Whistler (BC), Canada – Whistler Blackcomb has unveiled capital plans for a major lift expansion at the B.C. ski and snowboard resort. Whistler Mountain’s Harmony high-speed, quad chairlift will be replaced with a new Doppelmayr high-speed, detachable, six-pack chairlift capable of transporting six people on each chair. Blackcomb Mountain will see a lift enhancement with a high-speed quad chairlift going into a new area in the Crystal Zone, currently accessed by a fixed-grip triple chair. All told, the resort plans to spend C$18 million on capital improvements this summer.
“This lift expansion clearly demonstrates our commitment to continuously enhance the skiing and riding experience on both mountains,” says Dave Brownlie, President and Chief Executive Officer, Whistler Blackcomb. “Each zone the new lifts will service is unique and much-loved by Whistler locals and destination guests alike. The capital we are investing to enhance our already amazing experiences will make Whistler Blackcomb even better.”
The new high-speed quad chairlift in the Crystal Zone will be 1,708 meters (5,604 feet) in length, with a vertical rise of 535 meters (1,755 feet). Skier carrying capacity will increase by 65 percent over the current lift to 2,400 skiers per hour. The new quad will deliver skiers and riders to the same location as the current triple chair next to the Crystal Hut. However, the aspect of the new lift line is dramatically different, and will originate 158 meters (518 feet) lower than the old Crystal lift. The bottom elevation will be 1,292 meters (4,239 feet) and the top elevation of the lift will be 1,827 meters (5,994 feet).
This bottom terminal location along the Blackcomb Glacier Road ski-out will eliminate the need to utilize the Excelerator Chair to access many Crystal Zone trails including Ridge Runner, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and gladed trails like Outer Limits. It will be even quicker to return to the Glacier Express chair to access Horstman Glacier, Blackcomb Glacier and Spanky’s. The increased length of the chair’s line will give skiers and riders the opportunity to lap the entire Crystal Zone – from undulating cruisers to gladed zones. The name of this exciting new quad chairlift will be determined through a competition to be announced by Whistler Blackcomb later this winter.
The Harmony Six high-speed chairlift will replace one of Whistler Blackcomb’s most popular lifts and will dramatically improve the uphill capacity by 50 percent, going from 2,400 skiers per hour to 3,600. The Harmony Six will service terrain spanning from the edge of the Symphony Amphitheatre all the way over to Glacier Bowl, adjacent to the Peak Express. This area, known as the Harmony Zone, makes up over 485 hectares (1,200 acres) of Whistler Blackcomb’s 3,306 hectares (8,171 acres) of total terrain, with options ranging from beginner to advanced.
The Harmony Six will have the same alignment as the current Harmony quad; spanning 1,729 meters (5,672 feet) in length, with a vertical rise of 525 meters (1,722 feet). The top elevation of the lift is 2,107 meters (6,912 feet); the bottom elevation is 1,582 meters (5,190 feet).
Construction on the lifts will begin this spring and will continue through the summer and fall with an expected opening at the beginning of the 2013-14 winter season.