The Base to Base Gondola transports guests from The Village at Palisades Tahoe to the KT mid-station, where skiers and snowboarders will have the option to disembark. Sightseeing will not be allowed here. From the top of KT-22, the Gondola goes down through private land and cross another terminal where no disembarking is allowed. The Gondola then terminates in the Alpine base area, adjacent to the main lodge.

The Base to Base Gondola Grand Opening Celebration was held on December 17th, 2022. On this day, it operated as two separate lifts, rather than one continuous lift. It is closed this week while we complete the software work that allows it to operate as one continuous lift.

The Gondola will operate during the winter season only when both Palisades and Alpine are open. Its daily hours are 9am-4pm, weather and conditions permitting.

Yes, the Base to Base Gondola adds lift access to the top of the KT ridge, at the rate of 1,400 people per hour. KT-22 lift has an hourly capacity of 2,100. Access to KT-22 is for advanced/expert skiers and snowboarders only. No beginner or intermediate terrain is available from the top. Sightseeing guests are also not be allowed to disembark at the KT mid-station.

No, the terrain at the two areas is not contiguous, and installation of the Base to Base Gondola does not open additional skiable terrain. Skiers and riders are able to use the Base to Base Gondola to travel between the two mountains rather than drive their vehicles. The trip takes about 16 minutes.

The name of the Gondola is Base to Base Gondola.

The Base to Base Gondola does not cross into the Granite Chief Wilderness. It is about 1,100 feet (three football fields) from the Granite Chief Wilderness at its closest point. As part of an agreement reached with Granite Chief Wilderness Protection League, Palisades Tahoe provides funding, to be held in trust by the Truckee Donner Land Trust, for the acquisition of private holdings within the Granite Chief Wilderness Area and high resource value lands and/or conservation easements. Land eligible for purchase with the funds includes the area within and adjacent to the Granite Chief Wilderness.

The Gondola cable and towers are visible from the Five Lakes Trail as hikers move toward the top of the trail, and are visible to hikers as they leave the Wilderness, but there is very little visible impact once hikers have entered the Wilderness. The Gondola alignment through Catch Valley, which has steep topographical features on either side, results in its overall visibility being greatly reduced. The Gondola is not visible from Lake Tahoe.

During the summer months, cabins will be removed from the line and stored at the base terminals. Palisades Tahoe was also required to choose structure design, scale, color of materials, location, and orientation to reduce potential visual contrast. It is important to note that looking at or hiking the ridgeline between Palisades and Alpine, it is clear that on the Palisades side the Gondola is located within an existing ski resort. Specifically, the ridgeline has hosted the top terminal of the KT-22 and Olympic Lady lifts for decades. The peak of the Gondola is located near the top of KT-22, where there is already a visible lift. On the Alpine side, the towers from the incomplete White Wolf lift have been in place for over 20 years. Overall, the chosen project alignment is the least impactful to the ridgeline.

Construction access occurred almost entirely via existing roads and paths, and with use of helicopters to reduce or eliminate the need to build new access roads. As part of the project approvals, any road or path that was improved or extended for construction must be restored to its original condition after project completion.

No. There is no new terrain opening at either Palisades or Alpine due to the Gondola. The Gondola acts as a connection between the two mountains, but it does not facilitate any new ski or snowboard access. The Alpine mid-station terminal will not allow any disembarking.

There were 177 conditions of approval for the Base to Base Gondola project -- the most of any current construction project in Northern California! Every one of these conditions helps to protect the air, water, sound, wildlife, and soil stability of the construction zone and the Truckee River Watershed. Continue reading our FAQs to learn about some examples of conditions that work to prevent specific pollution types. Additional questions can be directed to gondolaconstruction@palisadestahoe.com. We are happy to address your concerns.

Every piece of construction equipment with an engine must meet specific requirements related to smog, soot, and other air pollutants. Locations with dry fugitive dust (very small particles that can be suspended and transported in the air) are prevented by covering or stabilizing stockpiles and watering active sites to ensure dirt doesn't leave the site.

Construction and flight paths adhered to a schedule that was sensitive to adjacent communities and businesses. Heavy construction did not occur before 6 am, after 8 pm, or on Sundays throughout the summer.

Temporary Best Management Practices (BMP) measures contained and controlled the movement of dirt during the construction phase of the project. These included the use of straw wattles and silt fencing, to name two. After construction was complete, each site was revegetated to achieve permanent stabilization.

Prior to construction, wildlife studies looking for owls, bats, raptors and other sensitive species were conducted. Monitoring continued throughout the construction process, and if wildlife was found, construction in the area halted to ensure it was protected. Additionally, any hole within the construction area had a way for wildlife to get themselves out in case they fall in.