Breckenridge Ski Resort is one step closer to revamping one of its busiest base areas. 

After about a year of analysis, the U.S. Forest Service this offseason approved upgrades envisioned at Peak 9. That includes a new gondola rising out of the Maggie base area, a new learning zone to be reached from that gondola and a new, bigger and faster C-Chair.

Reads the Forest Service’s decision memo: “Implementation of the proposed action would provide a more efficient and reliable lift experience, combat existing circulation and congestion issues, and create a learning progression for beginner and low-intermediate skiers and riders, enhancing the overall guest experience.”

The new Peak 9 gondola, to coincide with A-Chair’s removal, aims to take pressure off the nearby Quicksilver SuperChair — “allowing beginners not yet comfortable riding the Quicksilver SuperChair to access and better utilize the new teaching terrain proposed on the Frontier trail,” the decision memo reads. 

The gondola “would ascend to an angled mid-station” home to the Frontier Learning Area. Two short conveyors, a ski and ride school warming hut and snowmaking would be added to the site. 

Meanwhile, the current two-seat C-Chair would be replaced with a six-person, high-speed detachable lift. The new C-Chair would be able to carry 3,000 people per hour. 

Reads the decision memo: “The replacement lift would promote repeat skiing on the north side of Peak 9 and alleviate pressure on other lifts in the area, such as the Beaver Run SuperChair, improving skier circulation and reducing congestion at the Peak 9 portal.”

The decision states the Peak 9 projects would require 5 acres of vegetation removal, six acres of grading and 2.5 acres of utility trenching. 

In a statement, a Breckenridge Ski Resort spokesperson indicated the project was still pending final approvals.

The spokesperson added: “This step reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing the guest experience across our five peaks, as demonstrated by the resort’s investment in three new chairlifts over the last four years: Freedom SuperChair on Peak 7 in 2021, the upgraded Rip’s Ride chair on Peak 8 in 2022, and the upgraded Five SuperChair on Peak 8 in 2023.”