Whistler Blackcomb Shares Update On New 8-Person Chairlift

Since late spring earlier in the year, Whistler Blackcomb has embarked on an extensive construction endeavour aimed at enhancing the Fitzsimmons Express on Whistler Mountain. This particular lift is a favoured option among novices and those at an intermediate level, serving as an accessible means to reach the lower-altitude groomed slopes or as a convenient alternative to the consistently bustling Whistler Village Gondola. Below is from their latest social media post The primary objective of this project is to transform the lift from its existing four-person configuration into an eight-person high-speed detachable chairlift. The overarching aim is to mitigate wait times at the village's lift stations during peak periods. However, the question remains: will this expansion suffice to meet the demands of the crowd?September 5 marked our switch to Fall Operations here at Whistler Blackcomb and we wanted to share another update on Fitzsimmons Express construction efforts, which are progressing nicely. The installation of all towers, tower heads, and sheave assemblies were completed on September 8 (take a look at some footage of our team in action).Last week, the straw line was pulled to winch the haul rope into place as well. The straw lines are pulled by hand from the top terminal down to the bottom terminal. Each tower is climbed as the lines are strung up and over on the way down — an impressive task to witness! This work will have impacts on the Fitz Zone of @whistlerbikeprk until the end of the planned haul rope splice, which is targeted for completion by September 23. If you’re riding the park, please obey all signage and closures.Down at the return station at the base, final tasks are underway. The load station required extensive excavating and our teams removed 7,000 cubic meters of earth — equivalent to 107,692 full wheelbarrows or 467 rock trucks! We’re stoked to be opening Canada’s newest 8-person chairlift this winter! The Jersey Cream project is also bustling with activity. As a reminder, this lift will be upgrded from a 4-pack to a 6-pack in summer 2024. Our teams have made progress pouring foundations for towers and are expected to complete this for 11 out of a total of 15 this fall. This will be a big time saver next spring/summer when the replacement work kicks off. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Whistler Blackcomb (@whistlerblackcomb) The below is a snapshot from the Whistler Blackcomb Trail Map which shows the location of the existing Fitzsimmons Express chairlift.