Squaw Valley Files To Replace Siberia Lift in 2015
Squaw Valley Ski Holdings has requested a Conditional Use Permit for the replacement of the Siberia lift in 2015. The plan would replace the current high speed quad with a high speed six pack. It would be the first significant on mountain improvement for skiers and riders at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows since the installation of the Big Blue lift in 2012.
According to the project description, the new lift would actually reduce the uphill capacity. The current high speed quad is rated at an uphill capacity of 3,000 riders per hour. The new lift is rated for only 2400 skiers per hour. In practice, the current Siberia lift rarely operates at full speed, as it leads to too many issues with loading efficiently. So although the new lift would have a lower rated capacity, it may actually get riders up the hill faster due to fewer stops.
The new lift is also a wider gauge than the current lift, with heavier chairs, which may lead to more stability in high wind events. Siberia has been the subject of frequent wind holds due to its location at the summit.
Certainly this calls into question the 3 other conditional use permits that are already held by SVSH for lift replacements:
• Replacement of the Red Dog chair with a high speed six-pack: This Conditional Use Permit was issued by Placer County in April of 2013 and was good for 24 months, or April 2015. There is no word on whether or not an extension has been filed.
• Replacement of the Granite Chief chair with a high speed quad: This project received a Conditional Use Permit in February of 2012, and it expires in February 2015. Again there is no word on whether or not an extension has been filed. At one point, the Granite Chief chair replacement was reportedly the number one project priority for on mountain improvements. There seems to be pretty widespread support for the project.
• Replacement of the Hot Wheels Chair at Alpine Meadows with a high speed quad: This project received a Conditional Use Permit in September of 2012, with the permit expiring in September 2015. The project would not only replace the fixed triple with a high speed lift, the new chair would extend further to a location near the top of Sherwood, with a mid station for unloading at the current top terminal.
We wrote a more detailed report on those projects back in April of 2013 if you want more information.
We’re curious about the decision to replace the Siberia chair before the other three projects have been completed. I will say that the loading situation is less than ideal, and some reports suggest there were some frequent mechanical issues with the lift over the last two seasons. We wonder if this replacement will actually happen, or if it will just serve as a way to bring positive publicity to Squaw at a time where the current administration is losing community support. We would love to hear your comments.
Here’s the links to the Siberia Project Description and a larger version of the Site Plan.
About The Author
Mark
Mark Fisher has been skiing Alpine Meadows since 1975 & running some sort of unofficial Alpine Meadows site since 2004.
Although upgrading Siberia doesn’t really get us much, it does replace what’s arguably the most decrepit hardware on the hill. We’re lucky there hasn’t been an accident. Hopefully the other projects are extended, funded and built, which would of course revitalize the original promise by KSL.
seriously, most decrepit hardware on hill? What about oly lady, broken arrow, oh right, they don’t run those anymore, slated for removal like the late great CII, which used to run on storm days when too windy for headwall. oops, did I say something inflammatory? so sorry. my bad KSL/AWirthMLivakJKing
My guess is that they will move forward on the Granite Chief upgrade but will pause on both Red Dog and Hot Wheels while they figure out the interconnect Gondola details. I assume they will build a base to base Gondola starting from where Exhibition starts today and ending near the base of Hot Wheels. I would assume this lift will have some sort of mid load/unload at Whitewolf. Alternatively, they could choose to do the above but also replace KT-22 with a mid station as well. If they did that they would free up the current KT chair to replace Red Dog. On the Alpine side, i think they Alpine terminal of the base to base gondola needs to be considered relative to where they place the bottom of the new Hot Wheels chairlift which could be why there is a delay. Net net i think we will see Siberia, then Granite, then the interconnect Gondola, then Red Dog and Hot Wheels (in that order).
seriously, a mid station on KT? bwaaahaahahhaaaaaa Let’s just all go to N* then and ski groomers all day.
I heard it’s the oldest quad chair in the country. Per chairlift.org it is coming up on 30 years old: http://www.chairlift.org/squaw.html
Oldest DETACHABLE quad. Impossible to get parts for apparently.
Not at all. The parts do have to come from France though.
Skiing is believing. until then , no further comment needed.
Conditional permit doesn’t mean crap, what about red dog? Granite Chief? Remember? Guess it’s the WC skier and boarder cross upcoming events that’s pushing them to replace ol sibo, snowmaking anyone?
Thanks for Red Dog and Granite Chief chair replacements as promised Andy W, oh wait, you broke your promise?
How does one pull a permit to get back Alpine logo??