New Lift for 2010-2011

This summer, Bridger Bowl will replace the current Bridger and Deer Park lifts with one triple chair lift. Here are some of the reasons we have chosen this option:

1. This is the most important lift on the mountain. Without reliable access, we can not do the avalanche hazard reduction work required to open the upper mountain lifts and terrain.
2. The Bronco, Sluice Box and Avalanche Gulch terrain is significantly interrupted with the Deer Park switchback road which would be eliminated along with the Deer Park Lift. The elimination of the road and lift would enable skiers to ski from the top of Bridger down to the South Bowl without crossing a road and open significantly more uninterrupted fall line skiing around Sluice Box without the top terminal, unloading area and towers.
3. The Riblet chair lifts are not made anymore and replacement parts are becoming obsolete with used parts very difficult to find.
4. The Bridger and Deer Park lifts have light 80 lb. chairs that swing in the wind and we're more prone to being shut down with strong southwinds. A new triple chair would weigh about 250 lbs and can run in higher cross winds, minimizing lift closure times (days) significantly.
5. A triple chair will provide the maximum recommended capacity (1,500/hr) for the new Bridger 2 unloading area due to steep terrain.
6. This triple chair provides nearly the same uphill vertical transport feet (2.1 million VTFH) compared to the current Bridger and Deer Park double chairs (2.37 million VTFH) combined. With the anticipated wider dispersion of skiers within this terrain pod, return time to the base of the lift will likely be increased, negating any VTFH difference.

New for 2009-10 - Maximizing uphill capacity with Loading Carpets

Our plan this year is to maximize the current uphill capacity on two of our existing chair lifts that are often slowed down and/or stopped when loading small children and beginner skiers. Although only a few ski areas in North America have these, they are very popular in Europe and have been reviewed very positively. Alta has successfully installed one at their resort in Utah. The two lifts that are primarily effected are our Powder Park and Pierre's Knob chair lifts. The uphill capacity of these lifts on weekends and holidays runs about 70% of maximum. Constant slows and stops helping boost children and aiding overwhelmed beginners results in slower rides up the mountain. To address this issue, we will be installing loading carpets on these lifts. ALL skiers and riders need to be prepared to experience something new. There will be several changes to the loading process. First, there will be access gates on these two lifts. Skiers and riders will need to be in position at the gate and enter when they open. After sliding forward out of the gate, you will just need to stand there as the carpet moves you into position and the chair will come in slightly faster than you will be moving for you to sit down and ride away. View the loading carpet video above to see how this works.

Note for parents of small children: The Powder Park loading carpet will have an additional feature that will allow the lift attendant to raise the platform at the push of a button for small children to make the chair height clearance. This will no longer necessitate a boost from the lift attendant nor the parent.

Future Lift Projects at Bridger Bowl

Bridger Bowl is focused on improving lift and terrain access across the entire mountain. The first phase involved improving expert lift accessed skiing with the Schlasman Lift project and its 311 acre terrain expansion completed for the 2008-09 season. Bridger Bowl's current Master Plan also includes replacement of our older Riblet lifts and reconfiguring the lift layout to improve access to specific skiing "pods" across the mountain. The varied terrain and topographical layout between our north and south boundaries provides challenging issues related to lift placement. Our goal is to provide the optimal uphill capacity and skier density for each lift and terrain area (pod) to meet the needs of a wide range of skiers and riders.

We have four primary terrain pods where we need to improve service and replace lifts: #1 Bronco/North Bowl pod (expert), #2. the Powder Park/3 Bears pod (intermediate), #3. the Montagne Meadows/Limestone Pod (beginner/lower intermediate) and #4 Bradley Meadows (advance/intermediate). Because of the importance of the Bridger Lift to the daily operation of Bridger Bowl, this Bronco/North Bowl pod is the first one that needs to be addressed. (See the Proposed Lift Placement Map below). Our goal is to provide the highest quality ski experience possible in all terrain pods. This means determining the maximum up hill lift capacity with that which produces the optimal desired density of skiers per acre of terrain served by the lift. Each lift needs adequate unloading zones, staging areas, slope and trail accessibility that allows for good fall line skiing while minimizing roads and traversing trails.

Common Questions:

1. On big powder days, Bridger Lift gets very busy. On these days, Deer Park takes the overflow. The concern is that replacing both doubles with a triple chair will make the issue worse on powderdays.
   Response: The new triple chair will provide the comparable vertical transport feet per hour (lifts uphill capacity/hr x vertical feet) that Bridger and Deer Park currently provide. The reason we won't put in a quad chair is that the planned unloading area (the same as the current Bridger unload) can not handle more than 1,500 people/hr which is easily handled by a triple. Quad chairs are required by code to run slower than triples. As well,it is important that we maintain the quality of the ski experience and not overcrowd the slopes.
2. How will racers be supported with the new lift?
   Response: The new lift will have a midway unload at the transition point below bronco. This is just north of Deer Park road where it intersects Hanton Hollow.
3. When will Bridger do more to improve the lift and terrain access for intermediates?
   Response: After we complete the new Bridger lift project, our next step will be to add lifts to reconfigure the north side of the mountain. Our current plan is to put in two triple chair lifts that will leave from the meadow north of the current Alpine lift bottom terminal. The Alpine I lift will terminate below the North Bowl where the 3 Bears Road intersects. The Alpine II lift will terminate at the top of Montagne Meadows (old North Meadows). This will improve the access to skiing in both these pods and a better experience for intermediate and novice skiers looking for longer runs. We will most likely put the Alpine 2 lift in first and keep the current Alpine Chair. The next phase would be adding the Alpine 1 lift and/or the Bradley Meadow lift. We will then remove the old Alpine Riblet chair.
4. What is the future plan for Bradley's Meadows?
   Response: With the placement of the new Alpine I and II lifts and the removal of the current Alpine chair, there will be limited access into 3 Bears Bowl. The addition of the Bradley Meadow lift would provide lift access very similar to that lost in 3 Bears.
5. What about beginner terrain?
   Response: Bridger Bowl is limited in good, low angle, spacious slopes ideal for first time skiers and riders to learn on. We are looking at several options in the base area that could involve land purchase.

NOTE: Decisions on new lifts, lift placement and terrain pod access is a fluid process. There are many factors that will play a significant role regarding the choice, timing, sequence and placement of all future lifts at Bridger Bowl. Thank you for your support and feedback. We'll make updates to this page as plans evolve.