Crystal's Chair 6 being "upgraded" to a quad?

**PNWbrit** · 04-15-2008, 11:20 AM

Anyone heard/know about this?

Sacrilege.

Hugh Conway · 04-15-2008, 11:23 AM

Maybe it will be open in more than 5mph wind next year.

**2Planker** · 04-15-2008, 11:29 AM

I heard that they were thinking about some upgrades for the wind issue and increasing the unload area, but I don't think they need a quad up there. That line never gets more than 10-15 deep, at most!

**karma** · 04-15-2008, 11:30 AM

for that to happen it would need to have been on the MDP that was approved a few years ago... And it wasn't... AND they just recently chose to install a BRAND NEW double chair in northback, you really think they would turn around a upgrade an existing double chair, serving the same type of terrain with a quad???

**oftpiste** · 04-15-2008, 11:33 AM

I heard the same rumor. Doesn't make a lick of sense and if true, will turn the top of 6 into even more of a shitshow than it already is when there're even a few people skiing it.

I think it had something to do with abandoning plans for another new chair.

Let's all hope it's just scuttlebutt and nothing more.

**PNWbrit** · 04-15-2008, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by karma

for that to happen it would need to have been on the MDP that was approved a few years ago... And it wasn't... AND they just recently chose to install a BRAND NEW double chair in northback, you really think they would turn around a upgrade an existing double chair, serving the same type of terrain with a quad???

Not sure if they'd have to go through a full permitting process to replace an exsisting chair?

What I heard was a quad with fewer chairs so perhaps it is something to do with wind? I believe the main wind issue they have is empty chairs swinging into towers on the down hill?

If they do replace it I want to buy one of the old doubles.

**karma** · 04-15-2008, 11:40 AM

Replacing that chair to minimize wind impacts and increase the unload area would require either realigning it or some major earthwork up top. Both of which would require atleast an enviromental impact statement and permitting process. While it would be nice not to have to wind around rocks in the unload area I'd be willing to bet that there are many other already approved projects ahead of replacing a chair that runs at capacity one day a week maybe 8 weeks out of the season.

If there really just trying to make it more wind resistant, turning the chair into a quad would be great when it runs at full capacity due to the weight of the passengers on the chair. But when the chairs are empty it's going to make them even larger in comparison to thier weight and more suceptible(sp) to the wind.

**crstlextrm** · 04-15-2008, 11:50 AM

I thought I heard that they would make it a triple and reduce the amount of chairs to 70 instead of the 100+ that are on it presently.

**Buster Highmen** · 04-15-2008, 11:52 AM

That old double r00ls. I hope they don't increase the capacity since in the case of chair 6, I'd rather have the density in the line than on the hill. It's part of what makes 6 so good, such quality.

If this is the decision, it's just another in a long line of some dumbasses thinking that quantity replaces quality. I sure hope they haven't scrapped the plan for a lift up Bullion Basin, because that would be a money lift provideing better access for tours into Norse Peak and East Peak to Bullion.

Where did this rumor come up?

**PNWbrit** · 04-15-2008, 11:57 AM

I overheard it on a random chair ride this year then saw a thread about it today at TAY.

I thought the Bullion chair being on "back burner" was now gospel?

**Scotsman50** · 04-15-2008, 12:49 PM

Given the proximity to the National Park Boundary at the top of Chair6 ( Kempers) I think it highly unlikely they could get environmental approval to blast the top of the hill to create an appropriate unloading area for a quad.

Without an enlarged unloading area and given that the existing gets scraped down to rock most of the time I can't see the feasability.

**highflyingpilot** · 04-15-2008, 01:44 PM

Chair 6 is one of my favourites. And Chair 2 at Alpy

**Northway** · 04-15-2008, 03:07 PM

I don't buy it. Crystal would NEVER upgrade anything to run in more wind. Their favorite thing to do is shut down lifts due to 'wind' to save themselves some pocket change by not running lifts. Heck, the Northway lift has been on 'wind hold' this year, and I can't figure out how in the world a SW wind could affect that chair.

**PNWbrit** · 04-15-2008, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Northway

Northway lift has been on 'wind hold' this year, and I can't figure out how in the world a SW wind could affect that chair.

Some new weird micro climate? Caused by updrafts from people having side-slipped the finger chutes? Even gusting due to moguls off Northway? Certainly not a natural phenomena.

