Summer construction at Mt Bachelor in Oregon is in full swing with crews reaching several major milestones with their new Northwest Chairlift project which is scheduled to open for the 2026/27 winter season.
“Last week, we brought in a spider excavator to navigate some of the steepest, gnarliest terrain on the mountain.”
Over the past several weeks Mt Bachelor has seen significant progress at both the upper and lower terminals including demolishing existing operator shacks, grading work and park rail demolition, prep work for foundation footings and trenching for communication and fiber optic lines.
Trenching Work
Construction crews are currently trenching and installing new communication and fiber optic lines, beginning at the top terminal, and working downhill to Tower 15. From Tower 15 to the bottom terminal, the lines will continue overhead. The buried lines will no longer be exposed to severe weather and heavy rime ice which can put tension on the cables during storms. In winters past ice buildup has pulled them loose from connection points and triggered faults that required maintenance crews to stop the lift and investigate.
“By burying much of this critical infrastructure underground, the lift will be significantly better protected from weather-related disruptions, improving reliability and reducing unexpected stoppages during winter operations. This work is one of several improvements designed to help Northwest open more consistently following storms while minimizing weather-related downtime.”
Specialized Heavy Equipment
One of the most useful pieces of equipment over the summer has been the spider excavator, which has been digging the trench for the new underground utilities.
“Unlike a conventional excavator, a spider excavator is designed to navigate steep, rocky, and uneven mountain terrain without requiring the construction of temporary access roads. Its independently adjustable legs allow it to “walk” across challenging landscapes while minimizing ground disturbance.” -Mt. Bachelor’s Director of Mountain Operations, Dustin Smith
Using this specialized equipment helps reduce environmental impacts during construction by limiting soil disturbance and preserving more of Mt. Bachelor’s unique alpine environment.
Whats Up Next
Construction activity will continue throughout the summer with concrete scheduled to be poured next week and teams from Doppelmayr arriving on-site to begin assembling the new lift modernization equipment inside both terminals/
In August a crane will deliver a brand-new diesel auxiliary power unit, electric motor, and drive system. These critical components that will modernize the chairlift operating system and up to speed with the technology used on Skyliner.
