Barker 6

TomWhite

I went back 5 pg, and didn't find a specific thread for the new lift. Since this is the final weekend for the current Barker quad, perhaps this is a good time to start a thread for Barker 6. I'm presuming when I push "post" the photos (not much) will show.

@liftblog
Wolfurt builds lifts for Europe but also the world. Here’s
@sundayriver
’s Barker 6 before shipping off to Maine.
7:25 AM · Apr 14, 2023

NewEnglandSkier13

You started a different thread on it a little while ago. The search function is helpful in finding old threads.

http://snowjournal.com/discussion/3888/six-pack-bubble-for-sunday-rivers-barker

TomWhite

Thanks, I've not found the search function helpful. It gives me so many matches from other people's post that it is worthless. I just try to page back looking for thread titles.

NewEnglandSkier13

TomWhite;c-60372 wroteThanks, I've not found the search function helpful. It gives me so many matches from other people's post that it is worthless. I just try to page back looking for thread titles.

Google search works as well. To find this thread, I typed "Baker Sunday River Snowjournal" into the search bar, and it was the first result.

TomWhite

thanks

TomWhite

Not much but photo shows haul rope off. The lift line appears as always. Won't looker's right have some trees cut for the new angle from the base.

Sunday River
6h ·
❗The first official Barker 6 update❗ The chairs are off and the old haul rope has been cut.
https://www.facebook.com/sundayriver

TomWhite

Update on Barker and other improvements.

TomWhite

After much hype over last year's Jordan 8, the Barker 6 is under the radar, and the 2nd Merrill Hill chair even more so. They've given only one update (July) on the dedicated section of their site. You have to go to Facebook to get anything. In the last splicing photo I see "Knight Equipment". My memory is they are one of the few companies with the experts to do it.

TomWhite

Splicing:

skelley19

In a somewhat related note, SR confirms that early season skiing will start out of Jordan this year:

https://www.sundayriver.com/early-season

snowphoenix

skelley19;c-61733 wroteIn a somewhat related note, SR confirms that early season skiing will start out of Jordan this year:

https://www.sundayriver.com/early-season

I’m curious about their reasons for this decision as it’s not what I would have done. Someone correct me if I’m wrong but the only facilities at Jordan are the hotel and it’s parking lots, some of which are a decent walk from the slopes. Why not just operate out of the White Cap base area at first? There’s a full lodge there and they might even have the space to set up a temporary rental shop and other services to use until they have South Ridge terrain open. White Cap is also physically closer to SR’s typical early season terrain on Locke Mountain and it would be easier for them to connect to South Ridge from White Cap than from Jordan. I get that they recently spent a lot of money on a big fast lift at Jordan but IMHO that’s not the only aspect of the skier experience, and I’d be fine riding fixed grip lifts if it meant easier access to facilities. Is there something I’m missing here?

Sorry if this becomes a thread hijack…

DrJeff

snowphoenix;c-61736 wrote
skelley19;c-61733 wroteIn a somewhat related note, SR confirms that early season skiing will start out of Jordan this year:

https://www.sundayriver.com/early-season
I’m curious about their reasons for this decision as it’s not what I would have done. Someone correct me if I’m wrong but the only facilities at Jordan are the hotel and it’s parking lots, some of which are a decent walk from the slopes. Why not just operate out of the White Cap base area at first? There’s a full lodge there and they might even have the space to set up a temporary rental shop and other services to use until they have South Ridge terrain open. White Cap is also physically closer to SR’s typical early season terrain on Locke Mountain and it would be easier for them to connect to South Ridge from White Cap than from Jordan. I get that they recently spent a lot of money on a big fast lift at Jordan but IMHO that’s not the only aspect of the skier experience, and I’d be fine riding fixed grip lifts if it meant easier access to facilities. Is there something I’m missing here?

Sorry if this becomes a thread hijack…

Whitecap is their lowest elevation point of what is already a lower elevation ski area to begin with, which can present temperature challenges in the early season, also takes a lot of snow being made to cover the trails there.

My hunch is, after what I expect will be a bit of a game changing snowmaking pumping capacity upgrade for Jordan this Summer (The same guy who oversaw the design and planning of this upgrade is the guy who did the game changing design and planning for the BIG West Lake Snowmaking upgrade at Mount Snow before Vail bought them and he left for Sunday River), that the big time snowmaking crew at Sunday River want to "flex a bit" with the new, big increase in snowmaking capacity they now have out at Jordan, and the finishing up the the construction work around the Barker.Locke base area is giving them the "excuse" to do so, otherwise they could Chondola up and out of South Ridge and use one of the pods accessible from there early season this year instead. In the end I think this call is 1/3rd the construction logistics in the Barker/Locke base area and 2/3rds wanting to show off the enhanced snowmaking capacity at Jordan

newpylong

Yep, it's just flexing. Logistically it's silly.

TomWhite

Barker 6 and other D lines:

TomWhite

https://twitter.com/sundayriver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Escreen-name%3Aliftblog%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c1

TomWhite

BARKER 6 GRAND OPENING
December 9
9 AM
Barker Basin
It's a beautiful thing when years of planning and work all come together, and the bull wheel begins to spin. We're so proud of all the teams involved in making this incredible machine come to life. We are extremely excited to announce that the Grand Opening of the Barker 6 will take place at 9 AM on Saturday, December 9.

We have a wonderful celebration planned at 8:30 AM before the first chair flies at 9 AM that you certainly won’t want to miss. We will also be having a last-minute, in-person opportunity to win a seat on the very first chair. Details will be announced during the ceremony, so make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to win this memorable experience.

Logistics to keep in mind:

Parking in the Barker Basin is limited, and parking on the side of the roadway is not permitted. Please keep this in mind, and make appropriate plans for parking at South Ridge, or White Cap parking lots.

WIN A RIDE
FIRST CHAIR RAFFLE
This year, we'll have two raffles for the first ride on the Barker 6. One raffle will be for passholders only and free to enter, while the other raffle will be a $5 entry and open to all, with all proceeds benefiting the Bethel Food Pantry. For all the information on the raffle, visit the link below.

TomWhite

Donny's preview...where is the Snow Cave?

obienick

The igloo is at the base of Jordan. I’m surprised how much snowmaking and construction resources went into it so early in the season.

newpylong

That igloo was just built off the deadheads when they were already running there, so not really anything extra as the water would just be bled off (dumped) anyway. They can put more water onto Jordan now than most areas can pump in general.

TomWhite

thanks