China Peak Resort adds new four man chairlift

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A four-man chairlift is being tested out at China Peak. The new quad chair replaces the old chair near the Buckhorn Bar and Grill and will be able to take more skiers up the hill in less time.

"We're able to almost double the uphill capacity,"

Mountain Manager Rich Bailey says the cost of the refurbished chairlift was about half a million dollars.

A mere drop in the bucket considering the resort is coming off one of its most profitable seasons in recent memory.

"Last year we did really well so part of the strategy is to reinvest--return to the skier for supporting us we want to make it more fun for them," said Bailey.

The process to replace the old chairlift started last fall. A Blackhawk helicopter was brought in to help erect the towers along the 1,200 linear foot hill climb.

"We've reconfigured how we unload this and opened up a little more terrain around the backside...to where they can just go right around to chair," said Baily.

Tuesday officials spent the day testing out the new chairlift, using barrels full of water to simulate the weight of humans.

This load test is required by state and federal regulators before the lift can open to skiers and snowboarders

"We're going to fill up 42 carriers. It simulates a fully loaded lift line and when we have the 42 carrier filled they're going to put it up to full speed and stop it and put it through all the kind of worst case scenario to make sure that all the system works."