Upstone Materials Inc. – Wilmington, NY
In the summer of 2025, Upstone has undertaken the challenge of supplying concrete for the chairlift replacement project at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, NY.
This project aims to enhance the mountain’s infrastructure while showcasing a creative approach to overcoming logistical hurdles posed by steep terrain.
The project began with pouring the base for the lower terminal of the lift on the slope “Lower Whiteface,” where Upstone’s concrete trucks easily discharged the concrete. However, as work progressed to higher elevations, standard delivery methods became impractical due to the slope of the mountain. To tackle this challenge, Upstone implemented helicopter transportation.
On August 18th, the company successfully delivered 90 cubic yards of concrete using two 1.25-yard capacity hoppers. Trucks would discharge into one hopper while the helicopter transported it to the site, allowing the ground crew to efficiently swap hoppers mid-air.
This coordinated effort resulted in the helicopter making approximately 72 trips up the mountain, delivering a significant volume of concrete and ensuring continuous progress on the chairlift replacement.
The project is expected to conclude on September 10th, with an additional 12 yards of concrete still to be delivered by helicopter.
This cutting-edge delivery method shows Upstone’s dedication to effective problem-solving and efficiency in construction, ultimately improving the skiing experience at Whiteface Mountain.
