Iconic Lifts - KT-22

The KT-22 chair at Squaw Valley was originally built in 1958 for the Winter Olympics. Now the Express, built in 2005 on the same line, continues to act as a beacon of influence for skiers looking to test their mettle. What makes us feel so safe and comfortable on a steel chair hanging 100 feet or more in the air? A ski lift—like Alta’s Wildcat, Aspen’s Deep Temerity, Helbronner’s Skyway, and Squaw’s KT-22—is more than metal and mechanics. They’re manmade constructs that lead us to nirvana, influencing our decisions and allowing us to feel connected…to ourselves, friends, and strangers.