Just in time for the ski season, Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, has rolled out a shiny new addition: a Doppelmayr high-speed, quad chairlift to replace the ancient but much loved Chair 4.
The new quad, called the Ted Express, is fast. Ted's estimated trip time from the base of the mountain to the top is a five minutes, a sizable improvement from Chair 4, which takes about twice the time. The extra minutes saved going up will translate into more runs for skiers and snowboarders -- good news for anyone who's ever been stuck on Chair 4 in February temperatures, no doubt.
According to Alyeska, Ted's construction mirrors Chair 4's former "footprint" on the Daylodge side of the mountain, a design choice intended "to minimize damage to the mountain." It will have capacity for 1,800 skiers and riders per hour.
And if the idea of a new lift wasn't good enough, the Ted Express will start carrying skiers and boarders opening day, scheduled for Nov. 21 (season pass holders will get access Nov. 20), according to Alyeska.
To catch the lift inaction check out Alyeska's post here, and for construction photos and more information click here.
In addition to adding the Ted Express to the resort, Alyeska has also widened and graded the trail at the base of Chair 6. It should be a great winter provided Southcenteral gets enough snow!