Lift 97

The owners of this cottage had a 6-1/2 story climb from the lake to the cottage and decided it was time for a lift. We found a line that ran from the rear yard level to a clearing just above lake level and beside their fire pit. It did not disturb the existing pathway that zig-zagged down the hill so the walking option was still available.

The hill featured a high point approximately 40 feet from the upper station. As a result, we needed to use the gantry crane to position the first track piece. The team dedicated an entire day to excavating rock on the right side of the track to bring it down to the desired level. While we could have lowered it further by extending the bottom end, we opted to maintain the lower station's proximity to the hillside.

The team dedicated an entire day to removing rock in order to lower the top end. After all, if we're building a lift designed to last, it's essential that we do it right.

The height of the upper station required the addition of a walkway to connect the car to the lower level of the cottage. To the left of the lift lies an unused section of the yard, which will eventually be landscaped and planted. The walkway seamlessly ties into the old path that runs from the main deck of the cottage down to the stairs leading to the bottom.

View down the finished track.

View from the bottom.

The lower station is discreetly tucked away, located at the far end of the space near the lakeside fire pit, just a few steps from the dock. In this photo, the car is about a foot away from the bottom station.