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Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Peak to Peak
OK, so this isn't about politics or some burning social issue. But it is about something that for me (a skiier and long-time fan of the Whistler-Blackcomb area of B.C.) and probably hundreds of thousands of others is pretty darned exciting: the announcement today of the planned construction of a new gondola that will stretch from the peak of Whistler to the peak of Blackcomb. The developers say the gondola will set world records for both length and height -- quite the technological achievement -- and will be open well before the 2010 Olympics. See all the details here.
Posted by Terry O'Neill on April 17, 2007 in Sports | Permalink
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Comments
Great News Terry!
I'm sure many Québécois riders will be trilled to learn that. Tx!
Posted by: Marc | 2007-04-17 3:46:01 PM
If it's being built by union workers, don't count on it being completed on time or on budget.
Posted by: obc | 2007-04-17 3:53:59 PM
I don't understand the concept. The point of a ski lift is to get you from the bottom of a hill to the top. This will get you from the top of one hill to the top of another.
If I decide to spend the day on Whistler, it has plenty of runs to keep me busy; likewise with Blackcomb. If I really need to change mountains, I can already ski to the bottom and switch hills. (The biggest barrier to changing hills is waiting in line.) From a practical skiing perspective, the money would be better spent on another new lift.
From a sightseeing perspective, this is news. It will be one dramatic ride from Whistler to Blackcomb. This gondola will make more sense for the summer crowd than the winter crowd.
Posted by: pete e | 2007-04-18 4:46:36 AM
Actually I think the Record for high profile links
between mountains is located in the German Alps near Mindlehiem in the former Federal Republic of Germany
-one of the interesting uses of the very sophisticated Cable Cars was to transport Hang Gliders and Pilots to the Mountain Tops where they would glide down into the valleys below - Skiers rarely went that high, because of the time involoved
-which cut into their time on the slopes. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2007-04-18 8:03:42 AM
What a STUPID idea!
Wasting huge sums of capital that will accomplish NOTHING in terms of getting skiers up the mountain.
WTF?
The line-ups at midstation are bad enough - due to the neglect of Orange and Little Red chairs - and this will do nothing for skiers caught waiting to get up the mountain.
I am so disappointed, and they announced this colossal white-elephant only after I renewed my pass for next year...
Posted by: Maarten | 2007-04-18 9:39:00 AM
Exactly.
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2007-04-18 9:52:08 AM
Twin Peaks?
Hmmm.
Posted by: Set you free | 2007-04-18 9:55:40 AM
Such negativity!
Build it and they will come!
Posted by: John Chittick | 2007-04-18 10:23:42 AM
My friend's girlfriend said the same to him:
"If you build it, I will cum!"
Posted by: obc | 2007-04-18 10:26:36 AM
JC:
OK, then, be an example.
Send all your money first and we'll see if it works.
Posted by: Set you free | 2007-04-18 10:26:50 AM
SYF
This is a private venture - you are acting as if its the taxpayers who will be stuck with the bill. If you don't want to pay for it in the slightest, ski elsewhere.
You guys are sounding as dower as the watermelons.
Posted by: John Chittick | 2007-04-18 10:36:32 AM
Terry,
As a former-skier (too many knee surgeries later) I absolutely love the idea of the gondola. Whistler/Blackcomb is a year-round resort and I can't wait to do the grand tour in the summer. Imagine, you take the Gondola up to Whistler's peak and take in the spectacular views, then take a breathtaking gondola ride to Blackcomb, then take a final ride down the other side. Add in a nice dinner at the restaurant at the peak and you have a terrific way to spend an afternoon/evening. While watching the news about the gondola all my wife could say is that we have to go there and try it out.
A tourism coup for Whistler/Blackcomb!!!
Posted by: Blair | 2007-04-18 11:13:36 AM
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