Crystal is getting a new chair lift!

[Webmaster]

http://www.skicrystal.com/_IMAGES/CrystalMtnWA_MapNewLift_WEB.jpg

A new Doppelmayr chairlift has been purchased for the North Backcountry area of Crystal Mountain. The North Backcountry is a large area of terrain along the north side of Crystal Mountain’s designated permit boundary. The lift will provide access to approximately 1,000 new acres and increase Crystal Mountain’s 1,300 acres of lift serviced ski terrain by 77% to 2,300. This is the first new lift serviced terrain that will open in the state in almost 25 years.

The probable new name for the chairlift is “Northway” and it will deposit skiers at the top of Northway Peak after a ride of just under 10 minutes. From there, skiers face an amazing choice of skiing Snorting Elk Bowl, Northway Bowl, Paradise Bowl and Bruce’s Bowl, following Right Angle Ridge to a variety of expert glades and chutes or heading farther north to drop into places like Morning Glory Bowl and Brand X. Several new trails are to be constructed that will feed into the bottom of the new lift.

The lift equipment itself is unusual in these days of high capacity, high speed detachable lifts. Northway is a double chairlift that will move along at a faster-than-standard rate of 550 feet per minute but will limit skier capacity in the new terrain to 1,200 people per hour. This will increase the existing 19,110 people per hour lift capacity to 20,310. “It’s about the skiing.” said Crystal Mountain General Manager John Kircher. “I’m sure people appreciate the big high capacity lifts that we have on the front side of Crystal. We have a job to do handling the crowds here but we all see how fast the snow gets tracked out. The new lift in the Northback is designed to provide access but keep the snow quality higher.” The new lift service will also serve to spread skier traffic out.

The addition of the Northway Chairlift was approved with the Master Development Plan (MDP). Crystal Mountain received the Record of Decision (ROD) in August of 2004 from the U.S. Forest Service. The ROD came following an in-depth review of the Draft Environmental Impact Study issued in August 2001. The MDP, along with 6 alternatives, was originally submitted to the Forest Service in 1999.

source: http://www.skicrystal.com/1729.html

[Webmaster]

A new Doppelmayr chairlift was purchased last fall for the North Country area of Crystal Mountain. The North Country is a large area of terrain along the north side of Crystal’s designated permit boundary. The lift will provide access to approximately 1,000 acres and increase Crystal’s 1,300 acres of lift serviced ski terrain by 77% to 2,300 acres.

The name for the new chairlift is “Northway.” It will deposit skiers at the top of Northway Peak after a ride of just under 10 minutes. From there, skiers face an amazing choice of skiing Snorting Elk Bowl, Northway Bowl, Paradise Bowl and Bruce’s Bowl, following Right Angle Ridge to a variety of expert glades and chutes or heading farther north to drop into places like Morning Glory Bowl and Brand X. Several new trails are to be constructed that will feed into the bottom of the new lift.

Tree cutting began on Monday, June 18th in the North Country area. The use of a helicopter will be implemented to remove the downed trees and to help keep the impact on the environment at a minimum. A selection of trees will be cut and removed to clear paths for the new trails and chairlift towers. The footings will be poured as soon as the snow is completely melted. Chairlift towers will be flown in and set into the footings by helicopter in late-August to early-September.

The lift equipment itself is unusual in these days of high capacity, high speed detachable lifts. Northway is a double chairlift that will move along at a faster-than-standard rate of 550 feet per minute but will limit skier capacity in the new terrain to 1,200 people per hour. This will increase the existing 19,110 people per hour lift capacity to 20,310. “It’s about the skiing.” said Crystal Mountain General Manager John Kircher. “I’m sure people appreciate the big high capacity lifts that we have on the front side of Crystal. We have a job to do handling the crowds here but we all see how fast the snow gets tracked out. The new lift in the North Country is designed to provide access but keep the snow quality higher.” The new lift service will also serve to spread skier traffic out and keep skiers from funneling back through the base area.

