Industry News
33 gondola towers. 2.4 miles. 16 minutes. That’s what the new gondola connecting Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows will look like next season, in a nutshell.
The project, estimated to cost $65 million, will make Palisades Tahoe the third largest ski area in North America. Check out the animation above for details, or check the resort’s website for the latest construction updates.
Project Update, June 9, 2022, courtesy of Palisades Tahoe
With on-mountain and base area projects underway at both Alpine and Palisades, there’s a tremendous amount of work in progress. Here’s what’s happening now and what’s to come in the short-term at both Alpine and Palisades:
Alpine
The mid-station terminal has been completed, and the work to begin the footings for the building that will house the terminal will begin soon.
Chalet Lodge improvements begin next week, with efforts continuing through the summer.
Electrical work related to the snowmaking upgrades at Alpine will begin on June 15. Please note operations and maintenance is occurring Monday through Thursday at the Alpine Base, and construction areas are closed to public access.
Palisades
The existing Red Dog chairlift has been prepped for demo, and Leitner Poma is scouting the new Red Dog lift tower placements over the next week.
Electrical work has started for the snowmaking upgrade project at Palisades and it is anticipated that that project will begin in earnest July 1.
**Construction activity is dependent on weather, conditions and logistics, and all work complies with the allowed hours of operation (6am-8pm midweek, 8am-6pm Saturdays). Thank you for adhering to posted signage and closures.
Are you keyboard monkeys done? Look closely and you will see an Alpine Meadows side mid station too. It won’t be open, but it’s there. It’s there because one day it will be open and it will transfer skiers and snowboarders back to either resort. Wait and see, Kimball has connections at Palisades
I hate to admit it, but for once AnOnYmOus looks to be correct.
This is from their website:
Will it be possible to ski between Palisades and Alpine once the gondola is installed?
No, the terrain at the two areas is not contiguous, and installation of the gondola will not open additional skiable terrain. Skiers and riders will be able to use the gondola to travel between the two mountains rather than drive their vehicles. The trip will take about 16 minutes.
There are promoting it as a way to get to the other ski area without driving, hence it really is a parking lot to parking lot gondola. Anon, I’m sorry for doubting you.
That’s wheezy. Not me the outspoken annoying guy who can see into the future and points out all the silly stuff people get worked up about these days.
My position is resorts should be able to build and expand with less red tape which drives costs. More resorts should be opened up throughout the Sierras. Your not saving anything important by making it so hard to expand them. You’re just making it more expensive, more exclusive and more crowded.
Hence why this silly little gondola is going to cost $65m. 1/2 of that cost was making the tree huggers and forest service happy. 1/4 of that cost was fighting the legal battles the tree huggers threw at the project over the last 5-10 years.
The remaining 1/4 of the cost actually goes towards the part you need to build a gondola.
Why else would they build it? That’s the 65 Million dollar question. That mid station is there to help bring more uphill skiers to an already overcrowded KT22 lift. I guess you’ve never been a part of the ski patrol allowed descents in the springtime from KT22 backside to Alpine Meadows road? That’s right the ROAD. From KT22 you can’t even ski close to Alpine Meadows base area without traversing heavily from the saddle. It’s all in vain. First off, the owner of the skiable land in between wants to open his own members only ski area. Secondly as stated, the terrain fall line leads to Alpine Meadows road or Troy Caldwell’s home. Without a service road/trail wrapping around the Buttress, everyone who skis down will end up on the main road, how’s that going to work out?
It’s a parking lot to parking lot gondola, disguised as something it will NEVER be.
Don’t be dumb QAnony… That mid station is future proofing for chair service on that side. Why else would they build it?!
For once, Anony, I tend to agree. However, sweetie, you’re still an out-of-touch, denialist, douche-dumpster. Kisses!
Over $65 million dollars will be spent and what does it offer other than more marketing bs and only being the 3rd largest resort in N.A.? Actually nothing, no access to new terrain at all, and if you park at one area lot and the wind comes up in the afternoon as it often does preceeding storm events, then as the lift direction from AM to Sq#Aw is constructed typically cross wind of prevailing south and southwest wind direction, then how are peeps going to get back to their vehicle if the lift has to close due to cross wind risk?
Oh right they will have to stand in line for a shuttle bus ride as their will be less employees for such because $65+ million dollars on a lift that accesses no new terrain is WAAAY more important than say affordable employee housing. But marketing won’t even consider this, nor sNOwbrains as they need the revenue from such affiliate marking bs too.
Good luck with all that.
People want to ski to the next resort, hell in Europe you ski to the next village. Imagine a busy day at either resort and you’ve parked at one & took the ride over to the other. End of the day and now you have to return to the resort that you started at. You cant’t ski back, you must ride the pony. Who will do this? Only tourist that’s who. This idea will fail, unless somehow the terrain in between the two valleys is opened up.
Anyone who has spent time in either valley on a busy day knows you aren’t going anywhere with all the traffic. A parking lot to parking lot Gondola is basically what you are getting. Enjoy the 16 minute ride to the next overcrowded ski area.