This 2-Mile Long Gondola Cost $52 Million — Half as Interesting

Quick Overview

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola, costing $52 million, revolutionized travel between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains by providing a direct, 1.88-mile peak-to-peak connection without support towers, reducing an hour-long journey to just 11 minutes through an unprecedented engineering feat.

Summary

Key Points: The Peak 2 Peak Gondola cost $52 million to construct. It spans 1.88 miles (3.03 km) between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains without any support towers. The gondola uses two haul ropes and four track cables for stability and movement. Each 15,000-foot long cable weighs 97 tons and can hold 767,000 pounds. Cables were manufactured in Switzerland and transported by cargo ship, train, and specialized 48-wheel trailers to the mountain. Transporting each 90-ton cable spool up the mountain took 19 hours with the help of three heavy-duty trucks. The final splicing of the main haul rope was performed by hand over two days by Norm Duke of Wyoming, one of only five such specialists in North America at the time.

Context: Whistler Blackcomb, located in British Columbia, Canada, is recognized as the largest ski resort in North America, uniquely spanning two distinct mountain peaks. For decades, skiers and snowboarders faced a significant logistical challenge when attempting to traverse between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, as it necessitated a time-consuming descent into the valley and then an ascent up the other side. This inefficient process highlighted a critical need for a direct, high-altitude connection to enhance the resort's accessibility and overall visitor experience.

Detailed Analysis

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola, a $52 million project, connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in British Columbia, which together form the largest ski resort in North America. Before its construction, crossing between the two mountains required a lengthy descent to Whistler Village and then an ascent up the other mountain, taking over an hour. A traditional gondola wouldn't solve this, as it would still need to descend into the valley. The innovative solution was a direct peak-to-peak gondola, spanning 1.88 miles (3.03 km) without any support towers, designed to withstand hurricane-level winds. This required a unique design utilizing two haul ropes and four track cables (two in each direction) to provide stability and support for the gondola cars. The construction faced significant challenges due to the mountainous terrain and limited weather windows, allowing work only in spring and summer. Cement for the towers had to be delivered by helicopter due to snow. The massive 15,000-foot long, 97-ton cables, capable of holding 767,000 pounds, were produced in Switzerland and transported by cargo ship through the Panama Canal to Vancouver. From there, they were welded directly onto a train, requiring special arrangements to clear the tracks. The final leg of transport up Blackcomb Mountain involved a 48-wheel heavy-haulage trailer, assisted by two additional dump trucks pulling and one pushing, taking 19 hours per 90-ton spool up the steep, unpaved ski runs. Pulling the cables across the valley took 12 weeks of continuous effort using a smaller pilot cable. The critical final step was splicing the haul rope by hand, a complex process performed by one of only five cable splicers in North America at the time, Norm Duke of Wyoming. Completed in late August 2008, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola transformed inter-mountain travel, significantly enhancing the resort's accessibility and visitor experience.