New Mexico Ski Resort Still Using Vintage Lift With Innovative Tech

Matt Lorelli
·2 min read

An ever-increasing number of chairlifts use a technology that allows for travel along the length of the ropeway at high speeds, and slow unloading and loading zones.

These chairlifts are considered detachable because the chairs themselves actually detach from the fast-moving cable as they enter a loading or unloading station. Click here to watch a video of how the technology works.

Doppelmayr built the world's first detachable lift for Breckenridge back in 1981, but other, less-advanced lifts, had been using a similar technology long before. Check out the video below of a detachable surface lift (AKA Poma Lift):

Video by YouTuber Jonathan Buckhouse.

Pretty neat, right?

Rather than trying to grab on to a moving bar like other surface lifts, skiers can simply inch their way forward, grab the first bar that's resting in the queue, place the POMA circle between their legs, signal to the operator to pull a lever, and BOOM! the skier is on their way up the mountain.

This lift goes by a simple moniker- #3 at Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort in New Mexico. According the video by Jonathan Buckhouse, the lift has been running since the 1950s.

Peter Landsmen, the owner of the very successful site LiftBlog, stated in a comment on August 17th, 2018 that there were only 8 detachable surface lifts, including the one at Sipapu, left in the United States at the time.

He listed the following resorts: "Bigrock, ME; Echo Valley, WA; Hurricane Ridge, WA; Killington, VT; Loup Loup, WA; Sipapu, NM; Snowmass, CO; Wolf Creek, CO"

It's unclear how many remain today.

For more photos and information about the lift, check out LiftBlog's excellent profile on this relic from the past.

Sipapu remains a relatively under-the-radar ski resort when compared to neighbors like Taos Ski Valley, NM and Wolf Creek, CO to the north. Despite its smaller size, the resort offers everything from steep glades to wide-open groomers.

Learn more about Sipapu below.

Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort Trail Map. Lift #3 can be found the looker's upper left corner of the map.
Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort Trail Map. Lift #3 can be found the looker's upper left corner of the map.

Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort Stats/Info:

Vertical: 1,055 ft.

Skiable Terrain: 215 ac.

Average Snowfall: 185 in.

Lifts: 40+

Trails: 6

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: NO

Mega-Pass: Power Pass

Related: How High-Speed (Detachable) Chairlifts And Gondolas Work

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