June 18, 2008

Whistler Blackcomb's PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Cable Reels Arrive in Whistler After 18,000km/11,000 mile Journey

Critical components arrive after 11 week journey from Switzerland to Whistler

Five cable reels for Whistler Blackcomb's PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola are in the homestretch of a 18,000 kilometre/11,000 mile journey as they arrive by train in Whistler in the evening of Tuesday, June 17.  After traveling over 11 weeks via truck, barge, boat and rail; the final leg of the journey consists of a literal push from the Whistler valley to the Blackcomb PEAK 2 PEAK lift station located at 1860 metres/6,102 feet.

"Navigating the final route from the Mons Road rail siding in Whistler will be our biggest challenge of the entire project," says Hermann Amsz, OmniTrans Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, the transportation logistics company that has coordinated the details of this epic journey. A German built Goldhofer trailer shipped from Montreal will transport the reels up Blackcomb Mountain's gravel access road. Besides 48 wheels, the trailer features a hydraulic sliding system, which enables the reels to be loaded from the railcars in Whistler, and then unloaded on Blackcomb Mountain, without a crane.

A great deal of work has been completed on Blackcomb's access road to accommodate the heavy haulage trailer consisting of four sections with six axles each.  With eight wheels on each axle, this specialized trailer is specifically designed for extremely heavy loads. Maneuvering this massive trailer up a gravel mountain road will be no simple feat.  Due to the extreme weight of each reel, the trailer will be pulled and pushed up the mountain road with two all terrain, off-road haul trucks. All reels will be placed at the lift station ready for stringing by the end of the week. 

The cables, or ropes as they are known in the ski industry, are critical components of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola.  Almost every rope installed at Whistler Blackcomb originates from FATZER AG's Swiss factory, and all lift ropes are constantly monitored and inspected by FATZER representatives long after installation.

"To be part of the PEAK 2 PEAK project and to work together with Whistler Blackcomb's team, who we found to be as dedicated to their jobs as we are, is a great privilege and honour," says Peter Kuenzle, FATZER AG General Manager. "Our specialists will be present when the installation of the ropes starts. Our service does not stop when the ropes are sold - that is when our service starts."

The initial "straw lines" were flown by helicopter to connect Whistler and Blackcomb on June 9 and 16.  With these ultra-light connections in place the real work can begin. It is a 12 to 14 week process of pulling progressively larger cables across the 4.4km/2.73 mile span until the final track and haul ropes are in place.  The cable stringing will be managed by lift manufacturer and a ski industry leader, Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group.

"The cable that has arrived will connect our two world class mountains," says Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb President & Chief Operating Officer.  "With all four towers erected and tremendous progress being made on each lift terminal, getting the cable to Whistler to begin the stringing process is another exciting milestone towards the completion of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola."

Cable Stats
A total of 28 kilometres/18 miles of cable

Track Rope
Four reels weighing 90 metric tones
Mass: 18 kilograms/metre or 13 pounds/foot
Diametre: 56 mm – full locked coil construction

Haul Rope
One reel of haul rope weighing 80 metric tones
Mass: 8 kilograms/metre or 6 pounds/foot
Diametre: 46mm – full locked coil construction


ABOUT THE PEAK 2 PEAK GONDOLA

Spanning 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles) in total distance from mountain to mountain, the Doppelmayr 3S tri-cable gondola boasts the world's longest unsupported span of 3.024 kilometres (1.88 miles) between two towers furthest apart, as well as the world's highest lift of its kind at 436metres (1, 430 feet) above the Fitzsimmons Creek. Total ride time is 11 minutes with a total lift capacity of 4,100 passengers per hour. The terminal location on Whistler Mountain is easily accessed by the Village Gondola, Emerald, Red, Franz's, and Harmony lifts plus the alpine T-bars, while access on Blackcomb Mountain is from the Solar Coaster, Catskinner, Jersey Cream and 7th Heaven lifts.  For more information on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, please visit whistlerblackcomb.com/peak2peak.
 

ABOUT INTRAWEST

Intrawest is a world leader in experiential destination resorts.  The company has interests in eleven resorts at North America's most popular mountain destinations including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Intrawest network also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest—a private resort club with nine locations throughout North America.  In addition, Intrawest develops real estate at its resorts and at other locations across North America and in Europe.  Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit www.intrawest.com


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MEDIA NOTE:  Whistler Blackcomb is pleased to provide high resolution photographs available for editorial use, and downloadable at the following link /photo/index.htm.

Please credit – Brad Kasselman, Location: Mons Rail Yard, Whistler, British Columbia. 

Contact: Public Relations
604-938-7668    
publicrelations@intrawest.com


Proud to be a venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games