Saddleback aims to open

rickbolger

Thanks Joshua for answering my previous question. There’s probably a Yogi Berra quote that applies to all of this

TomWhite

Have we ever heard what is wrong with the Rangeley?

joshua_segal

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”>Have we ever heard what is wrong with the Rangeley?</blockquote>

Pretty much everything from towers to tower footings.  That lift dates to 1963 and these things do wear not last forever.  Even the MRG single cost more to when it was restored about a decade ago than it would have cost to replace it with a modern lift.  The Rangeley Double just doesn’t have that kind of pedigree to make it worthwhile to preserve/restore.

TomWhite

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”>Have we ever heard what is wrong with the Rangeley?</blockquote>

Thanks, that makes sense. What surprises me is that some resorts seem content with 60’s chairs. Smuggs’ Madonna I and Sterling come to mind.

newpylong

It all depends on what shape the lift is in. There does come a point where it becomes too costly to keep modifying and repairing an old lift to remain certified. For a 1963 Mueller that is a core lift I would not spend a dime any longer if I could help it.

sugarloaf

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“rickbolger”>did the property transfer?  </blockquote>

If that still has not happened, this is all still pure speculation.

joshua_segal

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”>Have we ever heard what is wrong with the Rangeley?</blockquote>

Thanks, that makes sense. What surprises me is that some resorts seem content with 60’s chairs. Smuggs’ Madonna I and Sterling come to mind.</blockquote>

Smuggler’s is an oddball case.  Have you ever noticed the towers on M1?  I was told that it was a particularly complex design where extra towers had to be added afterwards to deal with some unanticipated wind problems. My guess is the replacement cost for that lift would be prohibitive, both because of its length (about 9K feet) and its topography.  I’d bet on at least $8M to replace it with an FGQ.

I hope we have a Smuggler’s expert on SJ who might be able to elaborate more.

TomWhite

http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/lifts/viewlift.php?id=203 </div><div style=“font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;”>

<center>Madonna I LiftSmugglers NotchVermont</center>StatusStanding  TypeChairlift - Double - Fixed  BrandHall  Install Season1963-64  New Install?New  AncestorsCost  Install Length6,719 feet  Install Vertical2,150 feet Final Season Standing DescendantsNotesRebuilt by CTEC for 2002-03

newpylong

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”>Have we ever heard what is wrong with the Rangeley?</blockquote>

Thanks, that makes sense. What surprises me is that some resorts seem content with 60’s chairs. Smuggs’ Madonna I and Sterling come to mind.</blockquote>

I hope we have a Smuggler’s expert on SJ who might be able to elaborate more.

</blockquote>

Likely closer to $4M. Still not cheap, that is a very long lift.

z1000307470

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“newpylong”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”>Have we ever heard what is wrong with the Rangeley?</blockquote>

Thanks, that makes sense. What surprises me is that some resorts seem content with 60’s chairs. Smuggs’ Madonna I and Sterling come to mind.</blockquote>

I hope we have a Smuggler’s expert on SJ who might be able to elaborate more.

</blockquote>

Likely closer to $4M. Still not cheap, that is a very long lift. </blockquote>Making this lift a FGQ would be a gigantic error. I would guess that is one of the reasons they have not replaced it. It needs to be a HSQ.

sugarloaf

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“z1000307470”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“newpylong”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“TomWhite”>Have we ever heard what is wrong with the Rangeley?</blockquote>

Thanks, that makes sense. What surprises me is that some resorts seem content with 60’s chairs. Smuggs’ Madonna I and Sterling come to mind.</blockquote>

I hope we have a Smuggler’s expert on SJ who might be able to elaborate more.

</blockquote>

Remski

Really liking all the positive comments coming in on Saddleback. This by far is my most favorite ski area in the eastern U.S. if not the entire Western Atlantic coast!

TomWhite

I didn’t see the last two sentences (below) on Saddleback’s Facebook that Peter of Liftblog quotes. It would have been ambitious even if they began replacement of both lifts at the beginning of the summer.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Saddleback begins removal of the Rangeley double in preparation for its replacement.  The Cupsuptic T-Bar will now be repaired rather than replaced, providing access to the Kennebago quad until Rangeley is complete.  “The scope of this project is partially what drove the decision to repair versus replace the T-Bar,” Saddleback says.  “If we had replaced both, there is a chance that there would not be any skiing this year if early snow arrived.”<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

https://liftblog.com/<o:p></o:p>

joshua_segal

Thanks, that makes sense. What surprises me is that some resorts seem content with 60’s chairs. Smuggs’ Madonna I and Sterling come to mind.</blockquote>

I hope we have a Smuggler’s expert on SJ who might be able to elaborate more.

</blockquote>

Likely closer to $4M. Still not cheap, that is a very long lift. </blockquote>

I think the complexity of the terrain will make it much more expensive - and double the price if they go HSQ.

sugarloaf

Still curious as to why there is no mention of any updates regarding Saddleback on Sugarloaftoday. There are a lot of locals on that website that ski Saddleback. I think the purchase did not go through yet.

joshua_segal

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“sugarloaf”>Still curious as to why there is no mention of any updates regarding Saddleback on Sugarloaftoday. There are a lot of locals on that website that ski Saddleback. I think the purchase did not go through yet.</blockquote>

You are right.  It has been mentioned before on this thread.  And this one you can look easily enough. Real estate transactions are a matter of public record.

At a meet-and-greet with the SB condo owners last Sunday, the CEO said they would be closing at the end of this month (Sept. 2017).  But similar has been stated before about other months that have come and gone.

sugarloaf

The other end of the spectrum is that there has been NO discussion on SugarloafToday at all, good or bad regarding Saddleback since July. One would think there would be something to talk about. Maybe the locals are tired of the waiting game for the sale to go through.

Peter

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“sugarloaf”>The other end of the spectrum is that there has been NO discussion on SugarloafToday at all, good or bad regarding Saddleback since July. One would think there would be something to talk about. Maybe the locals are tired of the waiting game for the sale to go through.</blockquote>

Lively discussion under ‘Other Maine Mountains. http://www.sugarloaftoday.com/chat/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8317&start=90

sugarloaf

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“Peter”><blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“sugarloaf”>The other end of the spectrum is that there has been NO discussion on SugarloafToday at all, good or bad regarding Saddleback since July. One would think there would be something to talk about. Maybe the locals are tired of the waiting game for the sale to go through.</blockquote>

Lively discussion under ‘Other Maine Mountains. http://www.sugarloaftoday.com/chat/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8317&start=90</blockquote>

Thanks, I did not realize the discussion had been moved.

sugarloaf

No new posts on SugarloafToday in a week tells me the purchase deal is likely stalled.

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