Skyliner Express Construction Update
With the opening of the mountain rapidly approaching, we are also closing in on the opening of the newest lift at Mt. Bachelor! The upgraded Skyliner Express is entering its final stages of construction and is on schedule to be ready for operation in just a few weeks. All summer our talented Mt. Bachelor crews and third-party contractors have been hard at work tearing down the old lift and erecting our new 6-pack for the 2023/24 season. If all goes according to plan in the coming weeks, we will have completed a huge milestone in the history of Mt. Bachelor in just 8 short months.
Recap of the Build:
Construction began in May when we closed the old Skyliner Express and the surrounding terrain to begin demolition. In early June, we had the first of three helicopter assists to pluck the old towers, cross-arms, and shives out of the ground and fly them down to the Skyliner parking lot. The helicopter also dropped some rebar off at the top for the foundation of the impending top terminal.
Fast forward a month and the concrete began. Our crew was hard at work building bases for the new towers, and grading and pouring the foundations for both lift shacks. Working from the bottom up, we quickly assembled the bases and poured concrete into the lower foundations. Once the grade became too steep for the concrete trucks, we had to call back the helicopter for flight number two.
At the end of July, we used the helicopter to finish the pouring by attaching a bucket and flying the concrete up the mountain. All the bases had been pre-framed, and the hovering helicopter dumped the concrete in. At the same time, we were hard at work erecting the lower towers whose foundations had already been poured and allowed to set. To do this, workers used a crane that was able to drive to towers 1-5.
While waiting for the rest of the tower’s bases to set, work was rapidly progressing on the terminals. Grading was completed, foundations were set, and the two buildings started to take shape. Chairs and other parts were also arriving daily.
Finally, at the end of August, it was time to bring the helicopter back one last time to finish the towers. Towers 6-14 were flown to their bases and secured, and then all cross-arms and shives were installed, making it look like a ski lift for the first time!
Into September, October, and November and work continued at a feverish pace. A trench spanning roughly 6,000’ was dug for communication and utility lines and then backfilled, the top and bottom terminals reached completion, the haul rope was delivered and spliced on, power was turned on for both terminals, chairs assembly was completed, and the final stages of the lift began.
Next Steps:
That is where we stand now, in what is called the “Commissioning Phase.” This process takes typically around 2 weeks to complete and is a huge step in the completion of the Lift. Doppelmayr engineers are already on-site working to verify that all functions are working properly and that the lift meets the rigorous safety requirements. This will also be the first time it will move on its electric motor, obviously a crucial piece of the puzzle.
After that process is complete, we will install all chairs on the line for the first time and begin the load test. This test will verify that the drives and brakes can support the capacity the lift is designed for.
If all goes well, which we are predicting it will, Skyliner Express will be complete and ready for the season! This is a huge milestone for Mt. Bachelor and will serve the mountain and its community for years to come. Huge shoutout to our own in-house build crew who worked through all types of weather the past 8 months to help complete the lift. We have a very talented team from top to bottom and their hard work will be cemented in the history of Mt. Bachelor forever.
So, fingers crossed the Commissioning Phase goes as planned and we will see you on the new Skyliner Express in just a few short weeks! Stay tuned to our Instagram and website for official opening announcements, coming soon.