Industry News
On Wednesday, January 7, The Summit at Snoqualmie’s Alpental ski area in Washington will open for the season, alongside the debut of the all-new Edelweiss triple chairlift, also known as Chair 2. The new chairlift is the gateway to the legendary steeps, delivering riders to Alpental’s highest point on Denny Mountain faster and more reliably.
The new Doppelmayr triple chairlift replaces the original 1967 Riblet double lift and allows the team to more reliably open Alpental during the winter season. Having more reliable access to the upper mountain allows ski patrol to complete necessary avalanche mitigation work that allows the majority of the mountain to open.
The new Edelweiss Triple will increase uphill capacity, significantly reducing lift wait times. Guests can expect a faster ride to the top in approximately 6 minutes. The new lift maintains the same spectacular alignment, summit views, and preserves the iconic Chair 2 top terminal.
The new Edelweiss chairlift marks the culmination of a three-year modernization project at Alpental, transforming access to some of the most challenging terrain in the Pacific Northwest. Following the installations of Sessel (2023) and Internationale (2024), Edelweiss represents the third and most critical piece of Alpental’s transformation.
“Adding three new chairlifts at Alpental over three consecutive years has fundamentally reimagined how guests experience Alpental’s legendary terrain,” said Guy Lawrence, president and general manager of Alpental and The Summit at Snoqualmie. “The character of this mountain, the passion of our community, and the thrill of the terrain remain unchanged. We’ve simply made it easier to access the magic.”
Grand opening celebrations will officially kick off the opening of the new Edelweiss chair. The first 58 guests in line will also enjoy complimentary breakfast at Armstrong Express chair, followed by a ribbon cutting and traditional Doppelmayr bell ringing at the Edelweiss chair targeted between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., pending avalanche mitigation.
“Installing the Edelweiss Triple Chair has been one of the most technically complex chairlifts installations in the resort’s history given the rugged terrain and construction access only available via helicopter or hiking,” added Lawrence. “I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team. You don’t get to build new lifts every day, and this one is particularly special.”
Alpental, one of four distinct areas at The Summit at Snoqualmie, is a bucket list ski destination located just 45 minutes from Seattle. Alpental’s legendary terrain is served by six lifts across 825 acres and 2,290 feet of vertical. Steep, deep, and full of character – Alpental always provides fun, challenging experiences.
