Weekly Roundup: A Proposed Ski Resort and Chondola System to Come to Valdez, AK
Post by nickchu
This new ski area, called East Peak, hopes to build a unique kind of aerial transit for its patrons: a chondola, that is, a combination chairlift-gondola. The hybrid will feature both traditional chairs for skiers, as well as cabins for pedestrians, allowing the line to stay open as a year-round attraction. Image credit: “Columbia Peak near Valdez” by Gusjer, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Burgberg cable car in Bad Harzburg has been refurbished. After major modifications, the 1929 cable car reopened. The system, which is the oldest transportation method in the Harz Mountains, has a new hydraulic speed and braking system, new engine and new controls. The renovations cost 1 million euros.
A rendered video shows the journey of the proposed Swansea gondola. The video shows the entire trip and clearly shows the proposed development on top of Kilvey Hill. The video was intended to address misconceptions about the project, such as the visual impact being less intrusive than anticipated. The project is still awaiting approval from Swansea’s planning committee. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
The state of Alaska has given preliminary approval for a new ski area in the city of Valdez. The popular fishing and oil city has become a great heli-skiing destination. The proposed ski resort, East Peak, hopes to build a 3-mile chondola, a system that combines chairlift and gondola cabins. The project is intended to be a year-round attraction. Approval is anticipated for later this month, and although the developer has already spent 1 million dollars, there is still much more work to be done.
