Sandia Peak Plans Major Lift Upgrade with Telemix System

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 This lift would replace the outdated Chair 1, a Stadeli double from 1963, and effectively take over the role of Chair 3, a Riblet double built in 1980.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 current chondola Telemix at Arizona Snowbowl. credit: Lift Blog

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.

The current trail map at Sandia Peak. Credit: Sandia Peak

While the Telemix project represents a major investment in Sandia Peak's infrastructure, some skiers and riders have raised concerns about the resort's current operations. The ski area only opened its bunny hill for most of the past season, with just three days of more extensive operations. Critics suggest that without improvements to snowmaking capabilities or the development of additional summer activities like a bike park, the benefits of the new lift system may be limited.

Sandia Peak currently has snowmaking coverage on only 30 acres. To fully utilise the new lift system and extend the ski season, the resort would likely need to expand its snowmaking to cover at least two top-to-bottom runs. As MCP moves forward with its plans for Sandia Peak, balancing lift upgrades with improvements to snow production and year-round attractions will be crucial for the resort's success.