The addition of the Northway Chairlift was approved with the Master Development Plan (MDP). Crystal Mountain received the Record of Decision (ROD) in August of 2004 from the U.S. Forest Service. The ROD came following an in-depth review of the Draft Environmental Impact Study issued in August 2001. The MDP, along with 6 alternatives, was originally submitted to the Forest Service in 1999.

See also here: http://www.skicrystal.com/1733.html for photos and additional information

[Webmaster]

Following are some photos sent to me by folks at Crystal. They show a work in progress. It is impressive to see the formidable measures, in the name of helicopter extractions, that are being taken to clear the area while protecting the landscape from all but the most necessary of contact.

http://www.explore-greenwater.com/pix/crystalLift1.jpg

http://www.explore-greenwater.com/pix/crystalLift2.jpg

http://www.explore-greenwater.com/pix/crystalLift3.jpg

[Webmaster]

N E W S R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release For More Information Contact:

July 24, 2007 Tiana Enger, tiana@skicrystal.com

Making Progress on New Northway Lift

Crystal Mountain, WA- Crews have been busy since the Northway chairlift project broke ground on June 18th, 2007. A selection of trees were cut and then removed by helicopter to make way for the new trails and chairlift towers. Holes were successfully dug for 16 of the 19 tower footings and the lower terminal. Steel bars are being tied to make footing cages. The helicopter will begin flying the cages and pouring concrete into the footings on July 31st. Development of the access trail to the top of Northway Peak from Snorting Elk is also now underway. The project is right on schedule! Next up: Assembly and placement of top and bottom terminals.

The new Doppelmayr chairlift was purchased last fall for the North Country area of Crystal Mountain. The North Country is a large area of terrain along the north side of Crystal’s designated permit boundary. The lift will provide access to approximately 1,000 acres and increase Crystal’s 1,300 acres of lift serviced ski terrain by 77% to 2,300 acres.

The name for the new chairlift is “Northway.” It will deposit skiers at the top of Northway Peak after a ride of just under 10 minutes. From there, skiers face an amazing choice of skiing Snorting Elk Bowl, Northway Bowl, Paradise Bowl and Bruce’s Bowl, following Right Angle Ridge to a variety of expert glades and chutes or heading farther north to drop into places like Morning Glory Bowl and Brand X. Several new trails have been constructed that will feed into the bottom of the new lift.

The lift equipment itself is unusual in these days of high capacity, high speed detachable lifts. Northway is a double chairlift that will move along at a faster-than-standard rate of 550 feet per minute but will limit skier capacity in the new terrain to 1,200 people per hour. This will increase the existing 19,110 people per hour lift capacity to 20,310. “It’s about the skiing.” said Crystal Mountain General Manager John Kircher. “I’m sure people appreciate the big high capacity lifts that we have on the front side of Crystal. We have a job to do handling the crowds here. The new lift in the North Backcountry is designed to provide access but keep the snow quality higher by only unloading two people at a time.” The new lift service will also serve to spread skier traffic out and keep skiers going to the North Country from having to wait for a shuttle and funnel back through the base area.

The addition of the Northway Chairlift was approved with the Master Development Plan (MDP). Crystal Mountain received the Record of Decision (ROD) in August of 2004 from the U.S. Forest Service. The ROD came following an in-depth review of the Draft Environmental Impact Study issued in August 2001. The MDP, along with 6 alternatives, was originally submitted to the Forest Service in 1999.

###

from: http://www.skicrystal.com/_DOWNLOADS/NorthwayRelease_July24_MakingProgress.pdf

[Webmaster]

http://www.skicrystal.com/_IMAGES/NW_LineUpNW.jpg

http://www.skicrystal.com/_IMAGES/NWAccesTrail7-24.JPG
The Northway peak acces trail is taking shape. 7-24-07

source: http://skicrystal.com/1733.html

[Stretch]

Have any recent pics of the work going on up there? I saw on the site they have the lower lift and shack in.

