Alta's Supreme Lift Upgrade: Smoother Rides Coming in 2025

Alta's Supreme Lift Gets a Much-Needed Makeover

Alta Ski Area is set to revolutionise its eastern terrain access with a significant upgrade to the Supreme lift. The long-standing 8-degree bend, affectionately known as 'the bumpies' by some skiers, will soon be a thing of the past. This change comes after a decade of challenges posed by the unusual lift configuration, which has taken its toll on both riders and equipment.

The resort's management has announced plans to straighten the lift's alignment, addressing issues of metal fatigue and improving the overall skiing experience. This modification, slated for completion before the 2025-26 ski season, has already received approval from the U.S. Forest Service and passed necessary environmental reviews.

The curve in the Supreme lift at Alta ski area. Credit: LiftBlog

The current Supreme lift, a high-speed quad installed in 2017, combined the routes of two older lifts. At the time, the bend was introduced as a compromise to minimise deforestation and soil erosion. However, the unintended consequences of this design became apparent over time.

Mike Maughan, Alta's General Manager, revealed last year that inspections had uncovered accelerated metal fatigue in the lift's infrastructure, likely due to the vibrations caused by the bend. The resort attempted to mitigate these issues during the 2023-24 season by experimenting with different chair types, but the problem persisted, with significant cracking observed in the chair pans.

The realignment project will involve installing new towers and footings while keeping the top and bottom terminals in their current locations. Approximately 212 trees will need to be removed to accommodate the new, straighter path. To offset this environmental impact, Alta has committed to a reforestation effort of equal scale in the old lift line area once construction is complete.

The trail map of Alta. Credit: Alta Ski Area

While the upgrade promises a smoother ride for skiers, it may cause some temporary inconveniences. Trail closures are expected during the summer construction period, and Alta has pledged to provide weekly updates on any impacts to hikers, bikers, or campground users.

Despite the challenges posed by 'the bumpies', Alta maintained a flawless safety record with the current lift configuration. The upcoming changes aim to preserve this commitment to safety while enhancing the comfort and efficiency of the skiing experience.

As Alta Ski Area moves forward with this significant improvement, skiers can look forward to a more enjoyable ascent to the eastern terrain, setting the stage for even better descents in the seasons to come.