TL;DR
Mountain Capital Partners proposes a new chairlift/gondola hybrid at Sandia Peak, New Mexico, to replace aging lifts and improve year-round access.
Sandia Peak Set for Major Lift Upgrade
Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) has proposed a significant upgrade for Sandia Peak, the ski resort near Albuquerque that it recently acquired. The plan involves installing a new Telemix system, which combines chairlift and gondola technology. This lift would replace the outdated Chair 1, a Stadeli double from 1963, and effectively take over the role of Chair 3, a Riblet double built in 1980.
The proposed Telemix at Sandia Peak would be similar to the Arizona Gondola that Leitner-Poma constructed for MCP at Arizona Snowbowl in 2020. It would span 7,400 feet and reduce travel time to 7.5 minutes, halving the duration of the old lift. With a capacity of 2,400 passengers per hour, the new system aims to serve both winter and summer visitors, including those arriving via the Sandia Peak Tramway.
MCP reopened Sandia Peak earlier this year after acquiring it, promptly reactivating two of its four chairlifts. However, Chair 1 has remained out of service since 2017. The Forest Service is currently reviewing the proposal and expects to make a decision by August.
