Today marked the arrival of two of Santa’s reindeer – Dancer and Vixen. They are here to rest up and eat well before their epic journey around the world on Christmas Eve!
Starting this Saturday, November 28th, you can visit Dancer and Vixen at their habitat next to Santa’s Workshop at the Skating Pond
During The Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain through December 24th, we will be holding two daily Reindeer Interpretive Sessions at 2pm and 4pm. At these sessions a formal talk will be given and guests can get up close and personal with these vital members of Santa's team.
Please stop by and visit Dancer and Vixen and don’t forget to ask them to put in a good word with Santa for you!
With 150cm of snow at Grouse Mountain the project site of The Eye of the Wind has evolved into something very different. The white steel tower, viewPOD and blades are nearly camouflaged in their snowy surroundings. Access to the site is a large challenge as our team relies on snowmobiles and snowcats. The electrical control building of the structure is now full of the necessary gear that allows us to bring electricity from the generator into our local grid. We will complete the connections and testing of this gear over the next few weeks. Inside of the tower the elevator installation is progressing well. We have a near-complete elevator cab and elevator rails that go as high as 40 metres – two thirds of the way up the 65 metre tower. Still lots of work to do before the holiday season begins.
Enthusiastic Skiers and Riders: Come Get Your First Taste of Paradise!
Get your snow gear! Mother Nature is right on time for us to open the 2009/2010 ski and snowboard season tomorrow. We can't wait to see you tomorrow as we open Paradise Bowl and the Greenway Chair at 4pm. Operating hours will be from 9am to 10pm following opening day.
Until further notice, skiers and riders can access downhill terrain for the cost of General Admission.
Expect more runs to open as snow conditions deepen, and we can all look forward to welcoming multitudes of snow enthusiasts as we work hard towards another robust season.
For up to date information about lift, run and activity status, visit our Mountain Report daily.
The Eye of the Wind blades are in motion – somewhat. The post-assembly mechanical work is complete and those with keen eyes will notice that the blades are now spinning freely with the wind at a very slow pace. Though the blades are in motion, the system is not producing any electricity as we still have a few months of electrical work to do before the generator will be connected to our grid in January 2010. Once connected, the blades will be angled in the most optimal direction to the wind which will provide enough force to spin the blades at their top speed of 260km/h at the tips. In the meantime, the elevator installation is in full force.
The site of The Eye of the Wind has been buzzing the past two weeks as we continue with the post-assembly of the wind turbine. Some guests have asked us why the blades are not spinning yet. The brakes are currently activated on the blades as we finish commissioning the mechanical works. In the meantime, we’ve been accessing the tower shaft to complete a long list of electrical work. This week, the elevator installation kicked off and is slowly starting to take shape inside the tower. The Eye of the Wind will be fully operational in January 2010.
Fall weather at Grouse Mountain bodes well for coming winter Snow graced the peak of Grouse Mountain today, signaling the coming winter in Vancouver may bring another robust season of flurries. The heavy rainfall this afternoon temporarily turned to snowfall at the highest altitude of the resort, and came as a pleasant surprise to onlookers.
Snow enthusiasts will soon be able to swap their sunglasses for goggles at Grouse Mountain as the city begins to look ahead to an exciting winter season. The brief arrival of snow and significant drop in temperature come at a time when Grouse Mountain is readying for the spectacular annual Peak of Christmas festivities, and anticipating guests from around the world during the Winter Olympic Games.
Grouse Mountain is committed to continuously adding value to the alpine experience for its loyal guests, as well as enhance the experience with even more activities including ziplining (now available year-round) and 24/7 operations during the Olympics. We look forward to the next snowfall and another excellent winter season!
Today was an unforgettable day. It marked the completion of construction on the Eye of the Wind energy tower at Grouse Mountain and has forever changed the face of alternative, clean energy in British Columbia. We have worked long and hard towards this day and there is a degree of emotion attached to witnessing the structure complete. We have a way to go before it is fully operational and guest accessible, but the completion of the structure solidifies this amazing project as a reality to all of us.
Stay tuned for more updates on the progress concerning elevator installation and readiness for energy production. Thanks to all for your support and enthusiasm. We'll see you in the ViewPod very soon...
Our wind turbine reached new heights today as the third tower section was lifted into place. Next, the ViewPod – our custom built observation deck - was lifted to its new home looking out over Vancouver. The ViewPod is the only structure of its kind in the world – a true engineering marvel. It is seven metres in diameter, over 30,000lbs, and offers a 360 degree view of the Lower Mainland, surrounding mountains and the operating wind turbine. The last stage for today was to lift the machine carrier (some call it the nacelle) to the very top of the tower. The machine carrier allows the blade assembly to rotate about the tower and supports the generator, hub and three turbine blades. With the machine carrier in place, the tower has now reached its final 65 metres in height.
