What is the first chairlift you rode and is it still around

Jonni

The Province Double at Sunapee. Gone in 2000, but many memories. My dad has 5 of those chairs somewhere in the backyard.

rickbolger

Does summer count?  My first lift was the Cannon tram, second lift was Wildcat gondy, July 1966.  But the question is chairlift –  I rode this thing in August of 1966.  In fact the lead chair could be me and my mom.  Probably isn’t but could be.

khowley

Been trying to figure out where my first ski area chair lift ride was.  I’m pretty sure my first chairlift ride was at an amusement part when I was really young.  My first chair lift ride was likely at either King Pine in NH, Blue Hills in MA or Klein Innsbruck in MA.

bmwskier

Mardi Gras double at Holiday Valley. I looked in for the bar, didn’t sit down and fell out… 

khowley

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“bmwskier”>Mardi Gras double at Holiday Valley. I looked in for the bar, didn’t sit down and fell out… </blockquote>

I usually fall down after finding the bar!

NELSBEER

Tyroline at Stratton, 1961. One of 3 HERON doubles built for the opening season. Ran through 2001 or thereabouts I think. Probably retired after 40 years. 

Looking up the hill this was the beginners lift, a short way to the left of the ski school shed. In those days you could walk up the road to the hill from Lift Line Lodge, Birkenhaus or the Stratton Mountain Inn in a couple minutes, load and be skiing in no time. Today condominium towers block the view and access, a tram ride, a walk though the ‘Village’ and you are lucky to be skiing in half an hour. 

spk27alumni

<p>My first Chairlift ride was in the Summer of 1964, on the original Summit Double Chair, at Hunter Mountain.  We were tent camping at the Woodland Valley State Camping area in Phoenicia.  I remember my Dad driving over a dirt road to get there.  Most likely, that road would have been Route 214 through Devils Toombstone, prior to it being paved.  That lift was replaced with the first hydraulically tensioned lift in the U.S., the Poma brand Summit Double, installed in the Summer of 1978.</p><p>My first Skiing Chairlift ride was to the mid-station, on one of the two parallel Hall Summit Doubles at Scotch Valley, during Christmas week of 1972.  I don’t know if they are still there, or if they were replaced in the 80’s, when it was operating as Deer Run. </p>

Betsy

Sherburne Double at Burke…..nope…not around anymore!

lotsoskiing

Since we are including summer, I will have to amend mine. My parents told stories of me nearly squirming off a chair lift at Gore in the summer. Would have been whatever one was where the old detachable triple was. So not standing, but predates either Sterling Forest or Butternut for me. Butternut still the only one (partly) still standing, though.

newman

Were the lifts removed from Tuxedo Ridge ( Sterling Forest)? I thought they were still standing. I thought the area was supposed to re open at some point.

Remski

1st chair lift for me was at the original Crotched mtn. during NH February school vacation in 1967.

lotsoskiing

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“newman”>Were the lifts removed from Tuxedo Ridge ( Sterling Forest)? I thought they were still standing. I thought the area was supposed to re open at some point.</blockquote>

Depends on definition of “still around” by the OP. I took that to mean operational, given the Highmount comment.

NJSki

Craigmeur double chair, and no, it is gone. Never heard what happened to it.

joshua_segal

Not my thread, but a number of responders are giving their first chairlift ride - NOT the title of the thread which is: What is the first chairlift you rode and is it still around.

ADKskier

Gore Mountains Red Gondola, I had only rode surface lifts prior as I was in the 123 learn to ski program. The Summit station is still there and remodeled…lol. Does that count.

4aprice

Tyroline at Stratton, 1961. One of 3 HERON doubles built for the opening season. Ran through 2001 or thereabouts I think. Probably retired after 40 years. 

</blockquote>

Tyroline is the 2nd chair I ever rode.  I had a bad start with chairs as I got bucked off the beginner chair at Snow Bowl (NJ)  on my first try and was afraid of them for my 1st year of skiing. I don’t count that so my real first chair ride took place the next season on Snowshed at Killington. It is the last remaining double that is there now (there were 3 at the time).  

Just above Tyroline was a T-bar that went to about the ½ point on the mountain and I remember struggling with that too.

Had a great fresh cord run on Snowshed last April 16th starting off an outstanding K day.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

IBRAKEFORTBARS

For me it was the Badger double chair at Labrador, a Hall, back in 1976. It was a year old, then, had turquoise painted towers, and still happily turns.

My first surface lift was the Jacopie t-bar at Labrador, also a Hall. It’s the only t-bar left at Lab. Haven’t seen it run in years. I last rode it in 2006. That lift has got to be nearly 60 years old.

IBRAKE

casual_weekday

Face lift at west mountain in 2002. Still around but the old riblet double that went to the summit  isn’t.

210

Proud Mary at Yawgoo Valley.  Proud Mary keep on burning…

teighs

My first chair lift ride was the south double at Maple Valley in the mid 1960’s.  It’s still standing, but hasn’t run in years.

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