The oldest existing chairlift at Mt, Rose ski resort near Lake Tahoe has taken its last journey up the mountain.
The 42-year-old Lakeview lift was officially retired Jan. 17 due to maintenance issues that can’t be rectified. It will not operate again this season.
“Nothing on the Lakeview lift was unsafe, it just needed a repair,” said Mt. Rose spokesperson Mike Pierce.
Mt. Rose officials say the Lakeview lift was originally going to be retired in March 2022. This summer, the resort is scheduled to install a high-speed quad lift to replace Lakeview, an aging triple-chair lift that is slow by modern standards.
The new lift seems appropriately named – Lakeview Express. This summer the new detachable high-speed quad lift will replace it. The lift will load in the same location as Lakeview but unload further uphill, providing access to additional terrain.
Pierce said the needed maintenance just sped up the process of shutting down the Lakeview lift. The decommissioned lift is being purchased by another, non-local ski resort.
UPGRADED NEW LIFT DUE NEXT SEASON: The new lift is a definite upgrade for Mt. Rose.
While the Lakeview chair took about 10 minutes to travel up the mountain, the new high-speed lift will cut that time by more than half, going up the hill in less than four minutes, which is comparable to the resort’s other high-speed lifts.
Although the closure of Lakeview is good news long term, it might be missed occasionally this season on blustery days.
Mt. Rose’s two high-speed lifts are shut down occasionally on windy days for safety measures. Yet typically the Lakeview lift would continue running when winds grew strong, serving as the only access to intermediate and advanced terrain.
Lakeview Express will load in the same location as the existing lift, but unload further uphill, providing access to additional terrain as Mt. Rose embarks on a $7.5 million expansion project.
MORE EXPANSION EXPECTED: In addition to the new lift, the resort’s expansion will include existing trail improvements AND new trail additions that help create improved skier traffic patterns.
Mt. Rose is considering a second expansion across Mt. Rose Highway – called the Atoma Zone. The proposed effort will include nearly a dozen new trails on approximately 112 acres, a skier bridge, a two-stage chairlift, and snowmaking capabilities.
The resort is currently offering no time frame for the expected expansion, according to Pierce.
SNOW TOTALS: The Mt. Rose snow total for the 2021-22 season is currently far more than it received in a trying ski season last year when the resort got a dismal 171 inches.
Mt. Rose exceeded last season’s meager snow total by Dec. 23, 2021 and has 275 inches this season.
The Nevada ski resort, located near Incline Village in North Lake Tahoe, averages 350 inches of snow per season.
