Bubble Blog: Big Project, Big Parts
It’s really hard to put into words the scale of a project like installing America’s only high speed detachable six passenger bubble chair, but I can always try! Everything about it is big: the chairs themselves weigh in at just under 1,400 pounds each, the lift towers are made of galvanized steel and are going to be installed with bolts the size of wiffle ball bats, the sheave wheels would be too big to fit an F-350 and the timber frame barn…at 65’ X 130’ and four stories high, the barn is just massive.
But I think the most impressive thing I’ve seen so far in terms of sheer size is the spool that sits in the base area right now holding half of the lift’s haul rope. That’s right, just half. The handsome gent standing next to said spool in the photo below is our Events Manager, Tim Dolan. Tim is 6’4” on a short day, former college basketball player and utterly dwarfed by this spool of thread on steroids. There’s a sticker on one end and it says the total weight of the entire thing comes to a hefty 88,917 pounds. That’s almost 45 tons. Wow. Might take a few guys to move that puppy!
Most of the sheave trains have been attached to their crossarms and work has begun to assemble those to the upper section of the two-piece lift towers. The assembly of crossarm, sheave train and upper tower section is still light enough for the helicopter to safely haul and will reduce the number of “picks” the helicopter would have to otherwise make if it was to bring each part up separately. Efficiency, ladies and gentlemen. The folks in charge of this project are wicked smaaaht!
All of the trusses have been raised and attached to the storage barn and work has begun on the roof. As you will see in the photo below, working on the barn is not a job for those folks with a fear of heights…like me.
Word is the concrete that was flown in last week to the lift tower forms is setting up well and we are on schedule (weather permitting) to fly in the towers on Wednesday, October 5. Come check out this exciting portion of the installation process! The helicopter will be making picks all day starting bright and early in the morning.
6’4” Tim Dolan next to the 88,917 pound spool of haul rope
Just over 15,000 feet long and pushing 90,000 pounds…wow.
One of the assembled crossarm/sheave train/upper tower sections
Chair storage barn with all trusses installed and work on the roof progressing
America’s only high speed detachable six passenger bubble chair will be spinning before we know it! I can’t wait!
Thinking Snow,
- Meeker
Tiny URL for this post: http://tinyurl.com/3qh7zze
Big stuff. Can’t wait to see – will be up next week for
the craft fair.
Priscilla
Impressive equipment! Are you sure about the spool containing half the haul rope? 15,000 ft, 45 tons, 5.9 lbs per foot sound right for the whole thing.
Can’t wait to see it when it is done…..
Mount Snow rocks!!!!!!!! Great Job. By the way to any of the mount snow workers or staff, is it true that there moght be new trails in the future. Write back if you read this. Please. Thank you
What goes upstairs in the barn?
A speakeasy! No actually it will be a meeting room for staff events, etc.
how are the chairs moved from the haul rope to the barn? is there some kind of track or something?
This is a detachable chair lift. Once the carrier enters the terminal it is detached from the haul rope and slowed down to a safe loading speed. Because this installation has a barn there is a track/rail that will move and re-direct the carriers in the terminal to the barn. This track will lead into the barn and the carriers will rest there for the night until the next day of operation.
If you want to, watch this video on youtube and you can see the carriers slow down once they enter the terminal and speed back up as they exit on the other side. http://goo.gl/XoXmr
To See the carriers going into a barn, watch this video. Start it at the 1 minute 55 second mark: http://goo.gl/nnc3X
is there room for delays in the schedule or is it going to be real close to be ready for opening day?
Agreed. I’ve been hearing for years an expansion of Sunbrook. A highspeed quad and more trails & trees would really open up the rest of the resort.
There has also been rumors that Mount Snow was thinking of getting Haystack back!! I remember 20 years ago they were talking about connecting the two mountains via Sunbrook. Now that would be awesome!! Haystack was a great little mountain.
pretty sure there is a backcountry trail that leads to haystack… can’t remember where i read that though..
their is it is right off the side of big dipper
Is there going to be a conveyor belt to get to the chairs like the grand summit?
