Snowbird Approved To Replace Wilbere Lift With Quad

Snowbird plans to replace and reposition the Wilbere lift after receiving the necessary approvals from the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The proposed replacement will be a fixed-grip, top drive quad lift, stretching about 2,500 feet in length and ascending approximately 750 feet in vertical rise.The current bottom lift terminal will be relocated closer to the Creekside Day Lodge area, positioned directly west of the Mid Gad and GadZoom bottom lift terminals (refer to the attached figure in Section 3.0). This new location will offer flat ground for better circulation and accommodate a skier maze. Since the lift is a top-drive system, the bottom terminal's physical footprint will be minimal. Additionally, grading and extending the existing culvert by 20 feet next to the bottom terminal will enhance circulation into the skier maze.The top terminal will be situated approximately in the same spot as the current top terminal, ensuring that skiers can unload without obstructing traffic flow from Rothman Way/Bass Highway.

The bottom turn of the existing Wilbere double chair. Credit: Liftblog The existing lift is a fixed grip double that was installed in 1971 and has been a steady workhorse ever since. The lift services some beginner terrain but is also an access lift for riders who pack their car and don’t want to walk up to the Snowbird Centre where the trams are located. The new upgrade to a fixed grip quad will increase the flow of riders and provide a smoother ride for beginners as double chairs can be rather scary to get on and off.