Dec 22 Crystal Gondola

Great day on the hill, groomers rocked, wind affected off the King and Silver. Best part was a preview on the gondola, if you haven't got you pass yet Now is The Time.The views are spectacular, well worth the price of admission. For your non skiing friends and family single rides are available and for those who haven't been able to get on the mountain to see what you do the gondola is the ticket. Frankly I had some reservations, but the first trip up changed my mind. Cable splice machine is on the way, should be up and running prior to new years. Santa says Hi.

Heard today that the re-splice will happen next Tuesday - 28th and maybe the bucket ride will be running on Thursday....
Also heard rumors that one of the buckets that was parked up top somehow did not stay there during some big winds recently and ended up down in GV.....if true that must be a expensive mistake on someones part.

That rumor is true. I posted a link to a pic in the dealyed thread.

That would be delayed. Too much time riding not enough sleeping.

My impression is that the gondola is not really for skiers. Its more like a corporate TAX shelter. As this piece of shiney junk falls apart, the corporation collects insurance and gains a tax shelter. It also allows the corporation to develop the restaurant more. I bet the darn thing will be starting and stopping more then the Cascade Crest Chairlift at The Summit! Once they fix all the BUGS like gondolas FALLING off the cable when its not even moving and (possible) inadequate '"wire rope" manufacturing.
Sort of a Wal-Mart lift built in China and installed in our precious mountains by Swiss and or Chinese engineers.
We Americans are letting this travesty happen. Isn't Boyne Mountain (corporation) Canadian?
Merry "Christmas",
BillyTheMountain

Boyne is Michigan...not Canada

Additionally the gondola came from:
Under skin-- Austria
Terminal Skin -- outsourced to group in Canada
Terminal structures, conveyors and drive/carriage platforms--St. Jerome plant (Canada)
Tower heads, walkways and sheave assemblies -- St. Jerome plant (Canada)
Tower tubes -- slc plant
Rebar -- slc
Grips -- Italy agamatic plant
Cabins –  Switzerland

Plus much of the labor came from Greenwater and Enumclaw locals.

I heard the same thing as ddk. The cabin was sitting at the summit (not on the cable), was not secured and sustained damage in the wind. A mistake, but nothing to do with the actual gondola operations.