Eaglecrest Ski Area celebrates ‘first chair’ of 50th season as Hooter lift opens
- Mark Sabbatini
- Dec 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Access beyond base of mountain begins Saturday, two weeks after ‘preview’ debut with Porcupine lift; Ptarmigan lift and water main still undergoing repairs
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
Eaglecrest Ski Area staged a celebratory opening of sorts for its 50th season on Saturday with the opening of the Hooter lift, offering skiers easy access to part of the main mountain two weeks after a "preview" opening of the beginner hill served by the Porcupine chairlift.
The opening of Hooter, on a weekend when Juneau is experiencing a major snowstorm, comes as the resort is experiencing early struggles during its golden anniversary. The Ptarmigan lift that provides access to the top of the mountain is still undergoing repairs, as is a water main that has meant no water or indoor plumbing has been available for several days. The timeline for repairs to both is uncertain.
But Eaglecrest officials started Saturday on a festive note with the first two people on the Hooter lift exhibiting a "First Chair 25-26" banner that was shared on the ski area’s Facebook page. A separate post on the page on Saturday morning notes "this is still early-season riding, so expect low-tide coverage and highly variable conditions.
"Unmarked hazards exist across the mountain," the post adds. "The easiest and recommended route down is the road to Black Bear Chair and the summer road."
Eaglecrest also states that terrain above Hooter is out of bounds, and that "ski patrol rescue may not be possible and no avalanche mitigation has been performed."
Another major 50th anniversary event is scheduled Jan. 16, 2026 — the actual official anniversary of Eaglecrest’s 1976 debut — with $7 lift tickets to match what was charged that first year.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
