Washington Ski Area Shares First Look at the Towers of Iconic Chairlift Replacement

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 3:36 PM ET

This summer, something big is happening at Alpental, Washington. The ski area, which is part of the larger Summit at Snoqualmie group near Seattle, has been replacing and updating its Edelweiss chairlift, also known as Chair 2.

The iconic lift looms large in the imagination of local skiers as, until last winter, it was the only ropeway that provided access to Alpental’s famed upper mountain and Back Bowls terrain.

Just a few days ago, the ski area provided a first look at Chair 2’s new lift towers, which were installed in a single day. See it below.

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Installed decades ago, Chair 2 developed a cult status amongst visitors and Alpental diehards, having spun for the better part of 60 years.

The Riblet-manufactured two-seater fostered conversation and provided a platform to view cliff-hucking antics below. Whenever Alpental saw a significant storm, the Chair 2 line crowded with powder-hungry skiers, all determining where they should head to find the best snow.

Alpental bid the old Chair 2 farewell last spring during a weekend-long celebration, marking the end of an era. Work on its replacement began soon afterwards.

“This little Riblet has been a second home for so many of us… from storm days to bluebird spring laps,” Alpental wrote in a social media post after the send-off. “We’re stoked it brought so much joy to those who had the chance to experience it.”

The updated model, set to debut next winter, is a Doppelmayr fixed-grip triple chairlift.

According to the ski area, it will provide more uphill capacity, reduce lines, and improve access to Alpental's expert terrain. The lift can carry almost 1,400 riders per hour and spans 1,100 vertical feet. It has the same alignment as its predecessor.

An updated Chair 2 isn’t the only significant, recent change to Alpental’s layout.

Last winter, the ski area debuted the three-person Internationale chairlift. It winds up the looker’s right side of the mountain, offering another access point to higher terrain and the Back Bowls, fundamentally altering skier flow at Alpental.