{"id":1998446,"date":"2026-06-19T02:05:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T23:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1998446"},"modified":"2026-06-19T02:05:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T23:05:40","slug":"mount-ashland-or-to-replace-2-historic-chairlifts-in-2026-and-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1998446","title":{"rendered":"Mount Ashland, OR, to Replace 2 Historic Chairlifts in 2026 and 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_412337\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-412337\" style=\"width: 969px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-412337 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGrAQMAAABqgLQIAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADhJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T+1tB6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADgDIcbAAEnbF1FAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"windsor lift\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/windsor-lift-ashland.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/windsor-lift-ashland.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/windsor-lift-ashland.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/windsor-lift-ashland.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/windsor-lift-ashland.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/windsor-lift-ashland.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/windsor-lift-ashland.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"427\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\" wp-image-412337\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/windsor-lift-ashland.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"windsor lift\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-412337\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The old Windsor lift at Mount Ashland will be replaced, along with the Ariel lift. | Credit: Mount Ashland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_1 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>The ski season may be over, but the summer work at Mount Ashland, Oregon, is just getting started.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Mount Ashland has been operating its Ariel and Windsor chairlifts since 1964 and 1978, respectively.\u00a0<\/strong>Despite the history of these two-person lifts serving Mount Ashland\u2019s skiers for over 45 years, both chairs have become outdated and costly to maintain. Now, the southern Oregon ski area is ready to move on and is currently seeking donations for replacing the two lifts.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/impressive-ski-lifts\/\">Impressive Ski Lifts: The Must-Ride Lifts Around the World<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Mount Ashland will be replacing Ariel and Windsor with two new fixed-grip chairlifts.\u00a0<\/strong>The new lifts will help improve access to key terrain, reduce lift lines, improve resort operations, and provide a more comfortable experience for resort guests. The new lifts will also be more energy-efficient and resilient to windy conditions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recent inspections of the old chairlifts have shown that their vital components are at the end of their lives, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtashland.com\/2026-capital-projects-chairlift-replacements\/\">Mount Ashland release<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>Aging has specifically affected the Windsor lift, with the ski area citing a dire need to replace it. Because of its condition, Mount Ashland has made replacing Windsor its priority.<\/p>\n<p><strong>With payments due in the near future, unless the necessary funds can be raised in time, the replacement of Windsor will happen in 2026. <\/strong>Ariel\u2019s replacement will have to wait a year, coming in 2027. \u201cThis is not ideal, but this decision will need to be made to sustain the ski area\u2019s financial integrity,\u201d the ski area admitted in the press release.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Windsor\u2019s replacement will require the complete removal of its existing above-ground structure, with the new chairlift built using the same alignment and footprint. <\/strong>The new lift\u2019s project area will be approximately 6.5 acres, with ground disturbance limited to lift terminal areas and tower footprints. The construction is estimated at eight months. As a nod to the old Windsor lift, the bottom terminal will be forest green.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/mt-bachelor-northwest-lift-upgrade\/\">Mt. Bachelor, OR, Begins Major Modernization Project on Northwest Express Chairlift<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Like Windsor, Ariel\u2019s replacement will see the complete removal of its above-ground infrastructure.\u00a0<\/strong>It will also be built with the same alignment and footprint as the old lift. Its project area will be approximately 9.3 acres, slightly larger than the new Windsor\u2019s. Construction is estimated to take 20 months, and the lift\u2019s bottom terminal will be red.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Both Ariel and Windsor are a vital part of Mount Ashland\u2019s roots.\u00a0<\/strong>Ariel has been spinning since the ski area first opened its doors to guests on December 11, 1964. Nicknamed \u201cBig Red,\u201d Ariel is the oldest unmodified chairlift in Oregon, serving Mount Ashland\u2019s most difficult terrain.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recognized as Mount Ashland\u2019s \u201cportal to the mountain,\u201d the Windsor chairlift provided access to the majority of the ski area\u2019s terrain.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Mount Ashland is a nonprofit ski area sitting entirely on National Forest System land.<\/strong> The National Forest Service is currently accepting public comments regarding the new lifts during their scoping period.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mount Ashland is accepting donations for its new lifts and will match donations up to $500,000. <\/strong>Donations can be made on the ski area\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtashland.com\/donate\/?keyword=chairdonation\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_412340\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-412340\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-412340 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGrAQMAAABqgLQIAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADhJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T+1tB6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADgDIcbAAEnbF1FAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"mount ashland big red ariel chairlift\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mount-ashland-ariel.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mount-ashland-ariel.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mount-ashland-ariel.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mount-ashland-ariel.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mount-ashland-ariel.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mount-ashland-ariel.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mount-ashland-ariel.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"427\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-412340\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mount-ashland-ariel.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"mount ashland big red ariel chairlift\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-412340\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Ashland\u2019s Ariel chairlift, nicknamed \u201cBig Red,\u201d will be undergoing a replacement. | Credit: Mount Ashland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The old Windsor lift at Mount Ashland will be replaced, along with the Ariel lift. | Credit: Mount Ashland The ski season may be over, but the summer work at Mount Ashland, Oregon, is just getting started.\u00a0 Mount Ashland has been operating its Ariel and Windsor chairlifts since 1964 and 1978, respectively.\u00a0Despite the history of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1998446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1998446"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998446\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1998446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1998446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1998446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}