New Bretton Woods Gondola for 2019

Sully

Somewhat unrelated, but the article mentions this will be NH’s first 8-pass gondola. Loon has always had crazy lift lines at their 4-pass and this leads me to wonder if there is a reason Loon has not upgraded. Surely even with the base station being in the lodge they could make it work. The obvious issue I can think of is those old towers still being used.

newman

Maybe it would be to many people at once being dropped at the top for the trails to handle

TomWhite

This has a few new/different details.

Bretton Woods Plans New Hampshire’s First 8-Passenger Gondola

December 14, 2017 Peter Landsman  Liftblog.com

Routing of a new gondola planned for Bretton Woods will give riders excellent views of the famous Mt. Washington across the way.

Pending government approval, one of the closest ski resorts to Mt. Washington and its famous cog railway will open a 6,000-foot base-to-summit gondola in 2018.  Bretton Woods’ director of ski operations Chris Ellms appeared before a local planning board last night to unveil plans for the all-season lift and a new summit lodge.

The relatively low-capacity gondola will circulate 36 8-passenger cabins, making it the largest gondola in the state by cabin size.  Loon Mountain’s gondola seats only four.  Both the Bethlehem Express quad and Fayban’s Express triple chair will remain in place for winter skiers but the 1,300 vertical-foot gondola will spin other seasons as well.  Fayban’s top terminal will be moved downhill to make room for the gondola station and the new lift will cross over Bethlehem.  Ellms said the approximately five minute gondola ride will serve skiers, sightseers, hikers, diners and wedding parties.  “What we are proposing is it is not all about skiing, it is what the resort is about which is four seasons.”  Total project cost for the gondola and new restaurant is approximately $15 million and Bretton Woods’ owner, Omni Hotels & Resorts, hopes to open the new lift next ski season.  The mountain’s current fleet includes mostly Doppelmayr and Garaventa CTEC lifts, though a manufacturer for the new gondola was not named.

ADKskier

if were going to talk about pointless Gondola’s I believe Bellearye should be at the top of the lift, I mean list.

lotsoskiing

They want to have 4-seasons, all-weather access to summit. Skiing impact is clearly secondary

rickbolger

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“ADKskier”>if were going to talk about pointless Gondola’s I believe Bellearye should be at the top of the lift, I mean list.</blockquote>

For you and I or any avid skier, yes agreed.

For the average family or mid-level intermediate and novices rolling north, on the other hand, it has elevated Belleayre to a higher level. Perception is reality and they’ve upped their game for those folks.

I’m not saying it’s best for the region or argue whether the state should be investing yadda yadda yadda. I’m just saying it has moved them above the level of the resorts they were sort of pigeonholed with – Montage, Elk, Camelback, Shawnee, Mountain Creek, all reasonably similar drive times from say, the Lincoln Tunnel. Mountain Creek, Shawnee & Camelback much closer, but now Belleayre perceived (by the less avid skier) to be clearly a cut above those.

NELSAP

Remember too for Belleayre that the gondola is to allow access for XC skiers to reach a soon to come network of trails on the summit, and for weddings, etc.A high speed bubble lift would have been a better option, but I did like skiing it midweek with no lines, as it gave faster access to that part of the ridge and the ability to ski some of the easier trails as run outs without the awfully slow double ride back up.

rickbolger

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“NELSAP”>Remember too for Belleayre that the gondola is to allow access for XC skiers to reach a soon to come network of trails on the summit, and for weddings, etc.A high speed bubble lift would have been a better option, but I did like skiing it midweek with no lines, as it gave faster access to that part of the ridge and the ability to ski some of the easier trails as run outs without the awfully slow double ride back up.</blockquote>

We discussed in another thread how the Belleayre gondy is more for summer stuff and whatnot as you said.  I suggest same with Bretton Woods.  I don’t think it will have the same impact on BW skiing as the perceived upgrade at Belleayre ski.

Aside from the XC, which is not yet much of anything at Belleayre, curious why you think a bubble is better for year-round vs gondy.  I’m thinking particularly if you ever want mountain top dining mid-winter like Vail or Steamboat.  Also weddings, although it might be easier to ship grandma to the top on a chair vs a moving gondy

NELSAP

I’m just not a big fan of taking my skis off and on every run :)

trackbiker

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“NELSAP”>I’m just not a big fan of taking my skis off and on every run :)</blockquote>

Maybe we should petition them for a chondola. That would solve the skis and the grandma problem. :)]

Cannonball

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“NELSAP”>I’m just not a big fan of taking my skis off and on every run :)</blockquote>

As a snowboarder it took me a long time to figure out why people always seem to hate trams and gondolas. I like them alot!  Then a few years ago the light dawned that the primary reason is exactly what you said.  Totally understandable. 

z1000307470

Belleayre gondi also will allow easy access to the Highmount trails - if and when they get added to Belleayre.

ADKskier

it was more sarcasm than anything, but New York is also in debt up to its receding hairline soooooooo. I thought more would get a laugh out of it.

ski_it

I’m also not a fan of the thaw & freeze cycle riding in trams in these parts. It can be a real pain in the goggles. Different story in the Alps, etc..the only option some places

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