Today assembly of the Grouse Mountain Turbine officially began. This morning, drivers along the Second Narrow’s Bridge may have noticed the first tower section upright on the top of Peak. We had some challenges bringing the section up Heaven’s Sake ski run because of the sheer weight. The construction crew worked seamlessly to lift the first section into the air, lower it gently in place and bolt it to the foundation. This concrete foundation is installed on bedrock and has 15-metre deep rock-anchors. Next, the middle tower section was lifted and secured into place on top of the first. So we now have a 40 metre tall white tower on our mountain. Assmebly will continue tomorrow.
Sunday, September 20th saw 22-year-old Sebastian Salas from West Vancouver walk away from the 19th Annual BMO Grouse Grind Mountain Run as the new record holder with an official time of 25:24. Very impressive. The former record was 26:17 set by Michael Simpson at the 2007 event.
In other Grouse Grind related news, the last Grouse Grind Social Night of the season takes place tomorrow evening, September 23rd from 6pm in Altitudes Bistro. Don't miss it!
The Grouse Grind is currently open 7:00am to 5:30pm daily; the hours are not expected to shift again until Friday, October 9th.
The middle and upper tower sections slowly crawled to the top of Grouse Mountain this morning via our back Mountain Highway. This means all components for the wind turbine are officially sitting ready on our mountain. The tower sections will not be brought to the actual project site until a few moments before they are actually erected into place. This is necessary because the project site has an exceptionally small footprint and can only handle so much gear at one time – just one of the many challenges associated with constructing a wind turbine on a mountain top. Today the crane assembly was completed and final preparation work is in motion. We are hoping for sunny skies this week.
Since the base tower section arrived at Grouse Mountain on Friday, it’s been getting a bit of a makeover. Our electricians have been busy installing cables while our millwrights have been installing more gear for the elevator that will be installed inside the tower. Tonight, the middle and top tower sections will be catching up as they travel from a lot in Surrey up to our back road off of Mountain Highway. The project site is looking different, too, as the LR1280 crane is almost completely assembled. Meanwhile, the Construction Supervisors arrived yesterday from Italy and are busy getting all the final details in place.
Last night starting at 2am the turbine tower base section traversed from the US Border through Vancouver, Port Moody and North Vancouver to reach Grouse Mountain’s back road off of Mountain Highway. This over-sized load is a hollow steel cylinder, 20 metres wide and 4 metres across. It required a specialized Schnable trailer to give maximum flexibility for making turns and overcoming inclines. We only had to disassemble three road signs which were replaced immediately. Today the tower section will travel up the 13km gravel road on the back side of Grouse Mountain. Meanwhile, the installation crew will be arriving from Italy tomorrow to prepare for construction next week.
Today the first and largest part of the LR1280 crane that will erect our wind turbine reached the project site at the Peak of Grouse Mountain. It was a difficult ascent up the steepest incline of Heaven’s Sake ski run but with some extra care it made it to the top. This crane from DLB Cranes Ltd based in North Vancouver is a monster – it can lift 300 tons and has a 90 metre boom. Even more good news, the base section of our tower crossed into Canada this morning from Washington State and will start it’s trek through Vancouver and up the mountain at 2am tonight.
Even more crates arrived at Grouse Mountain today. This time, the huge wooden crates contain the generator, hub and machine carrier (or nacelle) of the project. These components travelled by freighter from Italy. They are going to be kept in a safe place on our mountain top and won’t be opened until a few days before we start construction.
The crew started unpacking the crates of the ViewPod today and assembling the quadrants. It already looks incredible. A Supervisor from Sigma in France arrived to help guide the assembly. It’s a lot more work than one might think. A small temporary foundation and structural tower was built to elevate the ViewPod as it is being put together. The zip-liners who walk by the site at the end of their circuit are starting to ask questions and it’s great to hear everyone’s support as they learn more about the project. In a few days the main shell of the ViewPod will be done and then it will be time for the finer details. This project is truly starting to take shape.
All the sections of the innovative wind turbine observation pod, or viewPod, arrived in North Vancouver from their origin in France, and the parts were driven to the summit this morning. The viewPod will be able to hold a capacity of up to 36 people, and is composed of structural steel and glass. With a diameter of seven metres and standing more than five metres in height, the 15-ton structure was designed and fabricated by Sigma Composite. The viewPod was transported in sections via ship to Montreal, followed by truck transport to North Vancouver. The viewPod is a unique engineering marvel that will, as an integral piece of the finished structure, serve to inspire, educate and exhilarate anyone who sees it. Once all the respective parts come together, the viewPod will undoubtedly provide an exciting and powerful visitor experience.
Work on the Grouse Mountain Wind Turbine is moving fast. Today we had a chance to zip down to Anacortes, Washington, where the structural tower of the wind turbine is being manufactured. As is typical, the tower is built in three sections, each just over 20 metres long. Our custom built tower is the first in the world designed to support a publicly-accessible elevator. There’s still a fair amount of work to do, but it was very satisfying to see the sections in person. However, experiencing how truly big these components are has reminded us of the challenge we’ll have bringing them up to Grouse Mountain (no helicopters for these guys – they’re too heavy).
