This weekend, I'm headed back to Big Sky Country to do some skiing out west. So, I only found it fitting to post about their new ski lift: the newest and most technological, first ever 8-person chairlift in North America.
The new Ramcharger 8 Lift. It has a lot of "firsts" according to Big Sky Resort including it being the first eight-passenger chairlift, first direct drive motor, first locking restraint bar, first height-adjustable loading carpet, first high resolution video display, and the first of the newest generation Doppelmayr detachable lifts, the D-Line. Now: let's break down what all this means.
The lift runs using a gear-less drive system, making the lift more energy efficient, quieter and easier to maintain.
Ramcharger 8 has a host of diagnostic tools and programmable lift ops, like lift announcements that can be piped into the chairs themselves and automated nightly seat storage in the "barn" at top station. All these programmable settings can be easily accessed by lifties on a touch screen tablet.
Due to the increased uploading capacity in addition to the speed of the lift, it can transport 3,600 skiers per hour! It only takes 5 minutes to get to the top of the 5000 foot long cables.
Super cool new feature: there is a moving loading carpet to board which the liftie can adjust the height of at the push of a button. This will help all the families with kids, so they can easily board without needing to be pulled onto the chair.
Increased comfort: there are individual headrests and footrests in addition to heated seats which can be adjusted by the lifties based on weather conditions.
Even more comfort! There is a "Big Sky Blue" bubble to protect skiers and riders from the wind, which raises right before reaching the unloading zone.
And, to top it all off, there is a giant video display at the base of the lift.
Ramcharger 8 transports skiers and riders up Andesite Mountain, where you can catch phenomenal views of Lone Peak from the slopes or from Everett's 8800 Restaurant. And, even better: Big Sky Resort isn't stopping with this new lift. This year, they added a night skiing experience on Andesite Mountain, where the Ramcharger 8 lift will whisk skiers uphill with a private guide and then ski down, using headlamps to illuminate the way on newly groomed trails from 6:30-8:30. It sounds like a super cool experience, but one that comes at a price: It's a whopping $390 per person during regular season and that doesn't even include a lift ticket. If you want more information, check it out here.
It doesn't stop there! Big Sky is planning on adding even more technology next year. In the 2019-2020 winter season, they're trying to add three Omega V gondola cabins to Ramcharger 8. Two of these will be dedicated Dining Cars, allowing guests to sit around a table installed in the cabin for a premier dining experience, and making Big Sky Resort home of the smallest restaurant in North America.
So, whatcha think? Big Sky Resort is making some big advancements in lift technology and the resort experience. I know I can't wait to check out the new lift this year, and maybe even dine in the gondola next year! I'll be sure to report back!
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