28 replies to this topic

[WBSKI]

Does anyone have a trail map or info about the lifts on Hollyburn Ridge (Now all gone)?

[vancouverguy]

You mean that there was once another ski area at Cypress?

[Whistler]

yah, i remember hearing something like this before

[WBSKI]

yes there was, if you go cross country skiing at cypress you will see old signs about ski jumps and inside the lodge many articles. I believe they only had ropetows. People had to hike up, also there are many old cabins in the woods which you can also see. Also does anyone know of the history of the Cut Chair(s) on Grouse?

This post has been edited by WBSKI: 08 March 2004 - 06:21 PM

[vancouverguy]

As far as I know, there were two Cut Chairs: the former Doppelmayr double built in the 70's and the original lift with wooden towers.


As well, I think there was also formerly a ski area on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam.

[Whistler]

the original lift with wooden towers did not go up the cut, it went from a village below to the BASE of the cut not the top, this chair was built in 1949. The first chair to go up the cut was built in 1950, and was replaced in 1980 by the Doppelmayr double.

Skyline chair: 1949-1976
Cut chair I : 1950-1980
Cut chair II: 1980-2000
Cut T-bar: 1979-2000
Screaming Eagle: 2000-present

and the rest of Grouse:

Peak chair: 1970-2003
Blueberry chair: 1968-2003 (although they can still legally use it)
Inferno chair: 1976-2003
Red Skyride 101:1976-present
Blue Skyride 51: 1966-present (now used just as a supply tram, and on crowded days.)

The Blue Skyride was constructed by Habegger as was the Peak and Blueberry chairs.)

[WBSKI]

where do you find all this info? Its amazing how much you know!!

[Whistler]

My family grew up in North Vancouver, and up until I moved to Whistler, Grouse was my home mountain. I just look for plaques, and mark down dates.

[WBSKI]

If your into hikes there is a great hike up grouse mountain to the bottom of the cut the trail follows the route of the old skyline chairlift, the towers are still the and parts of the cable its quite interesting. To find it park at the End of skyline drive under the powerlines which is in North Vancouver and hike up the remainder of the road, this road was the old acess road to grouse mountain!Hike up the road, which is not too long to a rocky slope that points straight uphill then hike up this trail, i don't no how long it take to get to the cut. Visit my website at:www.get-me.to/ski

This post has been edited by WBSKI: 16 February 2005 - 09:16 PM

[liftmech]

I always wondered what the liftline-looking cut was below the Cut chair. I had assumed it was an old powerline. Are you referring to the Grouse Grind when you're talking about the hike?

[WBSKI]

No, the Grouse Grind is underneath the skyride/tram

This post has been edited by WBSKI: 06 May 2004 - 04:51 PM

[WBSKI]

I now have info and pictures on finding the old chairlift that ran up hollyburn on my website. If you have a GPS it will be much easier to find the stuff.

This post has been edited by WBSKI: 09 July 2005 - 11:09 AM

[Whistler]

Is this the chairlift that was operated by the hollyburn winter club...or was that another one?

[WBSKI]

hmm.... I think it was operated by Hollyburn Aerial Tramways, I dont know of any other chairlifts that ran up Hollyburn though, if you know where this other lift ran from and to and when it was built, i would be greatly appreciative.

[WBSKI]

I have more pictures of the lift when it was in operation, I took them in Hollyburn Lodge today as they have a poster in the Backroom (called Getting Up the Mountain) which i took the photos of. These will be avaliable with others on my website www.get-me.to/ski
soon.

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Open this picture and you can read the whole poster without having to be there!

[WBSKI]

The pictures are kind of blurry through the glass but this is the best I could do.
These are pictures of the chairlift and of several ropetows on hollyburn.

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[Whistler]

WOW! that's all I can say. Hats of to WBSKI! First it was pics of the old Skyline Chair, now the Hollyburn Chair...great job! About the Hollyburn Lodge, what does it look like inside? Is there food? and is it accessable by road or is everything brought to it by snowmobile? and how far is it from the XC parking lot? thanks!

[WBSKI]

Thanks! There is a picture attached of the main area of the cabin which is about 70 years old. Cypress was planning to rip this down and build a huge lodge but the core skiiers up there were very unhappy so they dumped the idea, i hope to get in touch with hollyburn historic society soon but i havent yet. It is the main cabin for the XC ski area so it does have a good selection of food, everything is brought up by snowmobile up Burfield Trail, the original trail into the cabin, this trail is now one way. The cabin can be accessed in summer by a gravel road up Hollyburn Trail to the cabin but only Cypress Mountain Staff or Parks Board staff are allowed up, if you dont cross country ski you can hike up (see a map on the destroyed lifts page) on my website or snowshoe up (you have to pay if you go on the pay snowshoe trails). I believe that it is just under 1 km to get up there if you are skiing, longer on other routes. Thats all for now and I hope to have more info and pictures soon, (Actually I guarantee it) I just need time and I have been very busy recently. :D

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This post has been edited by WBSKI: 09 July 2005 - 11:06 AM

[WBSKI]

Here's a bit more on the lift ( found in a brochure at the entrance to the backroom, made by the Hollyburn Historic Society. It says it was built in 1952 but I believe it was built around 1949 (This brochure seems to have a few errors) Built by:Bob Caverley, Hi Colville, Bill Theodore. Starting point: Top of 26th st (Now chairlift place) up to an elevation of 2,000ft. It was often called the "Chairway to the Stars" and the hikers or skiers named it "the chairway from nowhere to nowhere" It was another 20mins hike to get to First Lake (where the Hollyburn ski lodge is and was located). To avoid this hike Fred Burfield (Burfield trail was named after him) started a bus in the summer and a bombardier snowcat in the winter. In June 1964 Hi View lodge and the top station burnt down, the line was cut and the chairs fell to the ground, everything was left where it was ( similar to the Village/Skyline Chair) and it is still there today but go and look at the stuff soon because the bottom of the lift area is privately owned and is slated for development :( .

[SkiBachelor]

That chairlift appears to be an old Riblet.