The most important feature of a ski area will be different for everyone. Some will say it’s the terrain, others, the snow quality. Even more will say it’s about how family-friendly it is or the après ski scene.
The names of the chairlifts are probably pretty low on the list, but these vital conveyances, which whisk skiers and snowboarders up the slopes, often bear monikers that range from whimsical and historical to utterly unforgettable. These names can surely add to the fun being had on the mountain and below are the top nine chairlift names, according to SnowBrains readers.
#9 Stairway to Heaven – Kicking Horse, BC
This aptly named chair accesses some of the highest and most extreme terrain on the mountain. When the conditions are good, it is truly heaven when you get to the top.
#8 KT-22 – Palisades Tahoe, CA
KT-22 is often considered one of the best, if not the best, chairlift in North America. Our readers like the name as well. As the story goes, in 1946, Sandy Poulsen, the wife of Wayne Poulsen, founder of Palisades Tahoe, hiked to the top of an intimidating 8,100-foot peak. To get down the steep mountainside, she traversed back and forth, making 22 kick turns (KTs), and from that experience, a name was born.
#7 Lakeview – multiple locations
With a name like Lakeview, you know it is going to have a stunning lake view. This typically means beautiful sights of both mountains and water. There are many locations with a lift with this name, including Mt. Rose, Nevada; Schweitzer, Idaho; Diamond Peak, Nevada; and Brundage Mountain, Idaho.
#6 Sacajawea – Grand Targhee, WY, and Big Sky, MT
These lifts are named after the Native American explorer who helped Lewis and Clark achieve their mission. It’s hard not to like the name in honor of this famous woman.
#5 Stoke and Ripper Chair – Revelstoke, BC
Revelstoke has some of the best terrain in North America, and the Stoke and Ripper chairs provide the goods on the upper mountain. They both deserve equal mention, as it’s hard to decide which one is the better name.
#4 Wildcat – Alta, UT
The Wildcat Chair is one of the most popular lifts at Alta, and one of the most iconic fixed grip doubles still around. It accesses some of the most playful, sheltered, and steep terrain on the mountain. “Kitty,” as the locals call it, is a pretty good name too.
#3 Pallavicini – Arapahoe Basin, CO
The Pallavicini Lift may be the most famous, beloved, and humanized lift in Colorado and is a legend of “The Legend.” A significant part of Pali’s (as the locals call it) uniqueness is its ability to deliver skiers and snowboarders directly to expert and extreme terrain with a single, old-school lift ride from the base area.
#2 Ballhooter – Snowshoe Mountain, WV
Snowshoe has a number of odd-sounding names for lifts and runs that trace their origins to the logging industry that preceded the resort. Ballhooter is no exception and is the name for a worker who rolls logs down a hill to a skid road or landing.
#1 The Crotched Rocket – Crotched Mountain, NH
Based on the high-speed, high-performance motorcycles, Crotched Rocket is the official name for Crotched Mountain’s high-speed summit quad chairlift. I’m not sure if the name makes it seem like a faster lift, but it will take less than four minutes to go 884 vertical feet to the top of Crotched Mountain.
Hopefully, you realize that the world of skiing is not only about pristine slopes and adrenaline-pumping descents, but it’s also about the unique experiences and memories we create along the way. Chairlifts play an essential role in shaping these memories, and their names can add an extra layer of charm and character to our beloved ski resorts. Next time you find yourself riding one of these elevated marvels, take a moment to appreciate the creativity and spirit behind their names as they transport us to a place where dreams take flight.
