Arapahoe Discuses Replacing The Pallavicini Lift
The Pallavicini Lift is open for the 2019-20 season as of December 10! This is the final season for the original lift before it's replaced this summer.
The Pallavicini Lift is a legend of The Legend and may be the most famous, beloved and humanized lift in Colorado. Known as "the black jewel in the crown of the Basin," Pallavicini was dedicated to the vision of Larry Jump, 10th Mountain Division soldier, co-founder and president of the original Arapahoe Basin, Inc. Locals speak of "Pali" (pronounced Pall-E) as if it is a friend.
CEO Al Henceroth has discussed the lift's replacement with.... another double chair:
"As many of you already know, this is final season for the Pallavicini Lift. The current chair was built by Lift Engineering (YAN) in 1978. At the time, putting that lift in the North Side terrain was a very big and bold move. It has been a great chairlift, but right now it is like owning a car with 400,000 miles. The machine is still humming right along, but eventually, like a car, it has to replaced. We will be trading in this 1978 YAN fixed grip double chairlift with a capacity of 1,200 people per hour for a 2020 Leitner Poma fixed grip double chairlift with a capacity of 1,200 people per hour. While there is a heck of an argument to build a much bigger lift here, there is also an argument to replace Pali with the same type of lift. The Pali Lift and terrain work so well, we didn't want to mess with that little chunk of paradise. Looking back to 1978, I think Jon Reveal, Bob Maynard and John Rutter knew what they were doing when they built Pali.
"So the next question is always, "What are we doing with the chairs?" Well, we are going to sell about 100 of them. The majority them will be offered in a lottery sometime in May. The lottery will be very similar to the lottery we did for Norway a couple of years ago. Lottery details will be available in the coming weeks.
"We are going to auction four of the chairs. The first chair will be auctioned at the Enduro Party April 8 in the 6th Alley. The second chair will be auctioned at the Pali Party, a going away dinner for the Pallavicini Chairlift April 25 at Black Mountain Lodge. The final two chairs will be auctioned online in May. All proceeds from the four Pallavicini chair auctions will be donated to the Summit Foundation, FIRC (Family and Intercultural Resource Center), Summit Community Care Clinic and a couple of A-Basin employees going through some significant medical challenges this season.
"Pallavicini is an incredible chairlift. It is my favorite chairlift, anywhere. The new lift will be just as good and the spirit and culture and vibe of Pali will be as strong as ever."
A significant part of Pali's uniqueness is its ability to deliver skiers and snowboarders directly to expert and extreme terrain with a single, old-school lift ride from the base area. As you ascend 1,329 feet, look around. The awe-inspiring views are of beautiful glades, rugged big-mountain terrain, 40-degree pitches and noticeably uncrowded ski runs. You're looking at some of the steepest inbounds terrain the county and that's saying a lot considering Summit County is home to three other ski areas. In about seven minutes, you'll be delivered to the Pali Outpost at 12,130 feet, well above treeline and surrounded by breathtaking views; there's nothing but mountains as far as you can see.
