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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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I just spent a couple hours in downtown Squampton asking everyone I could what their thoughts were. I was surprised by how many people were counting the days till the Squamish downtown got revitalized by way of all the tourist traffic over at the new gondola.
I'm not too sure I fully agree with this. Once the tourists get off the lift, back at the base, I don't necessarily see them pinning it for the downtown core. I look around downtown and see many commercial buildings up for lease and for sale and it's a shame that such a beautiful setting isn't receiving the attention it deserves.
If part of the reason for the gondola is to provide another engine for the Squamish economic community, perhaps that engine should be closer to town. I realize there are countless hydro lines up on that slope across the river but I can't help but think if the tourists got off the gondola in closer proximity to the downtown area, the benefits for the town would be infinitely more measurable than if they were getting back into their car at the gravel pit.
Once they're done with the gondola, they're either going to drive north or south. If they drive south, they bring absolutely nothing to the local economy, by way of the spin offs. If they drive north, I don't actually see too many of them hanging a left into Squamish. I might even guess the businesses up the hwy at Garibaldi Highlands, where most of the current development seems to be going on, would benefit more than those downtown, simply due to the hwy frontage.
It's funny that the gondola is so intertwined with the Chief when, really, the views of the Chief will be very limited. The truly outstanding views of the Chief would be from the slope on the west side of the river. The Chief, from that vantage point, would (does) look phenominal.
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Hoser
climber
vancouver
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Are you aware of the gondola proposal that was already studied for that area?
Frank Baumann did all the studies for it...maybe someone can convince him to post his findings.
edit:
here is a little write up by him on Bivouac. Sounds like a much better idea for everyone.
http://bivouac.com//DsxPg.asp?DsxId=1163
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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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No, I wasn't. Thank-you for finding that. Gotta say, there is a lot of terrain over there. Nice digging, Hoser.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Frank was at the meeting in Britannia, and spoke emphatically about the downtown-Lapworth proposal.
I pretty much agree with Hamish. It's hard to see how the current proposal would bring tourists into the downtown, unless it's part of a tour. Many of them will be on Vancouver - Whistler bus tours, leaving first thing in the morning, at midday, or later on. They'll stop at Shannon Falls, and then if there's a gondola and it's included in the price (package deals are usual), they'll take it. Buy some stuff or a meal at the bottom or top, spend a few hours, then continue to Whistler. Ideally they'd instead be taken into downtown Squamish, stay in the hotels there, do other things and see other sights, and buy meals and stuff. Will they? Is there enough to attract them into the downtown area, and keep them for long? Traditional tourist attractions in Squamish are quite spread out, as are accommodations and restaurants.
It maybe highlights that Squamish is a different kind of community and tourist destination than Whistler. Whistler has had 30 years to develop the tour shtick, with a lot more of the attractions that such tourists want. You need a certain density of attractions, accommodations, restaurants and such to make it work.
How much "drive in" traffic the gondola may get is another question. Again, many are en route to Whistler, and will have read at least a bit about the area. They're already spending quite a lot of money. Taking the "big" gondola at Whistler may be on their radar, but a lesser one en route (and framed by the Grouse gondola) may not get much traction, especially once the novelty wears off. Whether there'd be enough local, ordinary GVRD, hiker, and bicycle traffic, or facilities, to make much difference is another question. The price may have to be pretty low to attract much of that traffic.
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Hoser
climber
vancouver
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Could you imagine....take the train up from Van then either head up to the tantalus via the gondola or leave a bike and ride up to the bluffs or the chief.
What a freaking dream that would be!!
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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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When you read through Frank's plan, it calls for a two gondola in-a-row format. Change lifts on top of the flat bluff where the hydro lines are. Just passing on what I read; not sure if that's feasable or not.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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you guys are goin' for 1000, aren't you
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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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It's probably only equal to eight guys and one girl sitting around the table with a few beers each...
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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isn't the girl drinking whisky?
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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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Whiskey for Mrs. Knight? I'm thinking wine.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Whiskey for Mrs. Knight? I'm thinking wine.
Depends on the desperation level. I remember one night of travelling in a snowstorm when she though she was gonna die, and we finally got to Canmore and I pulled in under the sodium lighting in some strip mall and she realized she was gonna live. We didn't say anything for a minute or so, and then she looked at me and said "Have you got a bottle in this car?"
Watched her take the cap off and up-end a bottle of scotch over her face and do her best to suck it dry.
Not that that has anything to do with gondolas, but I thought y'all oughta know.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Both Paul and Phil Kubik are still around, and active, although Phil has two or three kids to keep him busy.
Whatever else, the gondola proposal hardly seems a killer app in terms of the future of Squamish, or its downtown. Even one based in or near the downtown probably wouldn't be. It may have some benefits for the downtown, but they don't seem likely to be substantial, and may take some time to develop.
Location location location.
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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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At least we've got a handle on Tami's drinking habits. You can spell whiskey with an e, btw. We're not really maroons.
I don't know, Anders; I think downtown needs an attraction or two to lure people off the autobahn. I remember living there years ago when the Royal Hudson would pull into town for a couple hours every day during turon season. It actually worked pretty well, everyone would get off the train, walk around town spending their money, voila, mini-economy.
It's also much closer to the parking area for the cruise ships which might venture up the sound one day, if there were some activities for the cruzies.
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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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Bruce K for council
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thekidcormier
Gym climber
squamish, b.c.
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I think Bruce is onto something here!!
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Good idea Bruce! That is some progressive thinking. You'll need some heavy metal for that mosh pit. Oh, and yeah no worries plenty of condos already being built downtown that need inhabitants & as for crossing our fingers i think pretty much every single business owner who doesn't own a bank, fast food or grocery store down there crazy glued their fingers crossed sometime just before Feb 2010- last time they were supposed to get rich & receive "economic benefits". Didn't exactly pan out that way, did it?
Seems like we are really getting somewhere with this gondola thread now.
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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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Oh we're splitting the atom, that's for sure.
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hamish f
Social climber
squamish
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Not if Jim and Bruce build 'em.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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I say Ram it.
Okay! I'm coming up this w/e to turn the first shovelfull of earth for the base facility. Get the ribbons in place with the scissors waiting, and make sure there's plenty of Champagne on ice.
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bmacd
Trad climber
100% Canadian
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Bump for endless loop stupidly busting out into downward spiralling gondola wreck by post 1000
;)
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