Helicopter helps put in new chairlift at Mt. Baker Ski Area

KIE RELYEA

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Mt. Baker Ski Area has brought in a heavy lifter to maneuver towers weighing about 5,000 pounds as part of its $1.7 million project to replace the first chairlift built there.

With a deep and loud "whump, whump, whump," the Vertol 107 heavy-lift helicopter hovered over the ski area last Wednesday, Aug. 13, for the aerial installation of the new "Chair 1," said Gwyn Howat, operations manager for the ski area.

When completed in late September, the lift will be able to carry four skiers and snowboarders at a time to the top of Panorama Dome.

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The old Chair 1 could carry two skiers and snowboarders at a time to the dome, which features runs for highly skilled and expert skiers and snowboarders.

Built in 1954, it was among the first chairlifts built in the region.

The project began in mid-April, when ski area crews started to remove the old lift and prepare its bases for the installation of the new towers, Howat said.

Last week, the Vertol rented from Columbia Helicopters in Oregon brought in nine towers, and Mt. Baker crews working in two teams on the ground helped maneuver them into the right spots.

The helicopter also was used to put nine caps, each weighing about 6,000 pounds, on top of the towers. The caps will eventually carry the cable with "quad" chairs attached.

When completed, all of Mt. Baker's eight lifts will be "quads," meaning they can carry four people.

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