I ventured up to the base of Alpine Meadows this afternoon where construction is occurring in all directions. For those of you who are anxious to see the new Alpine Meadows Gondola completed and up and running, I have attached a few photos. They show four towers standing tall in the Alpine Meadows Parking Lot and one photo of the base station that is in the foundation stage.
As many of you know this scenic transportation lift is not something I am crazy about, but for those of you waiting anxiously to park in the Alpine Meadows parking lot and jump on the Alpine Meadows Gondola for a ride to the Other Valley the attached photos might speed up your heart beat. It appears doubtful that the gondola cars will be transporting anyone during this coming ski season, but in future years the lift will be carrying skiers from its beginning at Alpine Meadows to the Other Valley.
I believe you call a lift with two intermediate stations where the cars slow down for passengers to enter or exit a “Milk Run” lift and not an “Express” lift. An express lift would have a beginning and an end with no stops in the middle, similar to a non-stop airline flight verses the flight that makes one or more stops along the way.
Regardless of my feelings, it is coming to Alpine Meadows. We, the ever so friendly, patient, and family friendly skiers of Alpine Meadows are please to host the new Alpine Meadow Gondola for those who cannot wait to travel to the Other Valley.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
Update: By popular demand, Andy went back and snagged some pictures of the progress being made on the changes to the lodge and breezeway this summer. For those unfamiliar with the project, a whole lot of dirt is being moved this summer. The goal is to fill in the entire area in front of the lodge, so there is almost level access from the lodge deck to Roundhouse, Summit and Kangaroo. When the Alpine Meadows gondola base is completed, it will also be at that same level. Realistically, this plan does make sense.
Yes, this will block off the end of the breezeway. As the photos in the gallery below show, steps will lead from the breezeway directly up to the Sun Deck and newly created “snow beach”. For those that haven’t been around Alpine Meadows, it’s a return to the way it used be. The size of the new footings being dug in the breezeway does make you wonder if the steps will be more massive or if they are building a lift up to the deck…
It’s only 68 days to what would be a traditional opening day, generally the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Looking at the current state of things, I wouldn’t bet on an early opening at Alpine Meadows.
-Mark
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New towers marching toward the other valley -
That’s a massive foundation -
That almost took Pete’s parking space -
Steps return to the breezeway -
Fill, fill, and more fill
Yeah, that will not be done for this season…inquiring minds want to know what the breezeway and the area in front of the lodge are looking like these days.
🤮
Skiing Alpine faithfully every season since 1977.
Does anybody know if all the towers have been set? If so they might get it completed. Sad to see the trees gone😩
Definitely not going to be done for the coming winter. The base of red dog needs to be moved for the Squaw side base station and that isn’t happening until next summer
So exciting can’t wait
Actually, it’s not that far behind schedule. Most lift installations look similar around this time of year because they have to wait for the ground to dry up, and much of the work is underground. the next stages go pretty quickly because they just assemble complex parts made in Utah. It will probably be open around the end of November, It will certainly be open before new years.