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Mount Ashland Ski Area Announces New Lithia Chair will Open Saturday Morning

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Mount Ashland Ski Area has announced the opening of the Lithia Chair will take place on Saturday morning.

It will be first chairlift opening for the local ski resort in over 35 years and is a revival of easier terrain that guests enjoyed for the first few decades of the area's history.

The new five-tower chairlift with fixed-grip, triple-seat chairs was manufactured by SkyTrac. The chairlift utilizes an all-electric auxiliary motor as opposed to the traditional diesel -- one of the first in the United States to use this technology.

The Lithia Chair will serve both easy and more difficult terrain. From the Mount Ashland Lodge, skiers can access the lift by skiing down Aisle 1 to the loading area which is near the Center Stage Terrain Park.

The Lithia Chair project has been a priority this year due to the need for a more well-rounded beginner program and learning progression for novice skiers and snowboarders. Additionally, the new chair will be more resilient in higher winds that sometimes close the Sonnet Chair.

Once construction was completed, Lithia Chair had to undergo rigorous load tests and safety inspections in addition to 100 hours of run time before operating for guests.

The Lithia Chair was made possible by the largest gift in Mount Ashland history -- a $2 million donation from the Sid & Karen DeBoer Foundation and an additional $500,000 donation from Sid & Karen DeBoer.
Posted on 12/12/24 5:39AM by Sam Marsh