1,000 Days of Sea to Sky Gondola

On May 9, 2018, Annual Passholder Doug Brubacher reached a very special milestone, 1,000 rides on the Sea to Sky Gondola! To celebrate, we asked him to share some of his favourite adventures with us. 

How often do you ride the gondola?

Almost every day. I’ve averaged 250 times per year since the gondola opened on May 9, 2014. We come mostly during the week as weekends tend to be for the tourists (which is fine of course) and can be quite busy.

What has been your most memorable moment at the Sea to Sky Gondola?

That's a very hard question. Perhaps the very first time up, or perhaps the first time I played my guitar on the lodge deck. Or each time I play up there in the lodge or watching the eclipse from the deck. Or when I escorted my two and a half-year-old granddaughter Olivia across the suspension bridge and when she reached the end she threw up her arms and shouted “ta-da”, announcing to the world she had just conquered the bridge. There have been too many ‘memorable moments' to pick just one.

What is your favourite activity to do here?

I’ve been the first one out on the Panorama trail after a fresh snowfall more times than I can count, setting the first footprints in the new snow. It doesn’t get much better than that. As well, simply sitting by the wood stove with good friends over coffee in the lodge as the storms sway the trees and the rain or snow goes by sideways.

What is your favourite season at the gondola and why?

I’d have to say winter. The weather is always changing, never static, always dynamic. The change in conditions from the base up to the lodge always inspires as we climb out of the rain and into sun shine or snow covered trees.

Any other memories or stories you would like to share?

My dad has been out from Ontario 3 times since the gondola opened and is coming out again for the second half of May. He has already been up the gondola about 30 times and will be up at least once each day he is here. Last time (last June) he managed to walk the Panorama twice. I don’t think he can do it this time but it will be cool just having him enjoy the coffee and the view from the deck. As well, taking my now 6-year-old granddaughter Kyra on the kid's adventure trail is always cool as she loves that trail. And just getting to know all the incredibly great people that work there, or have worked there. I’ll always remember all of them and their names.

Thanks for being a part of the Sea to Sky Gondola community, Doug. We can't wait for the next 1,000 visits!