Peak2Peak Gondola: Whistler’s symbol

Whistler, a super-renowned Canadian ski resort, has numerous peculiarities such as ski slopes suitable for all levels, après ski nightlife, the Winter Olympics hosted in 2010, but above all the mountain conformation. The latter is absolutely unique: since 1997, finally, the two mountains Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain have merged under a single ski administration. The unification of the two has made the ski resort one of the largest in the world with 8000 acres of skiable terrain. We have therefore gone from a friendly rivalry to a union which is its strength today! The union has finally made possible the construction of the incomparable and absurd Peak2Peak Gondola, a symbol of the whole area!

The unification of neighboring Whistler and Blackcomb

Whistler Mountain opened in ’65 while Blackcomb only opened separately in ’80. Only in 1997 did the Intrawest company, already the owner of Blackcomb, purchase the nearby mountain and make it possible to use a single ticket for the ascent of both.

The idea and the birth of Peak2Peak

At the request of the sporting patrons, who rightly wanted to ski in both in a single day, without having to reach the village at the base of each and then go up it, planning began. After a probe trip to Switzerland, near the Matterhorn, the director of mountain operations Hugh Smythe had the idea of connecting them directly with a cable car. Of course, the cost was extremely high, but faced after careful analysis; research conducted by the Whistler Resort indicated that 92% of visitors would later use the Peak2Peak Gondola at least once. With this research in hand, HSBC Bank Canada financed the local authority which began the works which ended with the inauguration in 2008.