**crstlextrm** · 04-15-2008, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Northway

I don't buy it. Crystal would NEVER upgrade anything to run in more wind. Their favorite thing to do is shut down lifts due to 'wind' to save themselves some pocket change by not running lifts. Heck, the Northway lift has been on 'wind hold' this year, and I can't figure out how in the world a SW wind could affect that chair.

When I worked chair 6 a couple seasons ago, I remember the wind holds on the chair being pretty legit. If something gets fucked up on that chair halfway up the line it is a real pain in the ass to fix. As for the upgrade rumor, I heard it from a pretty reliable source but I cant remember if he said it was set in stone, just that they had the Doppylmar people looking into it.

**bfree** · 04-15-2008, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

If they do replace it I want to buy one of the old doubles.

Baker is silent auctioning the doubles on chair 1 right now, $200 minimum, 55 highest bidders win.

**Kyle Miller** · 04-15-2008, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by crstlextrm

As for the upgrade rumor, I heard it from a pretty reliable source but I cant remember if he said it was set in stone, just that they had the Doppylmar people looking into it.

Remember he said they were scrapping the plans for bullions and instead focusing on the upgrade.
As for MRNP anything on the backside of Crystal is on MRNP property (for example the traverse around lucky shot and any traversing on High Cambells backside) they didn't give a fuck or check with MRNP before why would they now.

**jfost** · 04-15-2008, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by karma

...
If there really just trying to make it more wind resistant, turning the chair into a quad would be great when it runs at full capacity due to the weight of the passengers on the chair. But when the chairs are empty it's going to make them even larger in comparison to thier weight and more suceptible(sp) to the wind.

each quad chair holds twice as many ppl. as a double - but it is not twice as big in surface area. Therefore, replacing all the doubles with 1/2 the number of quads would result in the same carrying capacity, but a lower overall surface area, which should lead to less vulnerability to wind, whether empty or full or in-between...

edit: just broke Babe Ruth's all time record for posts on TGR, only Hammerin' Hank and Angry Barry to go!!!

**PNWbrit** · 04-15-2008, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by bfree

Baker is silent auctioning the doubles on chair 1 right now, $200 minimum, 55 highest bidders win.

I saw that. Was half tempted to put in a low bid. Would be cool to make a swing chair for the cabin.

A chair from six would have far more emotional attachment though - and wouldn't have been exposed to as much stereotypical Mt Baker saggy panted snow boarder ass crack.

**Toadman** · 04-15-2008, 08:27 PM

Why don't they just upgrade Chair 6 to a T-bar or poma? Course they'd have to move it a smidge.

**1snowKiter** · 04-15-2008, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Anyone heard/know about this?

Sacrilege.

rumors

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects..._summary_6.pdf

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects...f_decision.pdf

It's TELUS time!

**jfost** · 04-15-2008, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by 1snowKiter

...
It's TELUS time!

my dad calls it TELUS too, but as I always tell him, "I think it is the WSSF, sponsered by TELUS" He says, "Oh, ok" then forgets about it and says TELUS again.

aaargh. Who's right?

**skiwa** · 04-15-2008, 10:25 PM

One of the problems with 6 is that the chairs slip on the cable because of issues with some of the central tower wheels and guides. One of the days i was there in Jan. and they were only letting doubles on so single skiers got fucked and had to wait for a double because the chairs were slipping and banging without enough wait. Wind is also an issue obviously...

Also, kempers is closed off not because it is sensitive ecological terrain but because it is some of the most consistently dangerous avy terrain on that side.

As much as i love old 6 i cant see them keeping it around much longer, for safety reasons if nothing else.

**Olywa** · 04-15-2008, 11:13 PM

New double is the word I got.

Anything that runs all the time is good, shit there isn't a person on that lift midweek all season (thanks northway). I spent quite a few days waiting for 10min for another single to ride with in 20 mph wind.

**1snowKiter** · 04-15-2008, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by Olywa

New double is the word I got.

Anything that runs all the time is good, shit there isn't a person on that lift midweek all season (thanks northway). I spent quite a few days waiting for 10min for another single to ride with in 20 mph wind.

YUP!

I rode it with ~5 others for 2 hours last Wednesday afternoon... a pow day....