Jackson Hole is into the final fortnight of its 21-22 season and has announced next season will start with a new Thunder lift in place.
The original lift installed 28 years ago in 1994 will be replaced by a newer, swifter capable of carrying more guests uphill.
"Thunder was installed During that timeframe, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's notoriety across the ski industry grew, helped in part by this magnificent lift. This central hub of our mountain is a top priority for locals and guests alike each time they set skis or board on snow, and for good reason: the terrain accessed from this workhorse is some of the best around. Classics like Tower 3, the Grand, Laramie Bowl, Thunder Bumps, and Tram Line, to Riverton Bowl, Gannett, Mushroom Chutes, Paintbrush, and Toilet Bowl; the list goes on. When conditions align in the Tetons, Thunder's terrain is the perfect complement for a blower powder day," a resort spokesperson said.
The current lift runs 102 chairs up through 12 towers, ascending 1,466' in just over seven minutes. At a speed of 2.54 meters per second, with a capacity of 1,400 skiers and riders towards the upper mountain each hour.
The new Leitner-Poma lift will travel at 1,000 feet per minute, more than twice the velocity of the original Thunder, and will cut riders' lift time down from just over 7 minutes to 3.6 minutes.
Installation will begin in May and load testing of the new Thunder lift is expected to be finished in October.