As part of a major lift system overhaul, Ski Shawnee Inc., owner and operator of Shawnee Mountain in Pennsylvania, USA, has announced the purchase of a new high speed detachable quad chairlift for their ski resort in the Pocono mountains.

Manufactured in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Doppelmayr CTEC USA, the new high speed quad will be installed this summer along the Tomahawk Trail and replace Shawnee’s existing fixed grip quad lift in the same location. The fixed grip quad will then be moved to the Arrowhead Trail and replace Shawnee’s oldest lift – a fixed grip triple which will be retired.

Named the “Tomahawk Express”, Pennsylvania’s newest detachable quad will serve as Shawnee’s flag ship lift centrally located to serve 20 of Shawnee’s 23 slopes and trails. The new high speed lift will whisk skiers and snowboarders 3,100 feet (nearly a kilometre) to the summit in just three minutes – current lift ride is seven minutes.

Despite its high speed, 1000 feet per minute, the new detachable quad is designed to be very child and ski school friendly with a slow 225 feet per minute load and unload speed. Each of the detachable four person chairs will have rear slanting seats. The new Tomahawk Express Quad will transport 2,400 skiers/riders per hour.

All the lift system installation and relocation work will be completed in time for the 2010-11 winter snow sports season.  A ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new Tomahawk Express is planned for early December.

www.shawneemt.com

Image taken from FrozenChipmunk’s Flickr photostream.