Jasper’s Marmot Basin ski resort is completing the next phase of one of Canada’s most significant ski lift development projects for the winter of 2009/2010 – the installation of 26 towers which will support The Canadian Rockies Express, the longest new high-speed quad chairlift in the Alberta Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Crews were busy hooking up the first of the towers to a dual rotor KMAX helicopter last week, and then watched as the helicopter slowly lifted the 35 foot tall tower off the ground and began its flight up the mountainside. All 26 towers (the two heaviest weighing in at 5,800 lbs. each) are now in place.
“Standing the towers is a very exciting and major step in the construction of our new lift.
This signals an end to all the preparation, ground work, and foundation construction that we thought would never end and has given the crews a renewed sense of determination and energy. Seeing the towers up gives us a real visual perspective of where we are and what has been accomplished thus far. Our project is right on schedule as the Leitner Poma crew now moves out of the mud and into the air for the next phase and another step closer to completion. We are very pleased to see that the project is right on schedule and we are all looking forward to the coming winter season.” Bob Bell, Vice President Maintenance and Operations
Built by Leitner-Poma, The Canadian Rockies Express, scheduled to be operational November, 2009 replaces the much-loved Tranquilizer Chair and the Kiefer T-Bar, a decision that the resort owners and staff feel is the right direction for Marmot Basin.
“It’s an incredibly exciting project which is going to take Marmot into the 21st Century,” said Dave Gibson, President of Marmot Basin. “I am thrilled to be able to work with the very proactive shareholders who purchased Marmot Basin five years ago. This new $8 million dollar expenditure, in addition to the $8 million the shareholders have spent on operational and capital expenditures over the last five years, will certainly enhance the overall experience for our skiers and boarders.”
The new lift has a slope length of approximately 2,300 meters and a vertical rise of 596 meters. The bottom terminal will be at the base of the lower mountain adjacent to the existing Eagle Express quad chair terminal. The lift will whisk 2,400 passengers per hour from the lower base area and unload them adjacent to the top of the Paradise chair. With an 800 horse power, top-drive engine and a design speed of 5.08 meters per second (1,000 ft/min), skiers and riders can sit back and enjoy the 7.5 minute ride plus the magnificent scenery of the surrounding mountains that make up Jasper National Park.

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