Are there any rope tows left?

[ski diva]

Just read Warren Miller's nostalgic look at rope tows in the back of Ski Magazine. I learned to ski on a rope tow myself, and if I remember correctly, it may have been tougher to get up the mountain than it was to get down!

Anyone know if there are any rope tows left?

 

[Jilly]

We have newer version at the local hill. They have handles that are attached to the wire. The kids hold the handles and don't ruin mittens that way. I too learned on a rope tow. We even had a double tow. You had to make sure you had enough momentum to get to the next lift.

 

[RachelV]

There's one next to the half pipe at Killington. We tried it last year and (1) it was HARD, and (2) it kind of messed up our gloves. I can't imagine learning on a rope tow.

 

[ski diva]

You're so right. Those things were murder on your mittens. And maybe it was because I was a beginner, but it was really hard NOT to fall. Once your skis went out of the tracks, you were a goner. It was awful. Not to mention how tough it was on your arms!

Warren Miller may wax nostalgic for rope tows. But I sure don't!

 

[altagirl]

You're so right. Those things were murder on your mittens. And maybe it was because I was a beginner, but it was really hard NOT to fall. Once your skis went out of the tracks, you were a goner. It was awful. Not to mention how tough it was on your arms!

Warren Miller may wax nostalgic for rope tows. But I sure don't!

Heh, when my parents moved a few years ago they sent be some boxes of old stuff. Including several pairs of mitten guards - those leather things you'd strap on over the palms of your mittens so when you used the rope tows that were so ubiquitous when I was a kid, it didn't destroy your mittens/gloves.

We have a transfer tow at Alta to get you between the lifts and the two base areas. It doesn't mess up your gloves because its SO incredibly, painfully slow. I really wish it was like the ones we had at Mt. Brighton when I was a kid where you had to learn to grab it slowly, because if you grabbed it solidly it would about rip your arms out of your sockets. (Hence the glove damage, from grabbing loosely then gripping tighter as you'd start to move).

 

[Jilly]

I wondered if that tow was still at Alta. We were there 17 years ago and it was there. Did your Mom ever add some extra material to the side of your jacket that the rope tow messed up? Some people even added leather!! I ended up with a large black patch on my left side, under my arm. That jacket became the "Oak Hills" jacket and another jacket was bought for trips away.

 

[num]

Small local areas around here are all about the rope tows. One place has 9 rope tows and one lift, there's another place that just has 6 rope tows and no lift. My very first time on skis was at a place where the bunny hill had a lift. Second time I was at another place, rope tows a plently. I didn't expect it, but it was definitely harder getting up the hill than getting down. I ended up asking my instructor if I could either walk up or if we could go to another run with a lift. Turns out their only lift services a black run, but it soon became clear that it was worth the challenge

 

[ISki]

I was amazed when I read that article by how dirt cheap it was to build a rope tow.

 

[Pequenita]

I got shredded mittens but very strong lats from rope tows as a kid.

 

[cloudpeak]

Stevens Pass Washington has one, but it's not really for skiing. It provides easy access from some of the lifts to the main lodge. It pays to wear gloves or mittens with real leather palms when you use it.

 

[SnowHot]

Sure, there are rope tows at a lot of slopes.
In fact, on the Bunny hill's around here, I can only think of two that have magic carpets. Most still have ropes.
At Nubs they installed a rop with the handles, which are meant to go behind the small of your back to pull you up to the top of the amazing half pipe.

 

[playoutside]

Learned at a rope tow area...parking was at the top of the mountain...you figured it out or had to climb back up the hill to go home! One of my brothers always walked back up...ugh.

As a 5 year old I remember that rope shredding gloves and weighing so much. It was probably due for some tuning cause the rope dragged in the snow when no one was holding it up. I always tried to get on after a bigger kid. Usually it worked, but every once in a while a kid in front would tire out and then we'd have a collision of kids screaming "grab the rope!" You never wanted to let go once you had a grip. If I had to learn that way today, not sure I'd be a skier!

I remember using that one at Alta several years ago and I actually liked it. Slow sure, but so much easier than what I recalled as a kid.

 

[Powderqueen]

Anyone ever ride the "Meat Hook" at Fernie?

It's a handle tow...a rope tow with handles...and it ain't any easier.

It is at the very top of the mountain. It brings you up a very steep slope that you can get more powder. it is probably ony worth riding on a powder day anyway. I could barely hang onto this thing and I was quivering by the time I got to the top. It felt like the longest ride ever and was quite taxing.

I don't miss rope tows of any kind. Thank goodness for technology. I don't mind riding a poma, t-bar or j-bar...but I must say...I really do prefer the heated gondola with 7 of my best ski buddies any day.

 

[Megan]

In Aus you will find a rope tow nearly anywhere that you find a beginner... they are slowly being replaced by the magic carpets but I know at my liitle mountain they have 2 of them.. I gave up on using the gloves on th erope tow years ago... so long as the weather wasn't below freezing it was easier just to grab it with your bare hands... not smart.. just easier

 

[cyn]

I learned on a rope tow, too. I remember how scary it was and how I was always afraid of falling and looking stupid in front of my friends. As I recall, not only did it wreck my mittens, I also wore our my ski jacket under one arm.
At least back in the "old days" we never had to worry about getting enough snow!