The snow melted just in time for Silver Star Mountain Resort to begin installing its first gondola, yesterday.
A massive, Kamov Ka-32helicopter flew in from Vancouver Island and placed 11 gondola towers into the ground in less than six hours.
“It’s a milestone day here at Silver Star Mountain Resort,” said Wesla Wong, a meteorologist and public relations associate at Silver Star. “Bringing a helicopter in from Vancouver Island is a big deal because these helicopters are designed to carry the heavy loads.”
“The budget for the project is about $10 million but we’re hoping to come under budget.”
Each gondola cabin will fit about eight people with ski racks located on the outside of the cabins.
To begin, there will be 21 cabins, and a maximum of 42 will be allowed.
At a glance, the gondola will feature:
- 12 gondola towers the last one will be put in by crane. Plus top and bottom terminals;
- Max line speed is 5.08 m/s;
- Ride time at 5.08 m/s is 4.4 minutes;
- At 5.08 m/s there will be a cabin at loading every 24 seconds, with 122 m between each cabin on-line (an initial 21 cabins);
- It’s a top drive, electric prime mover with diesel auxiliary and diesel evac motors;
- Horizontal length is 1063 metres;
- Vertical rise is 293 metres.
“Riding a gondola is just something that most people don’t do every day,” Wong said. “Now that it’s at SilverStar we hope that people in the Okanagan Valley will come and check out the gondola
The grand opening is set for July 7, which will include free gondola rides for the public, a barbecue, kids activities, and live music.
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