The Haystack connect while a dream would be a win – win for the resort and the community. Reviving Haystack would enhance the Mount Snow terrain which is already the best in Southern New England. If the state of VT would grant Mount Snow permits for the Somerset Reservoir resort could tap into unlimited water for snowmaking. Unlimited water + Haystack = An incredible resort experience within reach of the major population centers of the Mid-Atlantic and North East. This would make for an excellent stimulus package. Is Obama a skier?
There is a ridge trail that runs between Mount Snow and Haystack.
I hiked the ridge trail twice this summer. It’s quite the tough trail to hike through in part to two large bogs about half way between Haystack and Mount Snow. To get past them you have to bushwack around them in incredibly dense forest. It took us longer both trips to hike the ridge trail than it took to hike up Mount Snow from the base. It’s really rewarding when you finally emerge at the summit of Haystack take a look at the view. It’s just so sad to see the abandoned lifts and run down buildings up there. Great place to hike though! I’m pretty sure that there’s a trail from the SUmmit of Haystack that takes you to the actual summit of Haystack Mountain, not just the top of the ski area.
WESTMINSTER- salt lake city utah. same lift. but i love mount snow and practically live there in the winter . just sayin its not the only one in ”america”
The bubble chair at Canyons is a quad, Ben.
if the barn upstairs is going to be staff related, does that mean you guys have plans for the upstairs of the discovery center? That room with a view and lovely fireplace seems like it has big potential, but doesn’t get enough use.
there is a trail that connects mountsnow and haystack. it is beautiful and serene. off big dipper. there is also a trail at the bottom of the ridge which goes from sunbrook base to the Hermitage……..and 1300 feet of east facing constant pitch incredible glades in between!
hi, are you still planning on wed to fly in towers?? hope we all get some better weather.you are doing a fantastic job.cant wait to make that first tele turn. jim and sue
Weather permitting, we’re scheduled for wednesday.
Speaking of upstairs, can I take over the abandoned disco on the 3rd floor of the main lodge and start my own Austin Powers ‘Shagadelic Lounge’? We’ll have girl dancers in cages with gogo boots and paisley carpet on the ceiling…
Chris, the third floor is Marketing… you’re talking about the 4th floor, which during the season is used as a Staff lounge, for lunches mostly. Good thinking though :)
Would love to be there for the tower installation but can’t make it until Thursday. Can you wait for me?
whens the lift going to be finished??
any plans for sun chairs and burritos at the base of the north face :) would be amaaaazing. gets great sun! even 1 set of those 6-pack accordion soccer sideline chairs and a cooler full of hot burritos would be the bomb.
Like!
that should be phase 1….
There should definitely be a small facility with food/drinks/restrooms/fireplace etc….sundeck!
So many reasons to do this, including diverting traffic from the main base lodge and summit lodge!
HEAR, HEAR!!!
Love the idea of some sort of food option at the base of the North Face. Endless possibilities (including what Sleepy Bear suggested), but it’s such a classic spot that it’s begging for some refreshments (and tunes for that matter)
what happened to base cams??jim
we’re working on it, jim
thanks so much. we like to check on our mt.you guys and gals a.re the best.hope to be up to watch towers fly in.if it is windy will you still go?? if not wed. will you go thurs.?? thanks for cam, jim and sue
What ‘s the roof going to be?? Thanks for getting the cams back!!
first tower going up. thats awesome jim
Paul, My guess is that a building at the base of the north face is too much capital commitment. My idea is just to answer the question of whether there is demand for sun chairs and food without really spending anything…and maybe create a cool alternative vibe in the process. Expense zero, coolness positive, and maybe plant a seed for future development!
love the idea, music would be great too!
hot chocolate stand!