Skiers and riders with plans to visit Snowbird this winter will return home knowing they were some of the first to take a trip through the only skier tunnel in North America, the Peruvian Tunnel.
The first of its kind in North America, Snowbird's new 600-foot Peruvian Tunnel houses a conveyor lift that transports skiers and riders from Peruvian Gulch into Mineral Basin. Located at the top of the new Peruvian Express high-speed quad, the 12-foot high, 10-foot wide tunnel provides a four-minute ride to Mineral Basin. The new tunnel and lift makes intermediate terrain more accessible to skiers and riders by eliminating many switchbacks and the steepest pitch of Chip's Run. It also provides an efficient way to reach Hidden Peak without the use of the Tram.
"The new tunnel and lift have taken a lot of pressure off of the Tram, said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. "Lift lines are shorter and skier traffic has spread around the resort better than we ever hoped.
Snowbird's original Peruvian lift was removed in spring 2006 and replaced with a new high-speed quad, the Peruvian Express. While the base of the new lift remains near the original bottom terminal, the top station is located below the steepest Chip's Run pitch, an approximately 2,400-vertical-foot rise. This 8,000-linear-foot lift transports 1,800 people per hour, providing an eight-minute ride. Should wind conditions prevent Tram operation, this lift will allow for continued skier access to Peruvian Gulch and Mineral Basin. To learn more about the Peruvian Tunnel and Peruvian Express, visit snowbird.com/about/construction/peruvian.html.
Located 29 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort is North America's most accessible year round resort. Snowbird offers five bars, 12 restaurants, 2,500 acres of terrain and averages 500 inches of snow per year. For more information, visit www.snowbird.com.
