There were actually two lifts of similar length at one point. This lift replaced the Cupp Run Triple, a 1974 Thiokol. There was also a CTEC triple called Hawthorne, but was abandoned in 1989. It was relocated to what is now Powderridge.
The mid station was added in 2008 to allow only the upper terrain to be open early in the season. The original fixed grip also had a mid station. Alterra significantly upgraded the snowmaking on this sector of the mountain in 2018, so I'm not sure if the mid station has been used since. As the mid station does not have a detachable mechanism, the lift must be run at fixed grip speed when it is in use.
@@collinparsons3363 It hasn’t been used since. I honestly think it’s a good thing because I would rather ride a sluggish 775 fpm ride than a slow and painful 16 minutes. It’s a very good eye-catcher.
@@TwinSkiingLiftsRides The speed during this recording is about 830 fpm. I don't think they ever used the mid station when you could ski to the bottom. That would be painfully slow going up the entire lift at 450 fpm. There actually used to only be one trail in the Western Territory, which was Cupp Run. Intrawest added Shay's Revenge when they built this lift.
There were actually two lifts of similar length at one point. This lift replaced the Cupp Run Triple, a 1974 Thiokol. There was also a CTEC triple called Hawthorne, but was abandoned in 1989. It was relocated to what is now Powderridge.
That’s interesting. I didn’t realize there were two other lifts in this area. The old Hawthorne trails would have been great if they were re-used.
@@TwinSkiingLiftsRides Hawthorne only served 1.5 trails. It ran off the back of Soaring Eagle.
@@collinparsons3363 My mistake. I thought there were more trails in this area, something that Western Territory needs!
That SBNO mid station was pretty interesting. Also, is it just me or do the sheave trains on this lift rattle a bit more than you’d expect?
It does rattle. Not every lift does that.
The mid station was added in 2008 to allow only the upper terrain to be open early in the season. The original fixed grip also had a mid station. Alterra significantly upgraded the snowmaking on this sector of the mountain in 2018, so I'm not sure if the mid station has been used since. As the mid station does not have a detachable mechanism, the lift must be run at fixed grip speed when it is in use.
@@collinparsons3363 It hasn’t been used since. I honestly think it’s a good thing because I would rather ride a sluggish 775 fpm ride than a slow and painful 16 minutes. It’s a very good eye-catcher.
@@TwinSkiingLiftsRides The speed during this recording is about 830 fpm. I don't think they ever used the mid station when you could ski to the bottom. That would be painfully slow going up the entire lift at 450 fpm. There actually used to only be one trail in the Western Territory, which was Cupp Run. Intrawest added Shay's Revenge when they built this lift.
That makes sense. It’s crazy to think that there was only one trail on Western Territory before Western Express.
I've heard this lift has some of the steepest skiing in the southwest. Is that accurate?
Yes. Although there are two trails, they are the longest and tallest trails at the Shoe. Makes it worth lapping.
Does this lift always run at only 775 fpm?
@@Brosef336 I went back to Snowshoe again yesterday, and it ran at 4 m/s. Seems to be the standard speed for this lift.