KSL’s on mountain changes as part of the Squaw Valley Renaissance have largely been out of sight if not out of mind this summer but today’s work was hard to miss. A Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane Helicopter has been cruising Mountain Run laps all day shuttling large towers down from the Pulse lift, one of several chairlifts being removed or replaced under the 2011-2012 capital projects plan.
Did you every take a ride in the Pulse?
Mainline and Newport chairs have already been removed. Mainline chair was shipped up to Plumas County were it will service ski terrain access at Ski Johnsville in the Plumas-Eureka State Park. Not too far away if you want to visit the old Mainline chair. The Newport chair is still on it’s way to the Philippines where it will transport passengers to the top of a zip line. Newport is retiring to warm weather work in the South Pacific. You’ll be missed Newport Chair! Hanging out at the bottom of the Palisades on a Chimney day might feel a little different without that lift terminal backing up the spectators.
Here are some fact on the S-64E Sikorsky Sky-Crane provided by the choppers operator Siller Heilcopters Inc.
- Maximum Gross Weight: 42,000 lbs.
- Empty Weight: 19,500 lbs.
- Cargo Lifting Capacity 20,000 lbs.
- Fuel Capacity: 1,250 gal.
- Endurance: 2.5 hrs.
- Speed: 115 knots
- Maximum Range (nm): 230 w/ 30 minute fuel reserve
Major operation in the valley all day today. The Sikorsky S-64 is a serious machine. The entire parking lot is cordoned off from the first bridge to the village. A team of people are at the base, monitoring the project, making sure people keep their distance. A water truck is even allocated to wet the landing area for dust mitigation.