Ski resort's lift could be running soon

Whitefish Mountain Resort recently announced it will have repairs completed on the downed Chair 1 lift sometime in late September. If work goes as planned, passengers could be shuttled to the summit before the summer season ends.

"We're extremely pleased with the dedication everyone has shown in resolving this issue in such a timely manner," resort president Dan Graves said. "We plan to carry passengers to the summit just in time for the huckleberries to ripen at the higher elevations."

The resort's main lift to the summit was closed in June after a large ground slump caused a tower to move about four feet.

The slump was likely caused by very wet soil during rainy weather this spring.

After analyzing conditions around the tower, including surface inspections and core samples from nearby slopes, CMG Engineering Inc. of Kalispell provided the resort with a solution that will withstand another slump.

Crews will install 28 micropiles - steel rods, grout and steel casing, drilled to varying depths up to 40 feet of soil and 25 feet of bedrock below the tower. The micropiles will be tied together with a 14-foot cement cap which will be attached to the stand for the tower.

Drilling is expected to take at least two weeks. Replacing the lift tower, cross arm and sheaves will require hiring a helicopter. Resort officials will also use the helicopter to install towers for the new Bad Rock lift from the Base Lodge to Russ's Street.

New chairlift creates new zip line opportunity

Whitefish Mountain Resort's new Bad Rock chairlift from the Base Lodge to Russ's Street will be used next summer for a new zip line tour.

The new zip line will be about 1,200 feet long and about 300 feet above the ground and will run over a current zip line and Chair 4. The total zip line tour will include seven different spans, but the tour time will remain the same as the Bad Rock lift will eliminate some hiking.

The zip line tour is one of the resort's most popular summer attractions. Use grew from about 9,500 tours the first year to about 12,000 tours this summer.

The Bad Rock chairlift is expected to be open for the upcoming ski season. The resort hopes it will alleviate congestion at the Base Lodge for skiers wanting to access Chair 1 and Chair 2.