Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

Vail's Vista Bahn lift.  Vail Daily file

You've heard of people getting a facelift as they age?  This is kinda like that.

Vail Mountain is replacing the aging Vista Bahn Express lift (in the photo above) with a high-tech gondola.  (Pending Forest Service and city approval, of course.)

And the opening is set for early next season, Vail's 50th year.

The gondola will increase the capacity to move people up the mountain by 40 percent AND it will provide wi-fi access as it does so.  Nice!.

“The new gondola will set a standard for how we transport guests up the mountain, significantly reducing wait times at one of the most popular and recognized lifts anywhere in the world,” said Chris Jarnot, senior vice president and chief operating officer of VailMountain.

Vail plans to have the gondola running on Opening Day 2012.