[Webmaster]

If it isn’t too rainy this weekend I'm gonna hike up and take some photos

[Stretch]

Saturday shouldn't be that bad weatherwise.

[Stretch]

I know I'm about 2 weeks slow, but I just watched the video of installing the lower bullwheel... Check it out!

Click the Footings & Terminal Installation - Sept. 10th link:

New Lift (http://www.skicrystal.com/1733.html)

[Webmaster]

Excellent find!

[Stretch]

Plan is to head to the top of Crystal and work my way down Northway early tomorrow morning. Won't be able to take as good of pics as you, because of a cheaper camera, but hopefully get some shots in...

Rain and snow is forecasted, so it'll be a fun one!

[Webmaster]

Lucky you!!

I have about 3 cords of wood to split and stack this weekend. Ugh

Have a great time!

[Webmaster]

CRAIG HILL
The News Tribune
Published: October 15th, 2007 06:09 AM

http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2007/10/15/01/887-NWS1015_CRYSTAL_P1.standalone.prod_affiliate.5.jpg
DREW PERINE/The News Tribune Construction proceeds last week on the $2.5 million Northway Lift in Crystal Mountain’s North Country. The ski area plans to open it this season.

Keith Rollins wasn’t exactly thrilled when he first heard Crystal Mountain was going to build a new chairlift in its legendary North Country.
Ever since Crystal Mountain opened in 1962, North Country has been a place where expert skiers like Rollins could get away from the hubbub of the resort. And Rollins said he didn’t mind much that the solitude and fresh tracks meant occasional hikes and taking a shuttle back to the main lodge after every run.

But as the $2.5 million Northway Lift and the terrain have taken shape this summer, Rollins has come to grips with the change.

“It’s going to change the way the mountain is going to ski,” said Rollins, manager of Puyallup’s Sturtevant’s Ski Mart. “I think it will take some pressure off some areas. And, personally, I’m looking forward to skiing some areas that couldn’t be skied before they were cleared.”

http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2007/10/15/01/85-NWS1015_CRYSTAL_P3.standalone.prod_affiliate.5.jpg
DREW PERINE/The News Tribune. The giant bull wheel looms over workers last week at the Crystal Mountain ski resort as they assemble the drive terminal of the Northway Lift. “It’s going to change the way the mountain is going to ski,” said Keith Rollins, manager of Puyallup’s Sturtevant’s Ski Mart. “I think it will take … pressure off some areas.”

When Northway opens this season, it will nearly double Crystal’s lift-serviced terrain from 1,300 to 2,300 acres. Crystal will move past the 1,916-acre Summit at Snoqualmie, also owned by Boyne Resorts, to become the state’s largest ski area.

Northway will be the first new terrain to open in Washington since Stevens Pass opened Mill Valley in 1987.

But even Tiana Enger, Crystal’s marketing director, has mixed emotions about a lift that is sure to lure more people into one of her favorite areas to ski and snowboard.

“I’ll be honest: It’s bittersweet,” Enger said. “But I think it will be more sweet than bitter.”


ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS


When the Colorado-based Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition rated ski areas last winter based on their environmental impact, it rated Crystal 10th worst in the country.

According to the organization’s reports, the primary reason for giving Crystal a D grade was its plans to add the Northway lift and clear timber for its seven new trails.

Had it not been for the points deducted for the new lift, Crystal’s grade would have climbed to a C.

Enger said complaints about the environmental impact have been rare since 2004, when the Forest Service approved the expansion after an environmental impact study in 2001. Crystal originally submitted its plans in 1999.

“We have been very sensitive,” Enger said. “We have used a helicopter to transport everything so we aren’t trucking through the meadows.”


SHORTER LINES EXPECTED


The new Northway lift isn’t for everybody, but almost everybody could benefit.

All of the runs serviced by Northway will be classified diamond or double-diamond. This means only advanced skiers and snowboarders should take on the terrain.

