New Lone Peak Tram revolutionizes terrain access for Big Sky skiers

Lone Peak stands out in the Madison range, both in a literal geographic sense and in the hearts and minds of many as a thrilling and expansive ski mountain. 

As winter approaches, construction is wrapping up for a new and improved Lone Peak Tram that will revolutionize skiing at Big Sky for this upcoming 2023-2024 season.

According to the Big Sky Resort website, tram construction began in May of 2022 following the resort’s closing day on April 24 of that year. 

Teams used explosives to remove snow from the top of Lone Peak and transported equipment to the summit via helicopter.

The following month marked the official groundbreaking for tram construction. The milestone was celebrated alongside various partner groups involved in the operation. These included Doppelmayr and Garaventa, Jackson Contractor Group, Condon Johnson and Associates, GSBS Architects and, of course, the Big Sky Resort Mountain Operations teams.

Construction was not easy. The new tram terminal and tower were built at the high alpine elevation of 11,116 feet sitting on a concrete slab. Numerous foundations stretch down 50-70 feet into the andesite rock that makes up the peak, according to Big Sky Resort’s website. 

By September of 2022, concrete had been poured for the tram’s bottom terminal, now located at the base of the bowl near the Powder Seeker 6 chairlift, as well as for the top terminal’s east wall. Construction was put on pause during the 2022-2023 winter ski season, according to Big Sky Resort’s website. 

During the 2022-2023 ski season, work still occurred behind the scenes to move the project forward. CWA, a Swiss manufacturer, assembled the aluminum frames for the new tram cabins. They also used UV resistant paint and glaze to prime and paint the cabin exteriors, according to the Big Sky Resort website.   

The final concrete pour took place in May of 2023. In the following month, two cranes were constructed at the summit of Lone Peak, with parts flown in via helicopter as a means of installing heavier equipment and steel for the upper terminal and tower, according to the Big Sky Resort’s website.

Construction of the upper tower was finished this past August. The upper terminal as well as track rope installation — track ropes being the ropes the tram cabins travel on — was also completed as of September. 

One of the biggest improvements upon Big Sky Resort’s previous tram is the much larger tram cabins. According to the Big Sky Resort website, the new cabins will now have a capacity of 75 people. During the winter this number will be regulated by ski patrol according to weather and terrain availability in order to ensure safety and preserve optimal skiing conditions.

In addition, for the first time ever, Big Sky will be offering a per-ride tram access system, according to the Big Sky Resort website. Instead of having to pay for an entire day of tram access or invest more in the higher end season passes offered by Big Sky Resort, such as their Gold or Double Black passes, riders can now pay between $10 and $40 dollars for a single ride on the new Lone Peak Tram.

In an update posted to their website in June of 2022, Big Sky Resort’s general manager Troy Nedved highlighted the greater implications of the new tram that transcend just skiing. In the article, he wrote, “This project is about so much more than just skiing. The new tram will add opportunities for sightseers to enjoy the summit of Lone Peak in the summer. Coupled with the future gondola, it will allow for pedestrian access to the summit for the first time ever.”

The new Lone Peak Tram is part of Big Sky’s vision for 2025. The resort has plans to replace the existing Explorer chairlift with a two-stage gondola that will connect to the lower terminal of the new tram, where they also intend on constructing a new food and beverage hub. The mid-station of this gondola will supposedly feature a new learning center, eatery and adventure hub, according to Big Sky Resort’s website.

The new Lone Peak Tram is projected to open for this upcoming ski season. As we eagerly gear up for the winter, we can relish in the fact that access to some of Big Sky’s most harrowing and epic terrain is about to become more seamless and affordable than ever.  

To check out more information about the tram, head to bigskyresort.com.