Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Breckenridge for some hiking. While I was there, I caught a glimpse of the ongoing construction at the base of Peak 8. If you missed the announcement of the upgrade, here is Breck’s official statement:
“This summer, Breck continues the transformation of the Peak 8 base area with the upgrade of 5-Chair to a new, high-speed quad that will debut for the 2023/24 winter season as the FIVE SuperChair. With this lift upgrade, all four chairlifts that service Peak 8 will now be high-speed lifts to assist with improved flow and circulation out of the resort’s most popular base area. The new FIVE SuperChair will serve as a primary portal lift for skiers and riders out of Peak 8, and with its upgrade, Peak 8 will offer a clear path to progression across its lifts, with Rip’s Ride area servicing learning and beginner terrain, FIVE SuperChair servicing beginner and intermediate terrain, and the Colorado and Rocky Mountain SuperChairs servicing intermediate and advanced terrain. In addition, the upgraded lift will service the resort’s popular alpine slide during summer operations. Construction will be taking place throughout the summer, with plans for the new lift to be ready to ride for the 2023/24 winter season!” – Breckenridge
At first glance, the construction progress would have you thinking that not much has been done. Fortunately for eager skiers, this isn’t actually the case.
As of this past weekend, all of the old lift towers have been removed and all remnants of the old chairlift are no longer on site. Tractors and other construction machinery could be seen actively at work. The main base area of Peak 8 serves as the staging area for the lift parts, as the new-to-last-season Rip’s Ride looms over the construction. Currently, summer visitors can easily view the construction of the lift terminals. The new FIVE SuperChair is still expected to be turning for the 23/24 ski season.
All photos and videos were taken on 7/15 by skiingsolo