What's Happening During our Annual ClosureA Peek Behind the Curtains
20 November, 2024
PART 1 - GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY WITH LIFT MAINTENANCE
I was handed the keys to the Sea to Sky Gondola (SSG) social media machine last week. My big revelation, just how much all of you wonderful people, diligently following SSG socials, loved our behind-the-scenes content. With this in mind, I set out to uncover exactly what it is that our team is working on during our closure. Consider this your peek behind the SSG curtains. Kind of like the Wizard of Oz, but with fewer witches.
WHY ARE YOU CLOSED?
Did you see how much fun we had over the summer? We’re tired. Leave us alone. Just kidding... The official word is that SSG is currently closed for scheduled maintenance. Let’s put on our coveralls and find out exactly what “scheduled maintenance” means. Starting with the BIG MAN himself, no not Santa (he doesn’t arrive ‘til later), I’m talking about SSG Director of Operations and Tzar of everything that spins and flashes, Rob Walter.
MAINTENANCE ON A MASSIVE SCALE
I spoke with Rob to get an education on gondolas and to learn about what’s happening with the SSG gondola during our annual closure. It all boils down to safety and reliability. The SSG maintenance team are completing three pieces of scheduled work at the moment. Let’s take a closer look:
Gearbox installation
Imagine if the gearbox in your trusty Honda ran for twelve hours a day, every day for ten years! Just like the gearbox in little-Hondy, gondola gearboxes have a limited lifespan and require replacing to stay reliable. Unlike little-Hondy, the gondola gearbox weighs a whopping 9,400lbs!
Bull wheel bearings
The bull wheel is the big red spinny (my word, not Rob’s) wheel that holds the cable at each end of the gondola. The bull wheel contains enormous 30-inch diameter bearings that allow it to rotate smoothly. From time to time these bearings need to be replaced. To be installed, bull wheel bearings need to be chilled to temperatures far below zero, allowing for thermal expansion.
Haul rope shortening
The big cable on the gondola is called the haul rope. All haul ropes require shortening during their normal operating life. This year we shortened the haul rope by 4 meters! It’s heavy work, performed by highly specialized haul rope technicians, and a small army of Gondola helpers. Great job team!
UP NEXT...
There’s much more going on during our annual closure. Coming up: we’ll learn how legendary Chef Vinnie makes his favourite Christmas cocktail, decorating tips from the wonderful Shannon as she prepares the Summit Lodge for the arrival of the BIG MAN himself, Santa Claus and exactly how the Hairfarmers broke the Summit Lodge deck.