Whistler’s Record Breaking Peak-2-Peak Gondola
I still remember the day. The headlines read, “Whistler to build record breaking gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb”. This was big time news for Whistler and Vancouver.
Having spent the past 12 years frequenting Canada’s most famous ski resort, the thought of being able to cross from one mountain peak to the other seemed implausible. But with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on the horizon, the project was given the green light and the Peak-2-Peak was born.
The World Records
- Longest unsupported span of 3.024 kilometres
- Highest lift of its kind at 436 metres above the valley floor
- Completes the longest continuous lift system on the globe
The Peak-2-Peak Gondola officially opened to guests in December 2008. We left for our Round the World Adventure in January 2009 and were gone for a year, so up until this summer we hadn’t had the opportunity to ride Whistler-Blackcomb’s new toy. We were excited to check out if all the hype was worthy.
Our Peak-2-Peak Experience
We spent an afternoon hiking the trails of both Blackcomb and Whistler mountains, something we had never done in the same day before. We’ve put together a short video of our Peak-to-Peak experience, followed by a few photos of the spectacular alpine scenery.
Click on the video clip below
[youtube]6GxjQAd_4hU[/youtube]
If you are unable to view video – CLICK HERE
Rendezvous Lodge at the top of Blackcomb Mountain
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| From British Columbia |
Top of Jersey Cream chair lift during summer (looks much different during the winter!)
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| From British Columbia |
Chair lift on Blackcomb Mountain, views of Whistler Mountain in the backdrop
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| From British Columbia |
Awesome views of Whistler backcountry in the summer from Seventh Heaven
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| From British Columbia |
Cameron taking in the stunning Whistler alpine scenery
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| From British Columbia |
Boarding the Peak2Peak Gondola from Blackcomb Mountain
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| From British Columbia |
Leaving Blackcomb Mountain aboard the Peak-2-Peak Gondola
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| From British Columbia |
Crossing the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains
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| From British Columbia |
Arriving at Whistler Mountain, views of Blackcomb Mountain in the backdrop
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| From British Columbia |
Peak-2-Peak on Whistler Mountain
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| From British Columbia |
Roundhouse Lodge, views of Whistler Peak and glacier
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| From British Columbia |
Inukshuk at the top of Whistler Mountain, Whistler Village far below
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| From British Columbia |
Views of Seventh Heaven on Blackcomb Mountain
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| From British Columbia |
Want some Technical Facts?
Total Distance: 4.4km/2.73miles (straight line)
Ride Time: Approx 11 minutes
Number of Cabins: 28
Highest Point: above the ground is 436m/1427 feet over Fitzsimmons Creek
Speed: 7.5 meters per second
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Have you taken a ride on the Peak-2-Peak? What did you think?
Leave us your comments below!
Wow- sounds intense! The closest thing for me was taking the ride up to see the Big Buddha in Hong Kong. Those cable cars broke off and killed three people last summer. Kind of scary to think about when you are up in the thing and the wind starts to blow!
When we were in HK the gondola was broken, probably for the best! 😉
I never experience a great ride like this called godola, I think it would be fun. to see the nature above.