MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS_>>
west has added more than half a dozen new ropes. The movement has spread, too—from Snow Trails in Ohio to Big Sky in Montana. At Snow Trails, GM Scott Crislip says the reduction of traffic on the chairlift that used to serve the park was immedi- ate. “The park riders absolutely love the rope tow, and the general skiing public definitely noticed less congestion.” The resort is adding a second rope this year to serve its beginner park. His advice to other operators? “If any area has been on the fence … I’d say go for it.” Why the resurgence now? The answer isn’t just about culture—it’s also about math. Rope tows make sense on the bal- ance sheet as much as they do on the hill. Efficient, Effective, and Economical Beyond culture, rope tows make busi- ness sense. A single rope at Hyland Big Sky Resort, Mont., recently installed a rope tow to serve a terrain park, which keeps park riders happily in their own zone and decongests lift lines.
Credit: Big Sky Resort, Mont.
no breaks in the chain of skiers and rid- ers, all flowing in perfect rhythm. After watching for a while, I finally mustered the courage to grab hold—and after that first ride, I was hooked. For the first time, I actually got a workout lap-
ping a slope with only 200 feet of vertical rise. I could see that the efficiency, speed, and sheer practicality made this lift per- fect for Midwestern hills. And I wasn’t alone in that realization. In just the past few years, the Mid-
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