Beaupré (QC), Canada – Workers are putting the finishing touches on a new high-speed detachable quad chairlift that will debut this winter season at Mont-Sainte-Anne.

We first told readers about the new detachable quad chair, designed by Doppelmayr at the Austrian lift company’s facility in St-Jérôme, Quebec, in May. It will replace the 1,700 vertical-foot fixed-grip “Le Trip” triple chairlift in the ski area’s expert sector comprised of La Crête, La “S” and La Super “S”, and The Black Forest, among other popular steep runs.

While this new lift will cut the ride time in half — from 12 minutes to six — and serve more skiable terrain, its also been repositioned to service the entire mountain, not only expert runs, and will provide improved access to restaurants and rest rooms. While the base terminal will be situated where Le Trip began, the top station is being placed adjacent to the gondola summit terminal and restaurant following a line up Les Sept Chutes formerly ascended by the since-removed La Sainte-Paix double chair. Intermediates will be able to return to the base of the new lift from the mountain’s “Dragon Zone” via La Traverse.

Mont-Sainte-Anne officials expect the new lift to be operational by Dec. 15.

In addition to the new lift, Mont-Sainte-Anne has purchased a new Prinoth Beast snowcat that will improve grooming power and efficiency this winter by 40% over the groomer that it replaced.  Two new glades have also been developed on the mountain’s south side, “La Palette” for intermediates and “La Yahoo” for experts. They will be accessible from  La Montmorency trail and end near the sugar shack on La Pichard run.