All Images: Courtesy of JHMR
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Sublette Chairlift has long been one of the most iconic in North America. This summer, it has been undergoing a dramatic transformation. While it will still serve the same advanced terrain that it’s known for, the lift is getting a complete overhaul. But the best news is that construction is underway and ahead of schedule, ensuring that this new marvel of engineering will be ready to shepherd in riders during winter 2024/25.
Sublette was originally built and installed in 1987 when freeskiing was just beginning to take root in North America. As JHMR expanded and changed through the years, the skiing accessible via Sublette stayed the same in the best of ways. The legendary open reaches of Laramie Bowl and the steep technical pitches of the Alta Chutes have given a plethora of skiers some of the best days of their lives. You’ll routinely find TGR riders Tim Durtschi and Kai Jones, along with 2020 Queen of Corbet’s Couloir Veronica Paulsen flying off the many features found in this incredible freeride terrain.
To the looker’s right of Sublette, you’ll find intermediate terrain in Bernie’s and Cheyenne Bowl, as well as backcountry gates leading towards Rock Springs and Cody Bowl. This area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest should only be accessed by experienced and knowledgable riders, as its reward is equally matched by its risk.
While much of the access remains identical to years past, the top terminal of Sublette has been moved, creating a slightly new traverse into Tensleep Bowl. Crews disassembled and removed the old infrastructure earlier this year. JHMR auctioned off each of the 83 chairs and donated 20% of the profits from the chair sales to Teton Adaptive, an organization that helps people with disabilities recreate in the greater Teton area.
The purpose of the new installation was not to drastically change the lift geography, but rather to provide a more efficient experience for skiers. This new high-speed quad chairlift will reduce ride times from eight minutes to four minutes, cutting the time it takes to make the 1,600 vertical foot ascent in half.
With 15 new towers and two novel terminals, you’d expect the project to be a lengthy one. However, crews recently announced the project is ahead of schedule. If snow conditions allow, the chair will be in operation by December 2024.
JHMR VP of Operations Tim Mason stated that the resort is extremely happy with the progress of this large undertaking. “We’re thrilled that construction of the new Sublette lift is going well and is ahead of schedule less than two months before our opening day,” Mason said. “The new Sublette is a faster and more powerful detachable quad chairlift that will provide access to a variety of intermediate and expert terrain just below Rendezvous Bowl. The new lift will cut ride time in half while climbing approximately 1,600 vertical feet at 1,000 feet per minute, offering guests access to some of the legendary terrain JHMR is known for.”
In a community such as Jackson, chairlifts like Sublette carry a lot of weight. This lift has been around longer than many current JHMR riders have been alive. And while it’s inevitable that a piece of infrastructure like this needs replacing, a resort must handle those improvements in a way that’s compatible and accepted by the current community.
Catering too much towards visiting tourists will drive away the longstanding, passionate residents. But so far, Jackson has shown that they intend to honor their past while presenting new and updated ways forward. This upgrade should result in shorter lines and faster access to the same beloved terrain, enabling more runs for skiers without sacrificing the area they hold dear. We hope to see you smashing bumps in the Alta Chutes beneath the new Sublette chair this winter!
