for each tower, and this work has been completed. A day for tower installment via helicopter is being determined and will take about 2-3 hours to install all of the new towers.

September 6, 2023– Upper lift terminal concrete has been poured. This is where the lift shack will sit. Tower installation with a helicopter will happen late next week or early the following week.

August 15, 2023 – Crossarm structures that attach to the top of lift towers are being assembled. Next week, crews will begin digging the footer for the top terminal, then forming and pouring concrete.

July 24, 2023 – The loading conveyor vault at the bottom terminal has been poured. Tower footers on Choker will be poured this week.

July 6, 2023 – Footer for Tower #2 has been poured. The crew will continue their way up the mountain to pour remaining tower footers.

May 25, 2023 – Forms have been built for the footers of lift towers. Staging is in progress for installation.

May 19, 2023 – The Snowshoe Foundation auction of 25 original Powder Monkey lift chairs closed. Through this blind auction, the Foundation raised $29,000 – 100% of which will go directly towards our scholarship and grant programs in our local communities.

May 11, 2023 – All lift towers have been removed.

April 24, 2023 – Removal of the terminals and lift towers begins.

April 4, 2023 – Disassembly begins with the removal of chairs, haul rope, and both the top and bottom bull wheels.

April 2, 2023 – The original Powder Monkey triple’s final day in service.