Tom Patton

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Fresh Tracks for the Tram

Fresh Tracks for the Tram

  In my second winter season at Snowbird I became a tram operator working under the legendary tram and cable guru Bob Ficker. A year later having moved into lift maintenance, I recall a conversation about an upcoming cable replacement job on one of the lifts, and I asked Bob about the Tram track cables […]

Old School

Old School

Perhaps you have noticed this snow sliding endeavor that most outdoor adventurers engage in in one form or another in winter time – that of lift serviced skiing and riding, which has always been one filled with trends, fashions and even gimmicks. Consider rear entry ski boots, Burt “retractable” bindings, or Spademan bindings- those with […]

Seldom Seen- But They've Got Your Back

Seldom Seen- But They’ve Got Your Back

  A strong case can be made that the heart and soul of a ski resort are the lift operators. Guests will park once, probably eat once, and hopefully never have to utilize ski patrol services, but they usually ride the lifts all day and therefore have ongoing interactions with the happy people running the […]