The above video follows the construction process of Whistler Blackcomb’s two new chairlifts for the 2013/14 season: the Crystal Ridge Express high-speed quad and the Harmony 6 high-speed six pack.
The new Crystal chair is going to be a big benefit for freeskiers.  It will travel 1,800 vertical feet and 520 vertical feet  longer than the old Crystal chair and it’s a high speed quad.
The Crystal chair’s new positioning is going to make it much smoother way to come back from Spanky’s Ladder laps after dropping into the Blackcomb Glacier basin.  Instead of going all the way back to the Excelerator chair and then not getting a run over to Glacier Express, you’ll be able to ride up the new Crystal chair, then get a good run down to Glacier chair and go back up to Spanky’s.
New Harmony Chair:
Whistler Blackcomb’s Harmony high-speed, quad chairlift will be replaced with an all new Doppelmayr high-speed, detachable, six-pack. The new chair will have the same alignment as the current Harmony quad; spanning 1,729 meters (5,672 feet) in length, with a vertical rise of 525 meters (1,722 feet). The upgrade will dramatically improve the uphill capacity by 50 percent, going from 2,400 skiers per hour to 3,600. The Harmony Six will service terrain spanning from the edge of the Symphony Amphitheatre all the way over to Glacier Bowl.
New Crystal Chair:
Whistiler Blackcomb’s Crystal Zone will see an all new high-speed quad that will deliver skiers and riders to the same location as the current triple chair. The alinement of this new quad will eliminate the need to utilize the Excelerator Chair to access many Crystal Zone trails including Ridge Runner, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and gladed trails like Outer Limits. The new chair will also make it even quicker to return to the Glacier Express chair to access Horstman Glacier, Blackcomb Glacier and Spanky’s. The name of this new chairlift will be determined through a competition to be announced by Whistler Blackcomb later this winter.
Crystal Ridge Express Progress Report:
Construction on the new Crystal Ridge Express chairlift has seen 60% of the ground work for the bottom terminal completed.
Work completion in the Crystal zone to date:
– Clearing and Grubbing: 100%
– Stripping and Stockpile(to prepare for restoration): 95%
– Blasting Rock: 65%
– Excavation: 65%
– Fill: 60%
– Grading the land: 5%
– Restoration: 0%
Photos of the progress:
Dismantling the bottom station of the current Harmony lift
Out with the old!
Finishing grading the land from the bottom of Rock and Roll to the base terminal of the Crystal Ridge Express
The ski out from the Crystal Ridge Express base terminal
One of the hard workers, Joe, and his drill
A substantial stockpile of organics ready to restore the ground once work is complete
Spanky’s Ladder actually is a steep stairway as
in a 4 story building ! LOL
This is a very cool imporvement.
New Crystal chair is gonna rock.