One of the most anticipated new chairlifts for the 2023-24 season has made its debut.

On Saturday, Mammoth Mountain opened the new Chair 16, also known as the Canyon Express. Chair 16, which opened back in 1994, was replaced this past offseason by a state-of-the-art chairlift.

The new Doppelmayr D-Line six-pack detachable high-speed chairlift is a game changer for the California ski resort. This capacity upgrade, which can fit 25% more guests compared to its predecessor, will help reduce lines at the Canyon Lodge base area. The enclosed top and bottom terminals will help it open quicker during deep storm cycles and windy days. In addition, the chairlift has been realigned slightly to the north to reduce the impact of snow slides from the nearby Avalanche Chutes.

There were some critics of the new chairlift though. Some noted that the off-ramp at the top terminal is pretty steep, leading to riders crashing into each other. While it does look steep, I imagine some more snow will help mellow it out.

Other improvements at Mammoth this season include the continued buildout of the Woolly’s Adventure Summit (which includes the opening of a new mountain coaster), a $5.5 million investment in snowmaking, and an expansion of the bathrooms at the Chair 14 Melt House.

Image Credits: Mammoth Mountain (Peter Morning, Helly Hansen, Smith Optics)