The 11 Best Fixed-Grip Double Chairlifts Still Spinning

They may be much less environment friendly and really feel extra sketchy than a high-speed quad, and people bone-chillingly lengthy journey occasions might need you wishing for a bubble chair, however the nostalgia and romance of an outdated fixed-grip double chairlift is actually simple. I can really say I’ve extra fond recollections on double chair lifts than another kind of raise, regardless of how out of date they appear to be lately. Whether or not it is an excuse to snuggle as much as whoever you are sharing the chair with to maintain heat on a ten+ minute raise journey or clinging to the safety-bar-less chair for expensive life as a substitute of pulling out your telephone, driving a double chair is an expertise in itself. Whereas some mountains nonetheless have loads of doubles left, others are nonetheless clinging to the nostalgia of their final one. Listed below are a couple of of the POWDER employees’s favourite outdated, gradual, doubles so subsequent time you journey considered one of these you may take within the expertise and in addition consider your favourite smelly ski bums, I imply ski journalists. Wish to sustain with the most effective tales and images in snowboarding? Subscribe to the brand new Powder To The Individuals publication for weekly updates.

1. Bar-UE – Steamboat, CO

Put in: 1977Steamboat skiers will know there is a motive they are saying “Bar-UE is for lovers.” One of many final cozy double chairs at Steamboat Resort, Bar-UE has been taking duos from the underside of Buddy’s Run again to the highest of Storm Peak to ski extra of Steamboat’s champagne powder since 1977. The raise was named for a cattle model used on the Werner Ranch, which was owned by Edward and Hazie Werner, aka the dad and mom of Steamboat legends and Olympians Buddy, Skeeter, and Bugs Werner, whom Mt. Werner is known as for. The raise was manufactured by Yan and covers 1,352 vertical toes in 9.6 minutes. 

2. Pony Categorical – Mary Jane, CO

Put in: 1974 Winter Park and Mary Jane nonetheless have fairly a couple of outdated double chairs to serve a few of their greatest terrain, however I’ve at all times been keen on Pony Categorical. Operating from the Mary Jane base over a few of Colorado’s greatest mogul snowboarding, the Pony Categorical is a real Mary Jane expertise. Inbuilt 1974, this Heron Poma double rises 1,051 ft over 6.8 minutes.

3. Wildcat – Alta Ski Space, UT

Put in: 1980Riding the Wildcat double chair is probably as infamous as snowboarding Alta itself. The one remaining fixed-grip double on the ski space, Wildcat has , old school locals really feel to it. Hop on The Kitty, as locals name it, and luxuriate in a potent blast from the previous.Since 1980, the Yan double has carried skiers 1,226 vertical toes over Alta’s legendary terrain in 8.5 minutes. 

4. Seventh Heaven – Stevens Go, WA

Put in: 1960Rumored to be the steepest chairlift within the US, Seventh Heaven is Stevens Go’ crown jewel of double chairs, and the final one standing. A 1960 Riblet chair, the raise rises simply 437 vertical toes and gives entry to terrain on Cowboy Mountain. 

5. Chairlift – Silverton, CO

Put in: 2001No have to give you a fancier identify than “Chairlift” whenever you solely have one. Chairlift is a Yan double that was relocated from Mammoth Mountain to Silverton to be the experts-only ski space’s solely chair in 2001. Chairlift has no security bar, and like all issues Silverton, journey it when you dare!

6. Marmot – Jackson Gap Mountain Resort, WY

Put in: 2011I have such an affinity for Marmot that I even have it tattooed on my left foot.Jackson Gap’s final remaining double chair takes you over the legendary Dick’s Ditch run as much as the place the Bridger Gondola drops passengers off. Marmot might not entry as a lot terrain or be as quick because the close by Thunder and Gondola, however there’s one thing about Marmot laps on a powder day that you just simply cannot beat. One of many newer doubles round, Marmot is a Doppelmayr CTE and was put in in 2011.

7. Olympic Girl – Palisades Tahoe, CA

Put in: 1974Positioned because the reliever raise for the legendary KT-22 at Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Girl deserves just a little recognition of its personal. Whereas Olympic Girl does not run fairly often, when it does, it is effectively well worth the novel expertise. Put in in 1974, Olympic Girl has completed its time at Palisades Tahoe, carrying passengers 1,096 vertical toes in simply 5.4 minutes. 

8. Madonna I – Smuggler’s Notch, VT

Put in: 1963Madonna chair isn’t solely one of many northeast’s steepest chairlifts, however it additionally gives entry to the northeast’s solely triple black diamond run referred to as The Black Gap. The raise boats a whopping 37 towers and rises 2,150 vertical toes. Regardless of roughly a 12-minute journey time (it feels longer when that Vermont chill settles in), Madonna has been carting friends to a few of Smugg’s greatest snowboarding since 1963. 

9. Honey Pot Hoist – Mt. Bohemia, MI

Put in: 2001Like all issues at Mt. Bohemia, the chairlifts even have a enjoyable spice to them with names like ‘Honey Pot Hoist.’ One in every of two chairs that serve the most effective snowboarding on Michigan’s Higher Peninsula, the Honey Pot Hoist is a Riblet double chair that was put in in 2001 after being transported from one other mountain. Like a raise straight out of Candyland, the towers are painted purple and the chairs vivid inexperienced, so even when you get just a little chilly in these frigid UP temps, at the very least you may cozy up on this cute and eccentric double.

10. Freeway – Whiteface, NY

Put in: 1978Freeway is without doubt one of the final doubles round at New York’s notoriously steep Whiteface. The raise accesses among the mountain’s intermediate terrain in addition to provides you just a little extra vert to ski earlier than dropping you off on the high of Higher Parkway, Higher Thruway, and Mountain Run. A Corridor double put in in 1978, the raise rises 1,458 vertical toes over 8.5 minutes. 

11. Chair 3 – Mt. Baldy, CA

Put in: 1978All of Mt. Baldy’s lifts are doubles, however Chair 3 follows one of many ski space’s authentic two raise strains from 1952. Chair 3 has been holding it down at Mt. Baldy since 1978, however bought just a little improve in 2024 when new chairs have been put in. Don’t be concerned, there’s nonetheless solely two seats per chair. The raise was manufactured by Mueller however has Ringer towers from the unique Chair 3, which stood from 1952 till 1978. 

Associated: The Wackiest Classic Ski Gear From POWDER Journal’s Archives

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