Alta Tram

[exit32]

Forest Service has approved Alta's plans to put in a tram to the top of Mount Baldy. It will go to the very top.

While the idea of a tram wouldn't be bad in theory, as it will open up more lift access terrain, and prevent military mortars from being shot over civilian property (the only place in the U.S. this happens).

I still feel like their going about this all wrong. For example it will go the top which it will make a huge eyesore. I feel like there's a way to make it go partly up and end around tree line, to make it blend in. Also some of the famous hike to terrain on Baldy will be the same. In addition, as part of this plan they are trying to replace the iconic Wildcat double with a detachable quad. I personally liked the long ride times at the end of the day as it was kind of a break, but clearly Alta sees differently. I don't know what changed at Alta's management, but this is just sad.

I don't know maybe I'm just ranting about a good change, but this feels like tearing about part of the history/legacy of Alta

 

[partyandBS]

first off fuck alta. they can build whatever they want and im still not gonna go. the exclusiveness with ski only and no park is a no for me dogg.

but as far as building a tram, this happens at any resort that expands. a basin expanded to the beavers and a bunch of locals were saying it ruined side country lines and what not but overall it made skiing there way better.

if you don’t like the way the tram looks, turn your head. also you rather be on a slow double instead of skiing sooner?? fuckin what dood??

the only constant in this life is change. get with it or get left behind

 

[KungKalmar]

I wonder if there would someone who would want to execute the idea of underground lifts. I know it would be way too expensive to do. Maybe a type of capsule that would utilize hydraulics or pneumatics and make it go like a missile. a Mountain with no groomed slopes and no visible lift infrastructure would be golden.

Never been to Alta, but the vibes of the old lifts are sick trough videos. Reminds me of Riksgränsen. In my opinion upgrading lifts to faster and more modern lifts is worth the risk of losing little vibes.

I personally liked the long ride times

You are probably the first skier ever to say this.

 

[bennwithtwons]

this is something i try to keep in mind when i feel the unease associated with change

the way things are when you arrived somewhere (let's use the town/resort where you live/ski for instance) is just a snapshot in time. the town/resort didn't appear magically as you first observed it. it is easy to assume that the condition of the town/resort at this moment is the status quo and always has been. in fact, there were probably a lot of people who lived there before you who were complaining about the changes that led to it being just like it was when you got there.

maybe the house or the building you live in was completed just moments before your arrival after years of dispute and animosity between neighbors. perhaps your favorite restaurant only just opened after the landlord kicked out a long-standing tenant loved by the community.

i know it feels weird when a place you feel very strongly about (but have no actual control over) starts doing things you didn't approve of but you're just gonna have to accept it. also, maybe you'll find yourself in a few years saying that on the whole, you actually appreciate the change.

 

[officechair]

Is there new info on this? I’m only seeing articles from 2018. Am I living in an alternate reality?

 

[weastcoat]

Their

 

[Dlonetti]

I wonder if there would someone who would want to execute the idea of underground lifts. I know it would be way too expensive to do. Maybe a type of capsule that would utilize hydraulics or pneumatics and make it go like a missile. a Mountain with no groomed slopes and no visible lift infrastructure would be golden.

kinda sounds like the funicular that services one of the areas in Zermatt

 

[eheath]

first off fuck alta. they can build whatever they want and im still not gonna go. the exclusiveness with ski only and no park is a no for me dogg.

I'd rather ski alta for the rest of my life than any resort in colorado lol

 

[SlushSeason]

Honestly this is great news. This will make it possible to open high baldy way more often. And speeding up the Cat will help alleviate lines at Collins

Complaining about the lack of a park at Alta doesn't make much sense. Half the resorts in the wasatch don't have one. If anything, Snowbird should be getting more shit for getting rid of their park and lying about bringing back their woodward collab last year.

 

[nCrow]

Isn't this news from like 6 years ago? Just cause a development plan got government approval doesn't mean it will ever be built. You can find tons of crazy terrain expansions and big lift ideas in ski resort master plans.

