Here are a couple of photos of the new Blitzen lift location at 7Springs. I typed a long note on it but failed with posting. Have to run so here you go.
Great question! I was thinking to myself, hmm I could ski through those trees and go down north face. It seems possible, if not intended. The thing that I like is that the new landing will reduce congestion at the top. I believe that it is a quad, and a little faster than the old lift, so it should make skiing that area more pleasant. I think that Vail correctly identified the Blitzen area as nice place that they can get open earlier.
I didn't see any new pipe or poles for snowmaking.
Update. I talked with a liftie and he said that they will build up the ground at the base of the new landing so that North Face, Lost Boy and all previously accessible terrain will be available without poling. Indeed, a bulldozer was making a huge mound for the landing pad.
He said that North Face lift is next (depending on Vail revenue the next couple of years) with the placement of its landing still under intense debate.
Was talking with someone who skied 7S back in the day (a bit before I was getting into skiing - late 70s early 80s) and he mentioned there used to be a dual-duty lift over there serving alpine meadows and the north area. It pulled a load from one area up to the top and another from the bottom of alpine meadows to the top, simultaneously. So essentially you had a load of skiers on each side of the mountain , no load on the "return" to the top. Anyone remember that? (I do not.)
Yes, I rode it often. 7S trail map from 1978, skimap.org. The bottom right corner, Sunrise Triple and the Sunset Triple is one continuous lift.
Cool. I really only started skiing at 7s/HV/LM around 80/81 or thereabouts. It may have been removed by then, or I just was never over on that part of the hill at that point....
According to liftblog.com the "up and over" lift was removed in 2001and reused to make the Southwind lift to service condos above Wagner.
needawax wrote:
Cool. I really only started skiing at 7s/HV/LM around 80/81 or thereabouts. It may have been removed by then, or I just was never over on that part of the hill at that point....
Ahh. So I have been on at least a "part of that lift."
Laurel Hill Crazie wrote:
According to liftblog.com the "up and over" lift was removed in 2001and reused to make the Southwind lift to service condos above Wagner.
needawax wrote:
Cool. I really only started skiing at 7s/HV/LM around 80/81 or thereabouts. It may have been removed by then, or I just was never over on that part of the hill at that point....
Well, damn, if that lift was around for that long, it could possibly be that I just never noticed it was "up and over." or just didn't take mental note of it. Lol.
