Breck, Forest Service Seek Input on New Peak 9 Gondola, Other Upgrades

Breckenridge Resort and the US Forest Service are seeking input on some major upgrades for Peak 9 at the resort.

The improvements include a Peak 9 gondola, a C-Chair replacement (to a high-speed six-person lift), a new learning area for beginners on the Frontier trail, and the removal of the A-Chair lift—among other things.

"Breckenridge Ski Resort is proposing the changes to reduce congestion in the Peak 9 area, improve guest circulation on the mountain, provide better connectivity between Peak 8 and Peak 9, and improve the experience for beginners," said a statement today from the Forest Service.

A scooping notice from the White River National Forest says more specifically the improvements would be to:

• Reduce congestion and wait times at portals to the resort;

• Address the inadequacy of the existing children’s ski and ride school terrain; and

• Modernize aging lift infrastructure to increase guest comfort and streamline resort operations.

The new learning area—on the Frontier trail—would include two short carpets, a ski and ride school warming hut with a restroom, and increased snowmaking coverage.

"The proposed Peak 9 Gondola would provide guests with another chairlift out of the Maggie base area, allowing beginners who are not comfortable riding the QuickSilver SuperChair to access and better utilize the new teaching terrain proposed on the Frontier trail," the Forest Service noted. "Moving beginner skiers, riders, and ski school students up mountain from the crowded base area would provide an enhanced experience for these users and would also reduce congestion on terrain accessed by QuickSilver SuperChair, in the Peak 9 portal, and across the mountain."

The Frontier trail is a green on looker's left of the Quicksilver Superchair just above the Peak 9 base area.

“Before we complete our environmental review of the proposal, we want to hear any comments or concerns from the public,” said Dillon District Ranger Adam Bianchi.

The proposal is within Breckenridge’s existing permitted area, with the majority on National Forest System lands. The proposal is "consistent" with Breckenridge Ski Resort’s 2022 Master Development Plan, according to the Forest Service.

The Forest Service anticipates making a decision on the improvements by December 1 this year, meaning implementation wouldn't begin until July 2025.

So, riding the new gondola will have to wait.

"This project aligns with our resort’s priorities to continue to improve flow and circulation across our Five Peaks, specifically in and around our base areas and main portals to the mountain, focusing on upgrades that make our resort better versus bigger," said Jon Copeland, VP & COO at Breckenridge Ski Resort. "In addition to working with the USFS, we have hosted members of the Town of Breckenridge on site and socialized the project proposal with local partners to share our development plans and what they will mean for our resort and our community. We expect to have more information to share on the project components and timeline as we work through the approval process."

Breckenridge Ski Resort is hosting a public open house to provide information about the proposal May 22 from 4 to 6 pm at the Maggie in Breckenridge, 605 South Park Ave.

Comments will be most helpful if received by June 13, 2024. More information, including how to comment, is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/whiteriver/?project=65446 .

See you out there!