Rope tow added to my hill!
May 26, 2007
20 posts
13 users
7k+ views
Hey everybody! Wanted to let you all know that I finally got my ropetow going tonight on my hill around 7:30. It was dark so no pictures, but I did ski the 300ft long and 100ft vertical hill over 20 times in the dark! The snow started to get "used" and wasn't as nice as the first few runs. The lift is made of rope, bicycle wheel at the bottom for return pully, and a riding lawn mower at the top for power. Tension is tight and can be tightened with a winch that's connected.
I'll get video and pics tomorrow on my site, just had to brag a little this evening on my days of hard work!!!!!
Good for you! You're ahead of Timberline. Last weekend their "surface lift" consisted of the two bullwheels sitting lonely in the snow. Can't wait to see the pics!
Clay
Ok, I have posted a video of the tow on my site
Yes, THAT is legitimately COOL.
Hats of for the effort and the great fun it looks to provide. Kind of reminds me of the sled hill rope tow at Blackwater - that one was powered by a Ford, and a guy would actually sit in the cab and press the pedal to keep it going. Tension wheel was the rear wheel with tire removed. Shows what can be done with a little WV (or Southern VA) ingenuity
Ok, Now you need a real nice pressure washer!
Fantastic! I tell you - the view of the "central appalachians" ain't bad either
Clay
I've got a pressure washer and a snowgun. Problem is that I have too far to run the electricity and water. I guess it could be done, maybe later....
Hey, ya know what is crazy! Well, I guess not crazy...but bumps started to form later on, not big but you could see the snow was being worked. The problem is that my base is rather thin. A warm up will end all skiing here. I am happy with my 1-10ish packed base with cold weather set in, opposed to a large dump of snow that melts in 50 degrees/rain 3 days later.
Never have done this much skiing when we used the atv to get to the top!
So where ya gonna put the condos?
Man it's beautiful down there.
Someone just has to send this to Tom B at t-line.
Makes them look pretty sorry.
Awesome! Now if you and Snowmakers could get together...wow...you would have even more! By the way, how far apart do the two of you live? I think he is near Covington.
The Colonel
That's a bit of a haul between Covington and Tazewell, Colonel. But about halfway between the two is Moonshine Mountain! Maybe they could meet halfway and start The Legend...
Yes, covington is at least....um...maybe 3 hours or so..
I checked into getting electricity to my hill this afternoon...WOW, WIRE IS SO EXPENSIVE! Looks like we may be day skiing only! Unless I can find some wire on the farm that isn't being used. I thought about adding some lights to ski at night, since it gets dark so early and after work I have to head straight out unless I do the redneck light setup (headlights from truck)
I finally got to check out that video.
That is pretty cool! Sucker moves you up pretty quick. At least you got enough of a hill to make a few good turns on there, plus it is all yours - no friggan 1 1/2 hour drive to the nearest skiing as it is for me.
Kinda reminds my of that little hill we had in PA - two slopes and a T-bar lift on some 250 or so feet of vertical!
Just make sure you don't injure yourself in such a way that you could not get back down.
After several months of being down, I have reactivated my website. I am doing blogging now and wanted to let you all know.
The plan is to have blogging about how to develop your own backyard area and other snow things. The old
http://www.southernskiing.com will forward you to the new site, but the new url is
http://www.travisrobertsonline.com
Travis, if you need any website help or a place to host your domain/website, or blogging/forum/portal software, let me know. I have a server designed for that.
Ok for all who may be interested to learn more about the rope tow I have on my ski hill, I have posted a blog on my website with pictures and details.
Click on the SKI AREA menu at the top.
www.travisrobertsonline.com
