Update on Ariel Chairlift: 12.21.24

The holiday season is in full swing, and while we are thankful for an early opening this season, we are equally disappointed to be operating with a partial lift fleet. The good news is that we currently have 140 acres open for skiing and riding, including a good variety of Easy (green), More Difficult (blue), and Most Difficult (black) terrain. Unfortunately, the upper mountain is closed, and some of our signature terrain is inaccessible. Here’s a quick update on what happened and what’s next:

As you may know, on November 22, our Ariel Chairlift was struck by a large tree uprooted in saturated soil and heavy winds. The tree squarely hit the downloading side of tower 8, destroying the sheaves and halo, damaging the sheave train, and resting on the cable under tension. Although Ariel is a legendary center-pole Riblet from the 1960s, this damage would have been sustained no matter the age or type of chairlift. The tree was removed by professional tree fellers, taking them about 11 hours to navigate the hillside, snow, and complications from the tension on the chairlift systems.

Some photos we shared after the incident showed the tree on the chairlift tower, and the perspective made the tower appear to be leaning significantly due to the tree. This rumor has been circulated, but there was no damage to the foundation or the tower. The design of this specific tower leans at ~23-degree angle. This unique design feature of Riblet chairlifts places the towers at a perpendicular angle to the cable. You can see this on most of the towers on our Ariel, Comer, and Sonnet chairlifts.

Photo used on social media, taken November 22.

The repairs required a complete rebuild of the damaged sheave train, using new sheaves. The bushings for the sheaves are no longer available, and we needed to have them custom fabricated. Once these parts were manufactured, our crew could rebuild the sheave train inside the lift shop. It was then lifted onto the tower and installed, and the cable was set in alignment with the sheaves. This process also required some precise work on the gauge of the cables to be sure everything was aligned correctly. The tower halo also needed to be rebuilt in the shop. These repairs followed the prescription set by the Riblet chairlift engineer and the ANSI code.

The next step was an elaborate process to de-tension the chairlift, inspect the cable, and re-tension the chairlift. We also sent photos of our cable inspection to a third-party wire rope inspection and testing company. They concurred with our determination that there was no damage to the cable.

We are currently in the process of reattaching the halo to the tower. We are nearing completion of the repairs, with greasing and testing coming soon.

Some additional things need to happen before we can open the Ariel chairlift this season. The tree damage occurred on November 22, when we were in the midst of pre-season maintenance; those tasks had to be paused because the chair was not operational. Over the next few days, our lift maintenance crew will be completing that routine maintenance that is required every year before we will open a chair to the public. The crew estimates that this work will be finished in the first half of next week, preparing the chair for passengers.

Rebuilt sheave train, as of December 20.

Once Ariel is ready to carry passengers, we will begin the process of setting up the upper mountain and establishing ski patrol operations at the summit. The tree hit Ariel before we started setting up the hill for opening, so without Ariel, we have not been able to set boundaries, stage equipment, or finish installing padding. This will take us a day or two, with ski patrol serving dual duties for our operating public on open terrain and setting up the upper mountain, all during a busy holiday season.

Our best estimate for the earliest day Ariel will open is Christmas Day, and depending on many factors, it could be in the following few days toward next weekend. I promise you that our mountain operations team is eager to open the entire mountain as soon as possible. We will continue to update you through social media and the Mountain Report, and announce the opening of Ariel as soon as we have it confirmed.

~Andrew Gast, General Manager

Please read carefully! This is a release of liability and a waiver of certain legal rights.
The purchaser, holder and/or user of this pass or any person named on this pass application (“participant”) understands that skiing, snowboarding and other winter activities (“skiing”) can be hazardous and that injuries are common when participating in such activities. Participant accepts and assumes the risks associated with skiing, including, but not limited to, changing weather conditions, variations or steepness in terrain, terrain features and parks, snow or ice conditions, surface or subsurface conditions, bare spots, creeks and gullies, forest growth, rocks, stumps, the use of lifts, collisions with natural or manmade objects or other persons, avalanches, snow immersion, equipment failure, no or delayed first aid rescue, grooming and snowmobile equipment, lift towers and other structures and their components, falling, loss of control, and exceeding one’s ability. Participant hereby freely and expressly assumes any and all risk of property damage, injury and death associated with skiing.
In consideration for lift access and the use of any other area facilities and premises, participant hereby agrees to release, hold harmless, and indemnify Mt. Ashland association, dba Mt. Ashland and its owners, partners, members, employees, directors, officers, agents, affiliates, and related entities (“Mt. Ashland”) from any and all claims by or on behalf of participant against Mt. Ashland arising directly or indirectly out of participant’s use of this pass and/or the area facilities and premises. This release includes claims and liabilities arising from negligence on the part of Mt. Ashland, but does not include claims based upon gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Participant also agrees to indemnify (including costs and attorney fees) Mt. Ashland for any claim brought on behalf of any minor named on this season pass application.
Participant understands that, instead of entering into this agreement, participant may purchase a day ticket. Participant is free to participate in skiing at Mt. Ashland without using any ski area lifts or uphill conveyances, subject to any applicable rules of use.
1. A Season Pass is a weather-dependent product and is non-refundable, non-transferable and may not be rolled over from one season to the next. Use by any other person will result in forfeiture of the Season Pass. However we understand that unexpected circumstances can occur and exceptions will be made under limited circumstances. Pro-rated Season Pass refunds are given for: 1.) documented relocation out of the area or 2.) documented illness, injury, or pregnancy. All refund requests must be received by February 15th of the year the season pass in question is valid. All refunds are at the discretion of Mt. Ashland. A $50 processing fee will be charged for all refund requests.
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