On 7/13/10 2:02 PM, AES wrote:
As you hike up the widely used Five Lakes trail in Alpine Meadows,
California, you see a number of towers both below and above you,
apparently intended for a chair lift that, if it were completed, would
cross the trail at approximately a right angle, heading up in the
general direction of KT 22.

The towers themselves look quite new and modern and appear to be in very
good shape, except that there's no cable installed, and in fact no
pulley flanges on the towers.

Anyway know the origin or history of these? A project that got started
and then was disapproved or otherwise abandoned?

Long time Alpine Meadows locals Troy and Sue Caldwell bought a piece of
land between Alpine and Squaw that included the top of KT22. Part of
their deal with Squaw to continue to operate the KT22 lift was a lift
from their property to Squaw, resulting the lift you report. The economy
has stalled the project AFAIK. I believe they intend some private
building sites and a lodge.

Do I recall correctly that there once was, quite a long while ago, a
lift in this general area that allowed skiers to ride up from Alpine and
drop down into Squaw Valley?

Never.