“Maybe some strong intermediates could test the waters,” Enger said.

This might change in the coming seasons, when one of the runs could be reclassified as a blue square, or intermediate. The resort is not identifying which run it is considering for an intermediate rating.

North Country has always been expert terrain, and John Kircher, Crystal’s owner, is making a concerted effort to keep a backcountry feel under Northway. It’s why he chose to install a fixed-grip, two-seat lift rather than a high-speed quad. Kircher hopes the nearly 10-minute ride to the top of Northway Peak will result in keeping the traffic moderate and the snow at a high quality.

“It’s about the skiing,” Kircher said.

This means Crystal won’t groom the runs serviced by Northway.

Enger said entry gates to the Northway area will continue to be marked as expert terrain to help beginners and intermediates from wandering into the area by accident.

“There’s no easy way down,” Enger said.

But intermediates should still feel the impact of the new lift. Because Northway will allow skiers and boarders to spend all day in the North Back without returning to the resort’s hub, lift lines at Crystal are expected to shrink.


WAITING FOR WHITE


Northway’s grand opening is tentatively set for Dec. 8. Crystal hopes the resort will open sooner, but Northway’s steep slopes will require an additional 2 to 3 more feet of snow to be skiable.

Crystal opened Nov. 16 last season and Nov. 4 in 2005.

“If the conditions allow us to open (Northway) earlier, we will,” Enger said. “We definitely don’t want to keep people waiting any longer than we have to.”

http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2007/10/15/01/101-NWS1015_CRYSTAL_P2.standalone.prod_affiliate.5.jpg
DREW PERINE/The News TribuneSnow piles up on chairs for the lift, which is expected to cut time waiting in lines.

$2.5 million
Cost of the new Doppelmayr chairlift

1,870 feet
The vertical rise of the lift

1 mile
The length of the lift

10 minutes
Time it will take to ride to the top of the peak

6,770 feet
The top elevation

1,200
The lift’s hourly capacity of riders

source: http://www.thenewstribune.com/front/topphoto/story/179352.html

[crystalskier]

Apparently Crystal is flying the lift towers on Monday with a Chinook helicopter. Anyone hiking (or snowshoeing!) up to watch?

[Webmaster]

Hi Crystalskier and welcome to the forum!

I would have loved to spend the day watching that feat of remarkable skill!! But alas i was far away and busy with work. Anyone else have the opportunity to see this and perhaps capture a few mega-pixels of the event???

[crystalskier]

The helicopter did not make it to Crystal, I think because of the fires in LA. Much more important if you ask me. The weather was perfect and they are done with all the footings so they have tentatively rescheduled for Friday, Nov 2. By the way there is a lot of snow at the top and I did get to see the completed top terminal.

[Webmaster]

Thanks for the update! Did you get any photos?

[crystalskier]

Pictures:
Looking good up top:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/crystal10-22-07016.jpg

The footing for the top shack being poured:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/crystal10-22-07b032.jpg

The cable spool and top station:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/crystal10-22-07029.jpg

Foundation setup for the lift shack:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/crystal10-22-07026.jpg

Top motor room:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/crystal10-22-07022.jpg

[Webmaster]

Outstanding photos!!!

Looks like an excellent day for an outing :cool:

[crystalskier]

Here is a northway update for today, heli day!

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/13.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/12.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/11.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/10.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/9.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/8.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/7.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/6.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/5.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/4.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/3.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/2.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/crystalmountainskier/1.jpg

[TokyoTessie]

I believe Crystal has one of their webcams pointed at this new lift/run in progress:

http://skicrystal.com/1657.html?page=1657&SESSION=ea1e44fa637bad863da64cf5f29f43af&s=0

[Webmaster]

I think that's the camera on top of the Gold Hills lift. They've pulled it back to get a nice shot of the snow dusted north faces.

[TokyoTessie]

Yes, they have it pulled back now. For the past couple of days, it was zoomed in on the new lift.