chondolas, what do you think?

JimK

I ran across an Unofficial Networks article about chondolas.
They mention seven chondolas located in the US and Canada in that article. I have a feeling there are more? I've been on four of the seven mentioned in the article including Telluride, Copper, Beaver Creek, and Sunday River. I kind of have meh feelings about chondolas. In fair weather I prefer the convenience of just keeping skis on and riding a chair. The chondola at Telluride is more for transport across the lower mtn and not much help for direct access to good terrain. With Maine's reputation for cold temps i could see the one there being useful to get out of the cold.

The one strong favorable chondola memory I have is from 28 Feb 2017. I was staying in Avon for a week and caught a quiet 10" powder day at Beaver Creek. I used their chondola during that day for about 6-8 straight runs in a heavy snow squall. It was great to ski the powder and then dry off and recover inside the chondola after each run. Most of my rides in the chondola that time were alone too. Very good powder memory! Oh, and the Centennial Gondola at BC has 2100' vertical!
28 Feb 2017:

Next day still good, 1 March 2017:

obienick

My opinion … they are a compromise attempt at transport for boosting summer business. And as a compromise it doesn’t meet the peak potential of either a chairlift or gondola.

A large number of potential summer customers (other than mountain bikers) are scared of chairlifts due to the heights … enclosed cabins make them feel more secure. And it’s not easy to run chairlifts with respect to ADA … far simpler to have one or two ADA cabins someone in a wheelchair, level boarding, and stopping the lift if necessary.

However peak demand on a chondola is not in summer and when peak demand is required it fails to match the capacity of high speed chairs. And if people want to be out of the elements in winter there are bubble lifts. Gondola cabins require one getting fully out of boards or taking off skis.

I like the Wildcat approach — if it ever runs again: Detach chairlift in winter with gondola cabins for summer transport.

rickbolger

As a pure skier with above novice skills, I agree with obienick

If I put on my "observer" hat, seems to me the advantage to these chondola things is that families with varying size children and varying skill levels, unskilled snowboarders, and clumsy skiers, all benefit from taking the gondy option.

Nothing says fun like crashing on the unload and wiping out a bunch of people. Now I know everybody has a technique and theory for avoiding this...but you aren't the problem.

For some reason the liftie often puts me between a five year old in a sugar coma, and a mostly stoned snowboarder. At my size I come into the pile up like King Kong Bundy off the top rope, making it even more unpleasant for the newbies. Hence my love for double chairs.

For that reason I think chondolas are OK. They make it a little easier for the uncoordinated and the unprepared, the stoners, and the families with little kids.

NELSBEER

As a more senior retired (from real work) skier I tend to see the 5 of 7 days of the week when most of the snow falls or is blown and options exist. I will usually use a chair but on 'blustery' days with intermittent freezing rain or other unpleasantries the cabin is a nice alternative.

joshua_segal

NELSBEER;c-56203 wroteAs a more senior retired (from real work) skier I tend to see the 5 of 7 days of the week when most of the snow falls or is blown and options exist. I will usually use a chair but on 'blustery' days with intermittent freezing rain or other unpleasantries the cabin is a nice alternative.

It seems that rather confusing the choices, the bubble-six with heated seats such as the one at Okemo covers both options quite comfortably without removing one's skis.

Jonni

I tend to like them as it offers options by way of the footprint of a single lift. 95% of the time I would very much prefer to take the chairs over the gondola cabin on a Chondola, but there are those select times that I would much prefer the cabin. Those times would be when I want to dry out a bit, or want to use my phone (without the fear of dropping it), or perhaps it's just really really cold outside. Also for the aforementioned reasons of some user groups needing or wanting the safety or security that a gondi cabin offers.

They definitely aren't for every application, but the few that I have encountered appear to have been planned very well for their location.

xlr8r

They only make sense if they serve to transport foot traffic in addition to skiers and snowboarders. Primarily this is for transport to a lodge or restaurant.

lotsoskiing

I think they are silly, but I guess they add some variety...