Idaho Ski Resort Using Ex-Military Helicopters To Build Impressive Chairlift
Sun Valley is headed towards the completion of its new Flying Squirrel and Challenger Lifts ahead of the 2023-2024 winter season.
In a September 24th YouTube upload, the resort introduced the star of the operation: a Blackhawk helicopter.
As noted in this video, the Blackhawk -- also known as a UH-60 -- operated by Timberline Helicopters is ex-military. Before being used for chairlift construction, Timberline Helicopters' Blackhawk did a 40-year stint in the armed services.
Now, the Blackhawk is being used to deliver lift towers for Sun Valley's new chairlifts.
The construction of these new chairs is part of Sun Valley's Warm Springs Enhancement Project, a resort initiative designed to improve "lift quality, efficiency, and sustainability and provide multiple options for accessing the mountain from the Warm Springs area."
It's no small undertaking. Sun Valley is removing and decommissioning the Greyhawk Quad while updating the Challenger and Flying Squirrel lifts (the original Flying Squirrel was lost in a 2014 fire). To preserve Greyhawk's terrain network access, the resort is implementing a mid-station on the new Challenger. Terrain improvements are also underway, like an extension of the Flying Squirrel ski run.
To read about the complete list of improvements associated with the Warm Springs Enhancement Project, click here.
Don't miss another headline from POWDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing.
We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging ski-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional skier or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on POWDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality ski videos.
