Hey Mike, welcome. Great intro, maybe I'll get around to one someday...
And that relic? Looks like part of a ski lift mechanism, most likely a rope tow. Instead of sitting in a chair to get to the top, you hold on to a rope and the rope will take you there...
I sometimes find things on hikes I can't explain.. so I take pictures of them. I never thought I'd actually get an answer, but what you're saying seemse absolutely right! It makes sense now. That relic I pictured was in the woods... but the other one was atop a mountain. I'm at my accounting job right now (shh), but I'll try and post a picture of the other one later tonight or tomorrow... The other one looked a bit different, but what you're saying makes sense.
There was no line of sight because of overgrown trees, but I am sure the mountain I hiked on was an active skiing mountain decades before!!
Great comment, thank you!!