Centennial Triple At Brundage Mountain Takes Last Turns

On Easter Sunday 2023, the beloved and notorious Ol' Centennial lift, known for its leisurely pace up Brundage Mountain, made its final descent under clear blue skies. The venerable lift had faithfully transported skiers and snowboarders for 32 and a half years, earning its place in the hearts and memories of multiple generations. For the annual Last Tracks tradition that marks the end of the season, numerous devoted Brundage skiers queued up and boarded the triple chairs of the retiring Ol' Centennial lift, taking one last leisurely ascent to the summit. As they reached the top, they raised beers in salute, made toasts and bid farewell to the lift that had been an integral part of their skiing experience for so long. In remembrance of Wavin' Wayne, the affable lift operator who greeted each frostbitten passenger with a smile and a wave, everyone waved to the sky.Brundage Mountain Resort will replace the iconic Centennial Triple Chair with a state-of-the-art high-speed quad in time for the Winter 2023-24 season. The upgrade is a critical element of the resort's ten-year improvement plan, which includes a new day lodge, on-site lodging, and a variety of on-mountain recreation upgrades.

The summit of the existing Centennial triple lift. Credit: Brundage Mountain Resort The new chairlift, a Dopplmayr 4CLD high-speed detachable quad, will feature a vertical rise of 1,616 feet and reduce the ride time from 16 minutes to just six minutes, resulting in a swift ride from the base to the top terminal. Construction of the new lift will begin in the summer of 2023.The existing Centennial Chairlift, a fixed-grip CTEC triple, has been in operation since 1990 and has been instrumental in expanding Brundage Mountain's terrain by opening up a large southside section that includes popular runs like 45th Parallel and Temptation.The new lift, which will be known as the Centennial Express, will not only reduce ride time but also increase the uphill capacity from 1,300 to 1,800 people per hour, allowing more people to access the mountain.The Brundage Mountain General Manager, Ken Rider, emphasizes that upgrading the Centennial lift to a high-speed quad will significantly improve the loading experience, making it much smoother and more accessible for families. Having two high-speed quads in the base area also increases flexibility and redundancy for moving people up the mountain, which is especially important on busy days, holidays, and during challenging weather conditions.