 

[PartyBullshiit]

Great thing is you can’t see how the tram looks if your inside it. Faster rides mean more skiing. That’s just a win

 

[SupremeChairlift]

I think there is this idea that the double chair deters people from riding wildcat and maybe it does to some extent, but also wildcat can get packed on a powder day and it sucks ass when the lift you wanna ride has a huge line and it serves like 20 people per minute lol

 

[exit32]

I didn't mean that the idea of it wasn’t good I just wasn’t sure if they were executing right by making a giant tower at the top of one of nicest peaks in the Wasatch. They could have moved the top of tram lower and just some hike to terrain and it would of kept the peak beautiful.

 

[cyphers]

a basin expanded to the beavers and a bunch of locals were saying it ruined side country lines and what not but overall it made skiing there way better.

booooo front range take. booooo

 

[partyandBS]

booooo front range take. booooo

hey i havent lived on the front range in 14 years. dont you put that evil on me!!

 

[SlushSeason]

I didn't mean that the idea of it wasn’t good I just wasn’t sure if they were executing right by making a giant tower at the top of one of nicest peaks in the Wasatch. They could have moved the top of tram lower and just some hike to terrain and it would of kept the peak beautiful.

Is there anywhere flat enough to build a tram other than at the summit or the top of Main Chute? I can't think of anywhere on the ridge above wildcat that's high enough up to add any value. Same goes for Sugarloaf, unless they extend it into Snowbird's territory

 

[michael_bc]

Forest Service has approved Alta's plans to put in a tram to the top of Mount Baldy. It will go to the very top.

While the idea of a tram wouldn't be bad in theory, as it will open up more lift access terrain, and prevent military mortars from being shot over civilian property (the only place in the U.S. this happens).

I still feel like their going about this all wrong. For example it will go the top which it will make a huge eyesore. I feel like there's a way to make it go partly up and end around tree line, to make it blend in. Also some of the famous hike to terrain on Baldy will be the same. In addition, as part of this plan they are trying to replace the iconic Wildcat double with a detachable quad. I personally liked the long ride times at the end of the day as it was kind of a break, but clearly Alta sees differently. I don't know what changed at Alta's management, but this is just sad.

I don't know maybe I'm just ranting about a good change, but this feels like tearing about part of the history/legacy of Alta

Wait until they link it up with Brighton and Park City.

 

[michael_bc]

I wonder if there would someone who would want to execute the idea of underground lifts. I know it would be way too expensive to do. Maybe a type of capsule that would utilize hydraulics or pneumatics and make it go like a missile. a Mountain with no groomed slopes and no visible lift infrastructure would be golden.

Never been to Alta, but the vibes of the old lifts are sick trough videos. Reminds me of Riksgränsen. In my opinion upgrading lifts to faster and more modern lifts is worth the risk of losing little vibes.

You are probably the first skier ever to say this.

Plenty of European areas have underground "trams": Zermatt, Val d'Isere, Tignes, St. Moritz to name a few.

I believe building tunnels has more impact on the environment than classic ski lifts because they can change underground water streams. There are also a few examples where the tram caught on fire and the vertical tunnel acts like a chimney burning everyone alive.

What is happening more and more is the top chair or gondola station being underground, digging them into the mountain so they aren't such an eye sore. The exit comes right out of the mountain.

**This post was edited on Jul 28th 2024 at 7:18:24am

 

[KungKalmar]

Plenty of European areas have underground "trams": Zermatt, Val d'Isere, Tignes, St. Moritz to name a few.

I believe building tunnels has more impact on the environment than classic ski lifts because they can change underground water streams. There are also a few examples where the tram caught on fire and the vertical tunnel acts like a chimney burning everyone alive.

What is happening more and more is the top chair or gondola station being underground, digging them into the mountain so they aren't such an eye sore. The exit comes right out of the mountain.

**This post was edited on Jul 28th 2024 at 7:18:24am

But they are not pneumatic missiles.

Building one would probably be an environmental disaster, so let's not build any lifts and do it in the real mans way(touring).

 

[mrk127]

While the idea of a tram wouldn't be bad in theory, as it will open up more lift access terrain, and prevent military mortars from being shot over civilian property (the only place in the U.S. this happens).

