The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
loved the Whistler Blackcomb Gondola ride
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
July 14, 2015
page 1 of 3

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola is a tri-cable gondola lift located in Whistler, British Columbia that links Whistler Mountain's Roundhouse Lodge with Blackcomb Mountain's Rendezvous Restaurant. It is the first lift to join the two side-by-side mountains. It holds world records for the longest free span between ropeway towers 3.03 kilometers (1.88 miles) and highest point above the ground 436 metres (1,430 feet.)

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola was built by the Doppelmayr Garaventa Group in 2007 and 2008 at a cost of CDN$51 million. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola is the first Doppelmayr "3S" tri-cable lift in North America; there are four similar but smaller lifts in Europe which were built in 1991, 1994, 2002, 2004 and 2010 in Switzerland, Austria, France and Germany. Whistler-Blackcomb has touted the gondola as an iconic attraction and uses it to transport skiers in the winter months as well as sightseers year round.

Below: The two RV Gypsies got in the gondola for the ride up the mountain.

Below: The two RV Gypsies looked down at the bicycle path and saw a bicyclist.

looking down at another bicyclist.

• Length: 4.46 km/ 2.73 miles

• Capacity: 4,100 people per hour

• Line Speed: 7.5 metres per second (16.8 miles per hour)

• Ride Time: 11 minutes

Below: The Two RV Gypsies arrived on peak 1 - Whistler's Mountain

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola terminal buildings are the two largest lift terminals in the world. To create the concrete footings, platforms, masts, and columns, 4,000 cubic metres (5,200 cubic yards) of concrete had to be trucked and helicoptered up the mountains. The 12,000-square-foot Whistler terminal, which houses the drive motors and backup engines in an underground vault is 26 metres (856 feet) wide and 42 metres (138 feet) long and has 228 tons of steel. The 14,000-square-foot Blackcomb Terminal is 26 metres (85 feet) wide and 48 metres (158 feet) long and contains 279 tons of steel. The Blackcomb terminal can house 15 cabins, the Whistler terminal 13 cabins in a cabin parking area when the system is not in use.

Below: The two RV Gypsies at the Olympic rings left here from when Whistler played Co-host to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter games.

Whistler Blackcomb Tram has been put on more than one page to avoid loading too many photos on one page. This will also help photos preload faster and make viewing the page more enjoyable. So please continue on to page two - the glass bottom gondola and a bear. Thank you.