Industry News
The Mt. Hood Express lift at Mt. Hood Meadows has been the primary workhorse lift out of the base area for the last 29 years. Originally constructed in 1994, over its life it has racked up an impressive 50,000 hours of service, including the night ski operations at the mountain. During that time an estimated 32.5 million passengers have been carried to the top to enjoy the steep bowls, glades, and groomers.
Now the original express quad chair has been replaced with a new Leitner-Poma six-passenger high-speed lift and is ready to operate for the 2023/24 season. See the announcement on the resort’s social media below.
The new lift will increase the uphill transport capacity of the out-of-base lift from the current capacity of approximately 2,600 guests per hour to approximately 3,600 guests per hour. Additionally, the increased size and weight of the six-person chairs, larger grips, haul rope, and a larger electric motor drive and gearbox will allow the new lift to operate more efficiently in snowy and windy weather.
An expanded and improved maze and gate access system will improve loading efficiencies and reduce lift lines, which can be problematic on peak and powder days. The base terminal and 19 towers are in the same general alignment as the old lift. The upper terminal will be located slightly closer to the top of the Blue Chairlift to allow more room for passengers to offload on both sides of the lift.
The project started on May 1, 2023, and took five months to complete. Guests planning to visit the mountain are looking forward to the upgrade, especially since Oregon recently got its first round of major snowfall.
You can view more videos of the project here.
