Timberline Lodge | Palmer [Mid-Station to Top]

Palmer is a 1996 Doppelmayr high speed quad, the second detachable lift at Timberline. It has a Uni-M bottom drive, and a Uni-S top tensioned return. During late summer (When I came here), a half mid-station on the uphill side is used for loading people back up, so they don't to have to ski back to the bottom. This is mostly utilized by ski racers, whos' courses sit only above the mid-station, and do not run top to bottom. This video, I showcase getting on said mid-station. Especially this time of year, this is the only place you can get on Palmer without taking your skis/board off and walking. When the mid-station isn't used, the cable is pulled out of it after (presumably) taking off the side panels seen in the video on this side, and routed to the upper sheaves on tower 12. Tower 15's monster combo assembly is quite flexible, and does not require any cable re-routes. People loading here is also the sole reason why everyone loading at the base of Palmer must wait every other chair.
Recorded on July 17th, 2021

[@tom-sn4gd]

I wish I could have experienced skiing in summer, it must be fun skiing in July !

[@beneminger3666]

Those 16-sheave monster combo assemblies are shockingly flexible, the new detachable at 49N will have one, it's sitting in our parking lot right now and it's ridiculously huge.

[@sorenjones]

I love these combo assemblies. Heavenly's Gondola probably has the most on any one lift. Based on the size of Doppelmayr sheaves, it must be at least 10-12 feet long!

[@MrPummi88]

Is there no law that tells you that you have to use the saftey bar? At least it is more comfortable for your feet to stand on.

[@vintagechairlifts9902]

Was this later in the afternoon? Barely a line!

[@sorenjones]

Around 12:00 or so. There were not many normal skiers to begin with, mostly ski racers. I think a lot of people, including ski racers, went for lunch, which left not many people out on the slopes.

[@Skier72]

How was the snow? Skiing in mid-July is pretty decent!

[@sorenjones]

It was mostly just like any spring conditions; soft snow, a few icy spots, and occasionally some rocks sticking out. The snowpack this summer seems on the low side for this far in to the summer, as pictures of Palmer on Lift Blog taken in August show a much less receded snowpack.

[@TwinSkiingLiftsRides]

Does the top actually have tensioning? Looks small.

[@sorenjones]

I agree it doesn't make sense, as the bullwheel is right up against the terminal mast. This is what it's listed as on LiftBlog, though.

[@TwinSkiingLiftsRides]

@@sorenjones Some of LiftBlog’s entries aren’t accurate, like it lists Wintergreen’s Blue Ridge Express as top-drive, but it’s actually bottom-drive.

[@sorenjones]

That is true, but there's still no evidence I can see that Palmer is a bottom drive-tension. There are also some lift length inaccuracies, such as Big White's Ridge Rocket and Bullet Express having their lengths and verticals swapped.

[@NortheasternP.T.S.]

@@sorenjones I think that the tension was just pulled all the way out due to thermal expansion. It looks like theres a tension carriage

[@TwinSkiingLiftsRides]

I guess it’s like Powder Seeker 6 where the bottom drive station is longer than the top, but the top has the tensioning system.

[@ghost_destro0762]

Where is this chairlift?

[@sorenjones]

Timberline Lodge, Oregon.

[@ghost_destro0762]

@@sorenjones wow