Today, the Summit Daily News reported that BreckConnect will be the name of the new gondola which runs from downtown Breckenridge to the base of Peak 8 and ultimately, to Peak 7. The new logo design depicts arrowheads pointing outward from each end of the name. The arrows represent the gondola's connection of the town with the ski area, and signify the direct route and speed of travel.
The BreckConnect Gondola will be one of the most modern gondolas in North America.
Right now, the ski resort plans to operate the gondola in both the winter and summer. It will have a ride time of approximately seven and a half minutes from bottom to top, and will be able to carry 3,000 people per hour.
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Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Breckenridge gondola is on schedule
Kimberly Nicoletti, in a special to the Summit Daily News on September 13th, reports that by December, Breckenridge Ski resort's new gondola will lift skiers and riders from parking lots to Peak 7 and 8 base areas.
The $17 million gondola, which ski resort executives have wanted for more than 20 years, is now half complete. Leitner POMA, an international company, has erected 22 of the 28 towers.
The first shipment of cabins will arrive near the end of September; CWA Constructors manufactured the gondola cabins and sent them via a cargo ship from Switzerland. The haul rope was assembled in France and will be shipped this week. It weighs approximately 200,000 pounds, which is equal to the weight of aproximately 66 cars.
All concrete work is completed; the project required 375 concrete trucks, which delivered 3,000 cubic yareds of concrete.
The gondola will transfer 2,800 guests per hour; the ride from the transit center to Peak 8 takes 10 minutes. The return (base) station is located next to the town's transit center at the corner of North Park and Watson Avenue. There are two mid-stations, one at Shock Hill and another at the Peak 7 base area. The eight-passenger cabins will accommodate gear inside, rather than use external racks for skis and boards.
"Breckenridge's new gondola sets a new standard in the roll of mass transit in growth and development" said Kate Osborn, Breckenridge Ski Area spokesman. She said it represents environmentally conscious teamwork between the town and the resort to transport visitors between the two areas. Osborn said it will significantly decrease traffic volumes and increase the number of visitors to downtown.
The gondola will save more than 20,375 gallons of fuel each season becuase the bus service will decrease. The resort also took care to help protect the environment by dedicating 64.7 acres of development land to the town for conservation and open space.
The town contributed $6.7 million to build the gondola, and developers of the Shock Hill neighborhood, where the gondola will also stop, paid $500,000. As part of the partnership with the town, the ski area agreed to provide 1,500 parking spaces in town, near the gondola.
"Bringing together the two pieces that continually put Breckenridge in the top three most popular winter destinations, the gondola enables the town and resort to strike the ideal balance that maintains the character and vibrancy of Breckenridge's Main Street and downtown" Osborn said.
Completion of the gondola is one of the last major steps in achieving a comprehensive development and transportation plan, which the town and Vail Resorts (owner of Breckenridge Ski Area) formalized in May, 2002. The plan also included the Skyway Skiway ski-back project and the Mountain Thunder Lodge.
The $17 million gondola, which ski resort executives have wanted for more than 20 years, is now half complete. Leitner POMA, an international company, has erected 22 of the 28 towers.
The first shipment of cabins will arrive near the end of September; CWA Constructors manufactured the gondola cabins and sent them via a cargo ship from Switzerland. The haul rope was assembled in France and will be shipped this week. It weighs approximately 200,000 pounds, which is equal to the weight of aproximately 66 cars.
All concrete work is completed; the project required 375 concrete trucks, which delivered 3,000 cubic yareds of concrete.
The gondola will transfer 2,800 guests per hour; the ride from the transit center to Peak 8 takes 10 minutes. The return (base) station is located next to the town's transit center at the corner of North Park and Watson Avenue. There are two mid-stations, one at Shock Hill and another at the Peak 7 base area. The eight-passenger cabins will accommodate gear inside, rather than use external racks for skis and boards.
"Breckenridge's new gondola sets a new standard in the roll of mass transit in growth and development" said Kate Osborn, Breckenridge Ski Area spokesman. She said it represents environmentally conscious teamwork between the town and the resort to transport visitors between the two areas. Osborn said it will significantly decrease traffic volumes and increase the number of visitors to downtown.
The gondola will save more than 20,375 gallons of fuel each season becuase the bus service will decrease. The resort also took care to help protect the environment by dedicating 64.7 acres of development land to the town for conservation and open space.
The town contributed $6.7 million to build the gondola, and developers of the Shock Hill neighborhood, where the gondola will also stop, paid $500,000. As part of the partnership with the town, the ski area agreed to provide 1,500 parking spaces in town, near the gondola.
"Bringing together the two pieces that continually put Breckenridge in the top three most popular winter destinations, the gondola enables the town and resort to strike the ideal balance that maintains the character and vibrancy of Breckenridge's Main Street and downtown" Osborn said.
Completion of the gondola is one of the last major steps in achieving a comprehensive development and transportation plan, which the town and Vail Resorts (owner of Breckenridge Ski Area) formalized in May, 2002. The plan also included the Skyway Skiway ski-back project and the Mountain Thunder Lodge.
Breck plans to open new terrain off Peak 8 summit
The Snow White chutes are located between Peaks 8 and 9 near the Lake Chutes
In a September 12th article in the Summit Daily News written by Nicole Formosa, it is reported that a stash of seven steep chutes that has always been off limits at Breckenridge Ski Area will likely be open for the taking this ski season.
The resort plans to open 150 acres of terrain dubbed Snow White, which is located in the saddle between Peaks 8 and 9 and would be accessible from the Imperial Express SuperChair, said resort spoksman Nicky DeFond.
The above-timberline terrain skies similarly to the nearby Lake Chutes, she said.
"It's steeper than Imperial Bowl, it's not going to be groomed, so it's definitely for the stronger skier," Defond said.
The Snow White chutes feed skiers onto the advanced Double Barrel or Way Out trails on the backside of Peak 8.
Even though Snow White has always been in the resort's operating boundary, it hasn't been open to skiers and riders because it was at least a 45 minute hike from the top of the T-Bar before the Imperial Express opened last season.
Because of that, ski patrol was more limited in how much terrain it could open at the top of Peak 8 due to the high avalanche danger, which requires control work before it can be opened to the public.
The new terrain isn't a done deal yet; officials from Breck will meet with the Forest Service this fall to put Snow White in the resort's new master plan. After that, it should be official. At that time, the total cache of terrain accessed off Imperial Express will grow from 400 to 550 acres.
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