Industry News
The new Explorer Gondola at Big Sky Resort, Montana, replaces the last original lift and is now complete and open to the public. The recently decommissioned Explorer double chair was the resort’s last original chairlift. The new gondola takes guests from the base area to the bowl adjacent to the Lone Peak Tram. Pedestrians and skiers can walk from the top of the gondola to the Lone Peak Tram, allowing non-skiers to reach the summit of the Montana resort for the first time in history in just two lift rides.
Big Sky has been working over the past three summers to complete the Explorer Gondola, a state-of-the-art Doppelmayr lift system. The new gondola transforms the site of the old chair into the world’s fastest gondola at 7.1 m/s (15.9 miles per hour), with a 9-minute ride from the base to the Bowl. Explorer Gondola has 10-person cabins with ergonomic heated seats, indoor/outdoor ski bins, and an all-glass enclosure. This gondola also features Fatzer performa-DT haul rope, which reduces vibration for a smoother, more comfortable experience.
The new gondola will fix a major chokepoint for the resort. Swift Current previously had major lift lines as it was the only route up the mountain to the world-renowned Lone Peak Tram. Those lines are expected to be significantly reduced with the opening of the new Explorer Gondola, which will offer a large uphill capacity of 2,850 guests per hour, more than doubling the outgoing lift’s capacity. Previously, with the Swift Current lift, skiers and riders had to traverse the crowded Jay Walk trail to reach the Bowl area and access the Lone Peak Tram and Powder Seeker. The top of the gondola is located in the Bowl, steps away from the Lone Peak Tram.
Once riders reach the resort’s summit, the Kircliff observation deck offers skiers and pedestrians access to the highest scenic views in Montana at a whopping 11,166 feet. To access Kircliff, guests should take the Explorer Gondola to the top, then walk to the Lone Peak Tram. At the top of the tram, they will find this treasure. Kircliff is at the summit of Big Sky’s Lone Peak, with views of surrounding mountains, including the Teton Range in Wyoming, on a clear day. Kircliff is made of all-glass windows, including a floor-to-ceiling section with expansive vistas. Beware those afraid of heights! It is an alpine experience like no other.
These are exciting times at Big Sky Resort. The new Explorer Goldola, extending from Mountain Village to the Bowl, provides a never-before-seen experience, including full pedestrian access from the base area to the summit of Lone Peak. It also includes a convenient mid-station terminal for improved access to beginner terrain. At the summit, Kircliff offers unforgettable views of the expansive Rocky Mountains. These enhancements mark the culmination of a ten-year plan at Big Sky Resort and one that will elevate Big Sky to new heights!
