A major milestone has been reached in the construction of Powderhorn Resort’s new high-speed quad, with crews now installing the bottom terminal of the Wild West Express. After months of moving earth, concrete work, and foundation prep, Powderhorn Resort’s new chairlift is beginning to shape up.
“There’s still a lot of work ahead, but the view from the base has changed considerably. You don’t have to look at drawings or survey stakes and imagine the Wild West Express anymore. You can just look up.”
This week crews installed the lift’s bottom terminal (return terminal) carefully hoisting the large structure into place on it’s concrete foundation. The Wild West Express is a top-drive chairlift, meaning the main drive machinery will be housed in the upper terminal. At the bottom of the lift, the return terminal allows the chairs to make their 180-degree turn before heading back uphill. The top terminal is still being refurbished by Leitner-Poma in Grand Junction.
The foundation for the bottom operator house is now complete and the project’s massive 65,000-pound haul rope has arrived at the resort. Crews have also completed excavation work for tower footers on the steeper sections of the alignment using a spider excavator that can operate on challenging terrain where conventional equipment can’t go. Helicopters are scheduled to return to the project to fly in footer forms.
We will be sure to update the progress at Powderhorn as they get closer to opening up the new chairlift. Looking excellent so far.
