Peak 2 Peak Gondola

Opened in December 2008, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola was a world first when it linked Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain in a single 4.4-kilometre ride, with a span between towers that set records for length and for height above the valley floor. Until then the two mountains had been separate resorts, each with its own lifts, and skiers and hikers had to descend to the village to switch from one to the other. The gondola changed that, creating a continuous alpine circuit and an aerial attraction that is a sight in its own right.

The cabins glide between the two peaks at a height of well over 400 metres in places, crossing a gap between the Whistler and Blackcomb lift systems. The ride takes roughly eleven minutes and is smooth and quiet, with large windows on all sides. Some cabins have glass floors, which give a vertigo-inducing view straight down to the forest and creek far below. On a clear day the panorama includes the village, the green valley, the glacier-fed lakes and the line of snowy summits, and the distances feel enormous. Because the two mountains rise on either side, passengers see in one trip the contrast between Whistler's rugged alpine bowls and Blackcomb's glacier slopes.

In summer, the gondola is part of the Summer Alpine Experience. Riders reach the high country by taking the Whistler Village Gondola or the Excalibur Gondola, and then use Peak 2 Peak to cross between peaks. Over fifty kilometres of hiking trails are open when weather and snow allow, ranging from short strolls near the lodges to long alpine routes, and lakes, meadows and marmot colonies are among the sights. The Cloudraker Skybridge, a suspension bridge near the summit of Whistler, hangs high above the valley and gives another dramatic viewpoint. Restaurants at the mountaintop lodges serve meals with views.

Tickets can be bought online ahead of time or at the Whistler Visitor Centre, and prices and operating dates change from season to season, so check the current schedule and conditions. High wind or storms can suspend service. Dress in layers, since it is cooler on the mountain than in the village, and wear sturdy shoes for the trails.

The gondola suits visitors of all ages, and it is a particularly good wet-weather choice when clouds lift enough for views.