Copper Submits Plan to Replace Lumberjack Lift with High-Speed Quad

Copper’s Lumberjack chair as it currently stands. A new proposal calls for the 1981 Poma lift to be replaced with a high-speed quad in the near future.

Following three installations within the past three seasons, another lift upgrade at Colorado’s Copper Mountain could be in the works. The resort recently submitted a plan to the USFS to replace its Lumberjack lift, a 40-year-old triple chair that serves beginner areas. The proposed high-speed quad would follow a similar line to the existing chair but extend 600 feet further up the mountain.

To complement the upgraded lift, the plan calls for snowmaking enhancements and a newly-cut beginner trail in the area. The new run, referred to as Middle Roundabout Bypass in the USFS documents, would provide a mellower alternative to the steepest part of the Middle Roundabout trail.

With this upgrade, Copper’s upper-mountain Rendezvous lift would become the only remaining fixed-grip non-bunny-hill beginner chair on the mountain.

Our Take

When we reviewed Copper, we found Lumberjack to be the least enjoyable lift at the mountain due to its slow speed, uninteresting lift line, and relatively long length. Copper already offers one of the best beginner experiences of any big Colorado resort we’ve been to, and this upgrade should attract more visitors to what’s otherwise some fairly decent beginner terrain. Moreover, we expect the new high-speed lift to relieve crowds at the popular nearby Kokomo Express.

Even with this upgrade, Copper will still maintain slow, fixed-grip lift service across much of its terrain. However, most of these remaining areas will chiefly comprise advanced and expert terrain.

Considering a trip to Copper next season? Check out our comprehensive mountain review.