Genuinely curious what you mean by this

 

[eheath]

Genuinely curious what you mean by this

avalanche bombs, they shoot them from one side of the canyon to the other, over "civilian" property.

 

[exit32]

avalanche bombs, they shoot them from one side of the canyon to the other, over "civilian" property.

precisely what eheath conveniently stated

 

[PeppermillReno]

LCC hasn't changed in 30 years it desperately needs added lifts and terrain there should be 3-4 times what is already there.

Another lane on the road and bigger parking lots instead of that stupid gondi as well.

Alta's lifts ski well but they are too busy/few.

 

[mrk127]

avalanche bombs, they shoot them from one side of the canyon to the other, over "civilian" property.

Oh lol I thought he was talking about actual military training. I know there are a few military bases in Utah and that jets fly that area all the time

 

[eheath]

Oh lol I thought he was talking about actual military training. I know there are a few military bases in Utah and that jets fly that area all the time

Yeah hill air Force base is huge, but they fly out in the desert for training. Once and awhile you'll just see a few fighter jets ripping around the valley, looks fun as hell haha

 

[KungKalmar]

Once and awhile you'll just see a few fighter jets ripping around the valley, looks fun as hell haha

It might be the best part of flying in the air force. Pilots say that best days of their service are when they get to fly in the Norwegian fjords. Also looks cool as fuck

 

[mikemac]

this is something i try to keep in mind when i feel the unease associated with change

the way things are when you arrived somewhere (let's use the town/resort where you live/ski for instance) is just a snapshot in time. the town/resort didn't appear magically as you first observed it. it is easy to assume that the condition of the town/resort at this moment is the status quo and always has been. in fact, there were probably a lot of people who lived there before you who were complaining about the changes that led to it being just like it was when you got there.

maybe the house or the building you live in was completed just moments before your arrival after years of dispute and animosity between neighbors. perhaps your favorite restaurant only just opened after the landlord kicked out a long-standing tenant loved by the community.

i know it feels weird when a place you feel very strongly about (but have no actual control over) starts doing things you didn't approve of but you're just gonna have to accept it. also, maybe you'll find yourself in a few years saying that on the whole, you actually appreciate the change.

This is one of the best takes I’ve seen on this topic here.

because the places we ride and live are so important to us, everyone wants to take ownership of “how it should be” or “how it used to be,” but the only constant is change.

the development everyone demonizes began 30-50 years before our generation got there, we are powerless to stop it, and the place wouldn’t exist without it.

Everyone complains about the tourists and the development, except that’s the only reason it exists to begin with, the only reason you can have a job at a ski hill or live in the mountains, because it was built for that purpose.

these places will continue to evolve and morph, and while some of it might suck and harsh the vibe, some of it will result in wonderful new places, businesses, institutions, and terrain.

you don’t have to love everything new, you can def be nostalgic about how it used to be, but you can’t stop the change.

I like to stay optimistic and hope it will all work out in the end. I think the mountains will continue to be hotbeds of cultural, athletic, and intellectual evolution. Some of it is cringe, but there are also very interesting collisions of people and ideas.

 

[officechair]

Oh lol I thought he was talking about actual military training. I know there are a few military bases in Utah and that jets fly that area all the time

Hearing the artillery on a powder day before lifts open was an experience.

**This post was edited on Aug 1st 2024 at 9:04:34pm

 

[PartyBullshiit]

Hearing the artillery on a powder day before lifts open was an experience.

**This post was edited on Aug 1st 2024 at 9:04:34pm

Cool video. Thanks for sharing

 

[hoodratz47]

I'd take a slow center pole double over hiking up. Gives you time to rehcharge

I wonder if there would someone who would want to execute the idea of underground lifts. I know it would be way too expensive to do. Maybe a type of capsule that would utilize hydraulics or pneumatics and make it go like a missile. a Mountain with no groomed slopes and no visible lift infrastructure would be golden.

Never been to Alta, but the vibes of the old lifts are sick trough videos. Reminds me of Riksgränsen. In my opinion upgrading lifts to faster and more modern lifts is worth the risk of losing little vibes.

You are probably the first skier ever to say this.