51 replies to this topic

[Aussierob]

Today WB announced the new Peak to Peak gondola. They've set up a website for it.

http://ww1.whistlerb.../p2pg/home.html

This will be really cool. I'll do my best to keep the updates coming.

[WBSKI]

Wow! Thats awesome! Looks like they are still uploading because some graphics are not loading!

So pumped!

[WBSKI]

ALL THIS SUMMER!!! THATS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!

May 21, 2007 Groundbreaking
June 15, 2007 Excavation compete
September 14, 2007 Terminal foundations & construction complete
Mid September 2007 Lift tower 3 installation complete
End October 2007 Lift tower 2 installation complete
Mid June 2008 Lift towers 1 & 4 installation complete
Early November 2008 Comprehensive lift & load testing
October 2008 Evacuation training
December 2008 Grand opening

I am going to be up there this summer!

[Peter]

WBSKI, It will tak 2 summers to complete.

[WBSKI]

I know, I changed it right after but I guess it didnt actually change.. I see there is a cabin at the Roundhouse (there is a picture on the Whistler site).. Nice to see they have already added some more hi-res pictures to the Media section.

[Aussierob]

Skier,
You can add this to this list of 2007 lifts. I'm pretty sure that the two creekside lifts (Kadenwood and Timing flats) are going to be installed in 2008.

[WBSKI]

Yep, I agree, when I skied by Kadenwood earlier this year, it said the lift was to be built in 2008. I dont see why they dont do one this year and one next because its starting to get close to the Olympics.

[k2skier]

I just got my email from WB. I never heard of this before and came here to see if it was posted yet and here it is.
This will really transform a great 2 mountain area to a new level. Pumping up for the Olympics.

What a difference 24 years makes. My first trip to Blackcomb it took 4 FG chairs, a T bar and 50 minutes to get to the top! Which was lower than it is now. Can't wait for the Olympics.

415 meters high, thats like over 1350 FEET!!!! A gondola of Europe proportions.

Is it a Dopplmayr?

[Peter]

Yes, I presume it will come from Doppelmayr/Garaventa of Europe, not Doppelmayr CTEC.

[LSS]

Skier, on Apr 17 2007, 04:23 PM, said:

Yes, I presume it will come from Doppelmayr/Garaventa of Europe, not Doppelmayr CTEC.

Never presume

[Peter]

Well the Doppelmayr part is confirmed, and I highly doubt it would come from Salt Lake City.

[Peter]

This is the way I think this spring is going to work:

April 22: Whistler Closes for Gondola upgrade
April 23: Blackcomb stays Open, Wizard and Solar Coaster Closed for Solar top station move.
May 19: Fitsimmons and Garbanzo open for Biking
May 21: Peak to Peak Groundbreaking
June 3: Blackomb closes for Winter
June 4: Wizard, Solar Coaster, 7th Heaven, T-Bars open for Summer Glacier skiing.
June 15: Peak to Peak Excavation compete
June 30: Whistler Village Gondola and Peak chair open for Summer
July 29: Summer Glacier skiing ends
September 14: Terminal foundations & construction complete
Mid September: Lift tower 3 installation complete
September 23: Whistler Village Gondola and Peak chair close for Summer
End October: Lift tower 2 installation complete

They are moving the top of Solar Coaster downhill and closing Rendezvous between now and when summer glacier skiing starts to make way for the station and towers on Blackcomb.

This post has been edited by Skier: 17 April 2007 - 05:15 PM

[WBSKI]

Huh..So you mean they are just going to shut down Solarcoaster? Thats rather disasterous on busy days if you ask me.. The tower installation should be spectacular although I doubt it will be done all by helicopter.

[WBSKI]

There must be a chest of gold on the Excalibur. I didnt think a webcam could capture this..

Attached File(s)

•  whistlerrainbow.jpg (45.52K)
  Number of downloads: 74

[Peter]

Yes, that is what I read. For spring they are just running Excalibur and Excelerator for access to Blackcomb.

[WBSKI]

thats crazy in my opinion.. But we will see.

[k2skier]

Skier, on Apr 17 2007, 05:23 PM, said:

Yes, I presume it will come from Doppelmayr/Garaventa of Europe, not Doppelmayr CTEC.

You are correct.

TOTAL WORK CREW 80- 100 employees for summer 2007 (crew of 10 for towers; 7 from Garaventa and 3 from Doppelmayr, crew of 60 from Timberline, 8- 10 for tower foundations

[KZ]

That looks very cool, I'm glad to hear to project is still a go and can't wait to see the photos. This thing is going to be massive. I can't belive it is going to be over 1200 feet above the ground. That kind of height is nuts.

[Peter]

Will the stations look like the stations of the 3S in Kitzbuhel? Will they be attached to Rendezvous and Roundhouse? Is the plan to shorten Catskinner still?

[Aussierob]

This lift is coming from Doppelmayr/Garaventa in Europe. There may be a few parts made in St. Jerome, Que but I haven't heard one way or another.

On the scheduling side. Blackomb will operate for the spring on Excalibur/Excellerator/ JC/GE. Typically we only get a few thousand skiers a day so won't be a problem. Whistler is shut down till July 1st for a Village Gondola upgrade.

We are closing Wizard/Solar for maintanance and will reopen them for Summer (glacier) operations around the middle of June. Solar will get shortened after we close on July 29th. Catskinner will be shortened and the Sloar/Catskinner unload area regraded before the winter.

Terminals will not be the same as Kitzbuhel's. I haven't seen the drawings yet. On the Blackomb side there will be a short walk to the restaurant from the lift.

Tower installation will be by crane and snow clearing and excavation will commence as soon as we close.