Gondola Cars Will Travel 2.73 Miles In 11 Minutes

April 27th, 2007 at 05:50pm Post Staff 3

WHISTLER/BLACKCOMB, B.C. (Post Time News)–Whistler Blackcomb announced its boldest move yet with the construction of the Peak to Peak Gondola during the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival. It is scheduled for completion December 2008. The two mountains will be united by a gondola that will set world records for length and height and provide a world-class experience for guests.

The Peak to Peak Gondola will travel 2.73 miles in just 11 minutes, transporting winter and summer guests from Whistler’s Roundhouse Lodge to the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain, giving them unprecedented access to both mountains’ expansive and unique high alpine terrain and spectacular vistas.

“The Peak to Peak Gondola will create a dramatically enhanced experience that no other mountain resort in North America, possibly the world, can offer,” said Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb’s Chief Operating Officer. “This link will effectively double, or more, the options for accessing the highest quality and greatest variety of terrain on any one day, from anywhere on the mountains. We are going to completely revolutionize our guests’ experience.”

Skiers and riders will have the opportunity to easily take advantage of 8,171 acres of terrain encompassed by both mountains, via the world's longest continuous lift system.

With 28 sky cabins each holding up to 28 people, total capacity will be 4,100 passengers per hour. The Peak to Peak terminal on Whistler Mountain will be located next to the Roundhouse Lodge and easily accessed from the valley by the Village Gondola. On Blackcomb Mountain the Peak to Peak terminal will be located next to the Rendezvous Lodge and accessed from the valley via the Wizard Express and Solar Coaster Express.

Construction will commence in May 2007, with the lift being manufactured and installed by the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group (Doppelmayr) of Austria. The Doppelmayr 3S tri cable gondola will span 2.73 miles in total distance from Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain with the world’s longest unsupported (free) span of 1.88 miles between the two towers furthest apart. The highest vertical point is over Fitzsimmons Creek at 1,361 feet – the world’s greatest distance above a valley floor.

Entry Filed under: Whistler-Blackcomb, British Columbia