Capital Projects Update: Progress, Challenges, and Our Commitment

Of our 46 capital projects underway this summer, all but 2 are progressing to plan. Of course, the 2 in question are the Gelande lift installation and Legends snowmaking expansion.

I am still hopeful we will receive approvals to begin ground disturbing construction from the USFS for both projects soon and a grading permit for the return terminal location for the lift will be issued by La Plata County in the near future as well. Unfortunately, we are currently at the mercy of the planning and permitting processes and lengthy timelines of these entities.

We are committed to begin construction on both projects as soon as we are permitted to do so. In the interim, we have invested heavily in our staff’s time and capital funds to procure much of the materials required to construct the projects.

Gelande Lift

To date, we’ve invested over $1.25 million on contract services, equipment rentals, and lift fabrication, with an additional 2,500 hours in direct wages paid toward the pre-construction activities for the Gelande lift listed below:

• Hiring a dedicated internal lift construction crew
• Modifying chairs to accommodate the steep profile
• Building tower forms/rebar reinforcements
• Assembling lift tower components 
• Taking delivery of major equipment including line machinery, tower crossarms and terminal steel
• Contractor planning including lift engineering, profile grading, drainage, soils and erosion control, noxious weed mitigation, road improvements and construction, tree removal, wildlife study reviews, cultural resources surveys and reviews, and wetland and water influence zone identification and mitigation plans

Legends Snowmaking

We’ve also invested nearly $600,000 to date and just under 3,000 labor hours into pre-construction activities for the snowmaking expansion:

• Improving mountain workroads to accommodate transportation of 40’ lengths of pipe
• Purchasing and strategically staging all steel pipe for water and high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe for compressed air on the mountain
• Training and certifying staff on HDPE pipe fusion bonding equipment
• Taking delivery of spur line equipment including diversion valves and air and water hydrants

Additional Guest Experience Investments

In addition to the Gelande lift and Legends snowmaking projects, we’ve made other significant improvements this year, including nearly $500,000 in a new HEAD ski and snowboard rental fleet and Wintersteiger racking system to dramatically improve the rental experience for coming seasons. This upgrade will result in more open space to try on boots and provide a smoother, more efficient flow through the rental process leading directly to the snow.

There are also numerous, behind the scenes capital and repair and maintenance projects to update and replace equipment and infrastructure as well as the big ticket items. We have spent a great deal of time continuing to brush and take down dead and hanging trees in our tree skiing zones and make drainage improvements on the mountain to control erosion and revegetate former workroads and unauthorized trails. These projects will continue on through the late summer and fall.

Stay tuned and we’ll continue to provide updates as more information becomes available from the USFS and La Plata County.

Best regards,
Dave Rathbun
General Manager