It’s the new lift that Mount Washington Valley loyalists have been yearning for for years – perhaps even decades.

This Saturday, Jan. 13 at 8 a.m. Attitash Mountain Resort (https://www.attitash.com/) cuts the ribbon for its new Mountaineer lift, a high-speed detachable quad that replaces an old staple the resort’s slow, antiquated Summit Triple.

The new lift, installed over the summer and fall by owners Vail Resorts, will increase the resort’s uphill capacity significantly, and will move skiers up the mountain in half the time of the old lift. This should, resort brass says, not only help move skiers and riders up from the Attitash base side faster, but spread skiers and riders out across the mountain quicker and more evenly.

The lift officially began spinning the morning of Jan. 7, just before a much needed snowstorm was moving into the region.

The Saturday event, which includes a full day of festivities, is the official celebration.

“This project has been a herculean effort from the moment we officially announced our intent to replace the lift in June of 2022,” said Attitash General Manger  Brandon Swartz. “There are not enough words to express the gratitude that I have for everyone that has been involved with this project, from planning to execution, our team has been incredible in making this project reality, and I can’t wait to share in this experience with you all, our guests, and the community.”

To drive home that point, the first two people to load the chair that day will be Attitash employees who made significant contributions to getting the lift up and running and to the resort as a whole.

Senior Mountain Operations Manager Deirdre Riley, a lifelong Attitash and Wildcat skier and Preston Kelsey, Attitash Competition and Scanning Supervisor, who played a key role in managing the lift installation and who has strengthened the resort’s relationship with the community and local race teams, will hold the honor of first ride.

All day Saturday, as the new lift spins, the party continues all day at the Attitash base with music, giveaways, and special surprises. Roy “The Skiing DJ” Prescott will make a special appearance and will be broadcasting live in the Attitash base area between 8 and 11 a.m.

Long-time Attitash regulars are thrilled.

“We’ve all wanted this for so long,” said Jean Hartnett of Plymouth, Mass, who skis Attitash all winter. “Our favorite mountain is now going to ski even better.”

The Mountaineer, named to honor the historic railway that travels through the Mount Washington Valley, is one of 16 lift projects Vail Resorts has taken on in the past two years. Lifts have been upgraded or replaced at Hunter, Stowe, Okemo, Mount Snow, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Boston Mills and Brandywine. This is the second replaced lift in as many years at Attitash. The old 1974 Borvig Double-Double  wasa in the 2021/22 season, improving access to learning terrain.