Fast, 6-Person Heated Chairlift Set to Open for 2023 at This Maine Ski Resort

I never thought I would be the "Back in my day" guy, but here we are. And it's all Sunday River's fault.

Of course I say that lovingly, because I adore the mountain and its innovative spirit. It just is a little overwhelming to see the resort turn into a state-of-the-art masterpiece, while I still long for the days of T-bars.

Yeah, I'm old school. Like, "learning-to-ski-in-the-late-'80s-early-'90s" old school. I spent time at the River, Mt Abram, Attitash, and Pleasant Mountain. Those were the days where anything over a double chairlift was extraordinary.

I remember when triple chairs started to take over. They were so unique. And then Sunday River brought the first quad chair to town. My goodness, it was an experience unlike anything I had ever imagined.

However, a measly quad was nothing compared to the next step, the detached quad. It was so easy to board, and then it took off like a bat out of Hell. All of a sudden, I found myself getting more runs in, because the chairlift experience kept improving.

Now we reach modern times, where Sunday River is about to drop its second new lift in as many years. Last year it was a heated eight-person lift, the fastest in North America. This year, it's this brand-new beauty.

Meet the Barker 6.

Part of the resorts 10-year modernization plan, this six-person heated lift will open on the popular Barker Peak. The lift will go all the way to the top of the peak, allowing access to adjacent peaks and all that Barker has to offer.

According to Sunday River, the Barker 6 will have "ergonomic heated seats, an automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, weather-blocking bubbles...and improved wind resistance." We have come a long way since T-bars, haven't we?

Expect the Barker 6 to be a very fast ride up the popular peak, allowing skiers to have more time to enjoy the terrain.

This is just another step in the right direction for Sunday River. The ambitious 10-year plan seems to be paying off so far, with tons of excitement about yet another state-of-the-art lift. This is a great example of an industry that understands the need to cater to its consumers.

Future projects at the resort include another new chair, as well as improvements to snowmaking. You can read more about it here.