Much progress has been made to the Chondola's top terminal.  Workers continue to install the communication line while others work on installing the electrical boards, engines, lift house and slab.  At the bottom terminal, the cable is being winched through each tower using a tag line.

 Main Engine

Deisel Back-Up Engine

With the base slab in place, crews have gone to work building the Chondola's lift house.  The communications line is installed and runs down the center of the towers and tomorrow, crews will start threading the cable through each tower using a previously installed line also known as a “tag line”.  Not far off in the distance is more evidence that winter is here!  

With the bottom terminal nearly completed the cement trucks returned today to pour the slab that will connect the Chondola base with the rest of the area in front of South Ridge Lodge.  The entire area is heated (note orange tubes in photos) to keep snow and ice from building up. 

One of the shiny new gondola cabins was hung on the bottom terminal today as crews complete earth work around the base of the terminal and under the chair/cabin track.

We made snow this morning with a few of our new fan guns to get the system ready for opening day, which should be just around the corner.  The Chondola bottom terminal and new lift building are visible in the background.

With Fall Festival over and the tents out of the way, work has shifted to the bottom terminal.  Panels are going on this week, the lift building is being framed and the heavy equipment is back to work grading the slope above the terminal.

The helicopter arrived this morning to start flying in the towers, starting up at the top of the lift and working downhill.  Two rain delays have slowed progress a bit but the crews are still out working.  Stay tuned for video footage.

Check it out - the gondola cabins for the Chondola have arrived!  Throughout the day, trucks are delivering them and our crews are moving them into Lot 3 outside of South Ridge for safekeeping. These red cabins with white Sunday River logos are going to look sharp when attached to the Chondola.  

This Friday, October 3 is the date for flying in the lift towers.  All are welcome to come and watch, but please stay off of the trails and watch from South Ridge Lodge.  Also, be advised that traffic will not be allowed on hotel hill road between South Ridge and Barker as loads will be flown over this road.

Photos and video to come!