Sea to Sky Gondola cabin falls from new lift near Squamish
Lift built to take visitors from highway level to heights near Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls
A cabin that fell off the new Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish, B.C., on Tuesday morning, has sparked an investigation by transportation and company officials.
The cabin was empty and nobody was injured in the incident. The company says the cabin fell during routine testing of the new gondola.
The lift moves the cabins 2135 metres across and 849 metres up to a viewpoint 885 metres above sea level.
The company issued a brief statement saying, "Doppelmayr, manufacturers of the lift, and the British Columbia Safety Authority are working with Sea to Sky Gondola staff to determine the exact nature and cause of this incident."
The Sea to Sky Gondola is being built as a new tourist attraction north of Vancouver, between Shannon Falls and the Stawamus Chief, and is expected to open in May.
It is not connected with any ski resort, and operates with a Crown lease arrangement.