TL;DR
Alpental, part of The Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington, is replacing its Chair 2 (Edelweiss) with a new Doppelmayr fixed-grip triple chairlift. This upgrade aims to improve capacity and reliability for advanced and expert skiers.
Alpental Enhances Advanced Skiing with New Edelweiss Chairlift
Alpental, a ski resort within The Summit at Snoqualmie complex in Washington, has begun work on a significant lift upgrade. The resort is replacing its Chair 2, known as Edelweiss, with a new Doppelmayr fixed-grip triple chairlift. This upgrade is part of Alpental's ongoing efforts to improve its lift infrastructure and enhance the skiing experience for advanced and expert skiers.
The new Edelweiss chairlift is expected to increase capacity, reduce queue times, and improve reliability in the advanced terrain pod it serves. While the old Riblet chairlift is being removed, Alpental plans to retain some of its character by keeping the buildings around the top terminal, including the off-ramp and patrol shack.
Construction on the new lift began promptly after Alpental closed for the season on April 13th. The project team faces a tight schedule due to the lingering snowpack in the area. They've employed snow groomers, spider excavators, and other specialised equipment to work through the snow and begin foundation work for the new tower locations.
The project has progressed quickly, with the removal of chairs from the old Edelweiss lift and the auctioning of some chairs at a recent Chair 2 Festival. Helicopter crews have also been brought in to remove the old lift towers and other components of the Riblet chairlift.
Alpental ski resort, known for its challenging terrain, has seen several lift improvements in recent years. The addition of the Sessel and Internationale chairlifts, along with increased capacity on the Armstrong Express, has significantly enhanced the resort's lift network. The new Edelweiss chairlift represents the latest step in this ongoing modernisation effort.
If the project stays on schedule, skiers and snowboarders can look forward to riding the new Edelweiss chair during the 2025-26 ski season, enjoying improved access to Alpental's renowned advanced and expert terrain.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
