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New Quad Chairlift with Moving Walkway |
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 In August 2009, Val-d'Irène obtained an important subsidy from the Gouvernement du Québec ($5.5 million) for renovations amounting to $8.8 million in total. These include the installation of a quad chairlift, a moving walkway and a snowmaking system, as well as the extension and refitting of the main base lodge.
The major investment involves the replacement of the old double chairlift by a quad one with a moving walkway.
The Chairlift
Since September 14, 2009, the chairlift is under construction and will be into service at the beginning of the 2009/2010 winter season. The chairlift is equipped with a moving walkway. Skiers and snowboarders will benefit from a comfortable access to the chairs. The cable will rotate more quickly and access to the top of the montain will therefore be 2 minutes 30 seconds shorter. Technical Data
| Cable speed |
2,3 m/ sec |
| Distance between chairs |
7,2 m |
| Time to the top |
approx. 6 min |
Flow
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useful : 1800 pers/h, max.: 2000 pers./h |
| Cable |
38 mm in diameter
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| Chairs |
110
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| Poles |
12 galvanized steel poles - 9 to 11 m high |
| Engine |
250 H.P. electric
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| Tension system |
hydraulic |
| Entrance and exit pulley |
Blue ! |
The Moving Walkway
 Technical definition: It is a conveyor belt. Skiers standing on the moving walkway (conveyor belt) arrive at the loading point and are caught by the chair which moves at a higher speed than the moving walkway. The relative speed of the chair to the skiers is however limited and the skiers can embark properly. The moving walkway speed is adjusted by the control unit automatically to cable speed.
The following chair has actuated at its passage the chair passage detector and the control unit has ordered the opening of the gate. The skiers waiting at the gate move forward to step onto the moving walkway which transports the skiers towards the loading point where the next chair catches up to skiers, chair having ordered the gate opening. The moving walkway is substantially horizontal and the skiers standing on the conveyor belt remain stationary thereon. The time interval during which the skiers are transported by the moving walkway is determined by its speed and its length. This time interval corresponds to the length of time necessary for the chair to travel from the chair passage detector to the loading point. The control unit closes the gate before the chair crosses the conveyor belt to prevent any collision.
Here is a video showing the Okemo ski resort chairlift system: how to get on!
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