Keystone opens new Bergman Express lift
Previously hike-to terrain now chairlift accessible
Keystone Resort is inviting skiers and riders to adventure to new heights starting this Saturday with the highly anticipated opening of the brand-new Bergman Express lift.
The resort announced Thursday its new high-speed 6-passenger chairlift was installed over the summer and at 9 a.m. Saturday the bullwheels would turn for the first time.
The chairlift provides access to 555 acres of high alpine terrain in Bergman and Erickson Bowls, offering a variety of experiences from mellow and welcoming bowl terrain to adventure glades to the steep and rocky terrain in Erickson Bowl.
“Bergman Express will be a gamechanger for skiers and riders at Keystone. This new lift makes the high alpine more accessible to a wide range of ability levels, including experienced beginners which is really unique for this type of terrain. Now, the majority of our guests will have the opportunity to experience the amazing feeling of being on top of the world and adventuring into the high alpine,” Chris Sorensen, Vice President and General Manager of Keystone Resort said.
“This project has taken a tremendous amount of work and would not have been possible without our incredible employees, the partnership of the U.S. Forest Service and the visionary leadership of Bill and Jane Bergman. We can’t wait for skiers and riders to experience it.”
A ribbon cutting took place at the bottom terminal of the Bergman Express lift at 9 a.m. Saturday, prior to opening to the public.
The resort said starting Saturday the lift would provide access to all terrain and trails in Bergman Bowl. Terrain in Erickson Bowl, as well as hike-to access to Independence Bowl, will open as soon as conditions permit.
“Terrain in Bergman Bowl is recommended for experienced beginners and above, and skiers and riders should be able to confidently ski or ride the resort’s Schoolmarm trail prior to skiing or riding the beginner terrain in Bergman Bowl,” the resort said.
The best ways to access the Bergman Express Lift by ability level are as follows:
Experienced Beginner Route – Outpost Gondola to the Miner’s Trail
Intermediate Route – Mozart Trail to Santiago Express Lift to Miner’s Trail
Advanced/Expert Route – Diamondback to Santiago Express Lift to Miner’s Trail
While Bergman and Erickson Bowls have previously been open for hike-to skiing and riding access at the resort, much of Keystone’s hike-to bowl terrain has largely gone under-utilized.
New trails, new names
In total, 16 trails officially are on the slopes of Keystone’s high alpine terrain as a part of the Bergman Bowl project, with 13 of those trails sitting in Bergman Bowl and three of them in Erickson Bowl. While one familiar trail and trail name, Jane’s Journey, remains a staple of the area in honor of Keystone’s founder, Jane Bergman, the remaining 15 new trails debut with new trail names to match.
“Living up to the adventurous spirit of Keystone’s high alpine terrain, the new trail names were chosen based on surrounding iconic peaks that can be seen from the top of Bergman and Erickson Bowls. These names include mountains from the Front Range, Tenmile range, and more,” the resort said.
• Bergman Bowl trail names: Jane’s Journey, Miners, Quandary, Ten Mile, Thorne, Ute, Buffalo, Ptarmigan, Red, Torreys, Grays, Wichita, Uneva
• Erikson Bowl Trail Names: Tenderfoot, Nuchu, Silverheels
In addition to the new lift, the project also includes a new sustainable patrol hut, new snowmaking infrastructure in the lower parts of Bergman Bowl, and a brand-new trail map to reflect the reimagined ski experience in Keystone’s high alpine.
Bergman Express is Keystone Resort’s first lift access expansion since the Outback Express debuted in 1991, more than 30 years ago.
(Contact Denver Gazette digital producer Jonathan Ingraham at jonathan.ingraham@denvergazettedev.gazette.com or on X at @Skingraham.)
Bill Bergman Jr. and Lolly Dykstra, children of Bill and Jane Bergman, cut the ribbon on Keystone’s brand-new Bergman Express chairlift on Saturday, Dec. 30.
An aerial photograph of the Bergman Express chairlift, which opens Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 at Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado. The chairlifts’ name is dedicated to Bill Bergman, co-founder of Keystone, and will allow skiers and riders access to 555 acres of previously hike-to terrain only by chairlift instead.
