Following the successful completion of Marmot Basin’s Vision Statement and Site Guideline agreements with Parks Canada, this world-class winter recreation area is nearing completion of one of Canada’s most dynamic ski lift development projects for the winter of 2009/2010—the installation of the Canadian Rockies Express, the longest new high-speed quad chairlift in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Construction of the new lift is right on schedule and the chairlift will open to the public in November of 2009.
The Leitner Poma system will be the longest high-speed quad detachable chairlift in the Canadian Rockies, with a measured slope length of approximately 2300m and a vertical rise of some 596m. Replacing the Tranquilizer double Chair and Kiefer T-Bar, the bottom terminal is at the base of the lower mountain adjacent to the existing Eagle Express quad chair terminal. The lift will whisk 2400 passengers per hour from the lower base area and unload them at the top of where the terminal of the Kiefer T-Bar was previously located. The lift will have an 800 horsepower, top-drive engine and will operate at a design speed of 5.08 meters per second (1000 ft/min). The chairlift ride will last an estimated 7.5 minutes.
Marmot Basin’s shareholder group has injected a significant amount of capital into their winter recreation area—over 8 million dollars over the past six years in new developments and infrastructure. The Marmot Basin team is committed to continued development, improvement, and long-term sustainability of the resort and is spending an additional $8 million (approximate) on the new lift system.
“We are all looking forward to this new addition to our already friendly and accessible hill and trail system,” commented Dave Gibson, President of Marmot Basin. “We are very pleased to have completed our Vision Statement and Site Guideline agreements with Parks Canada last spring—all parties involved worked tirelessly to achieve an appropriate balance for both our ski area and for Jasper National Park. Having this new lift will substantially enhance the quality of skiers’ and snowboarders’ visits to Marmot Basin by greatly increasing the accessibility of our upper mountain terrain, right from the bottom of the mountain.”
In constructing the new lift, Marmot Basin has continued to employ eco-conscious practices. Great care has been taken to minimize the environmental impact arising from the construction activities. For example, large mechanical components for the top station and drive system were moved into place over snow to reduce the impact on soil and vegetation. Helicopters were utilized to move concrete, towers and equipment over sensitive and otherwise inaccessible alpine terrain. Necessary tree removal to clear the new lift right of way was also done over snow. Marmot Basin continues to work within our established environmental best practice guidelines and employs environmentally responsible processes similar to the strategies employed and experience gained during the building of the Eagle’s Ridge Chair in 2004—a project for which Marmot Basin garnered recognition for its environmental stewardship and was awarded the Jasper National Park Stewardship Award.