As you have probably heard, Grouse Mountain is building an iconic wind turbine. Today, three 37 metre long turbine blades arrived on the mountaintop. These blades - the first of the wind turbine project components - arrived from Denmark by sea last week, before journeying aboard a barge through Indian Arm overnight, and followed by a novel helicopter lift from barge to mountaintop earlier today.
The Erickson S-64E air-crane, one of the most powerful and versatile helicopters in the world, delivered each of the 12,000 lbs blades to their new home 1,250 metres above sea level as part of a concerted effort bolstered by ideal weather conditions.
Blue Grouse, our sustainability initiative that birthed the wind turbine project at Grouse Mountain, is our social, economic, and environmental commitment that informs all of our decision-making and policy development. Grouse Mountain’s Wind Revolution is a renewable energy movement symbolic of this leadership stance in sustainability.
Last night the three blades for the Grouse Mountain Wind Turbine reached Canada via the Fraser Surrey Docks. These massive 37 metre long blades travelled by freighter for six weeks starting in Denmark. It looked as if everyone was surprised by how big they really are. Today, the blades were carefully unloaded from the freighter and placed directly onto a barge. The blades are now sitting side by side on the same barge while they get equipped with the proper supports to allow them to be air-lifted to the Peak of Grouse Mountain in the coming week. But, we’ll have to wait for a nice clear and calm day for this part of the journey.
Grouse Mountain becomes the first smoke-free resort in B.C.
New measures take effect on Sunday, May 31, 2009, at Grouse Mountain to help keep the air clean and healthy for everyone, while making it easier for existing smokers to kick the habit.
Grouse Mountain is the largest youth employer on the North Shore and has a responsibility to be a beacon of health for all our staff and visitors. All of Grouse Mountain will be smoke and tobacco free, and the realization of this long-awaited goal will further the good health practices recreation enthusiasts expect and value.
“As a recreation provider we are committed to health promotion and disease prevention,” says Michael Cameron, Grouse Mountain General Manager. “It is also our duty to ensure a healthy work environment and preserve our mountain.”
As a smoke-free resort open to the public, guests and company employees should consider their own well-being, the health of others and the preservation of pristine natural environment.
Education tools are being utilized to reinforce this health conscious message across the resort, and to explain how smoking restrictions in public places are successful in providing the following benefits to public health safety:
Reduced exposure to second-hand smoke (which contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals and increases risk of heart disease)
Decreased tobacco consumption
Reduction in serious health-related hospital admissions
Increased rates of persons who quit smoking
Smoking is recognized as the most preventable cause of death in Canada by health officials, and the action taken at Grouse Mountain will also serve to reduce public exposure to another serious and inextricably linked health hazard. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and it is widely acknowledged that such contact can lead to disease and premature death in children and adult non-smokers.
We appreciate your support in this endeavor. If you have any questions or comments please contact Guest Services at guestservices@grousemountain.com or call 604.980.9311.
May 16th marks the launch of summertime at Grouse Mountain. With the Victoria Day long weekend comes the beginning of a full lineup of daily activities and events on the mountaintop including:
World Famous Lumberjack Shows
Birds in Motion Demonstrations
Guided Eco-Walks
Wildlife Ranger Interpretive Sessions at the Grizzly Bear habitat
They say membership has its privileges. This is certainly true at Grouse Mountain. In fact, an Annual Grouse Mountain Membership is a very reasonable way to fill your summer calendar with activities for a very reasonable price. An adult membership is just $89.95 or a family of four can get in on the fun for just $149.95. Here is the full list of member benefits:
Skyride access for a full year
50% off your guest's admission: 1/2 price off General Admission rates for up to 4 guests each visit
$75 for Air Grouse mountain ziplines (Regular $105)
30% off all Peak Adventure events: Seek The Peak Relay, Grouse Grind Mountain Run® & Snowshoe Classic
20% off all regular priced items at the Grouse Mountain Starbucks® location.
20% off all regular priced retail merchandise at the Spirit Gallery Gift Shop, Outfitters and Essentials Stores
20% off rental equipment: - Snowshoes (1 free rental, then 20% off) - Skates (1 free rental, then 20% off) - Skis/Snowboards (1 free rental, then 20% off; must have valid lift ticket)
20% off skiing/snowboarding lift tickets after 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Access to year-round activities: Theatre In The Sky, Refuge for Endangered Wildlife
Access to summer activities: World Famous Lumberjack Shows, Birds in Motion Demonstrations, Guided Eco-Walks, scenic chair lift rides
Access to winter activities: Snowshoe trails, Ice skating pond, Sleigh rides, The Peak of Christmas
Also on the horizon now is the Seek The Peak Relay presented by Merrell. This 6th annual event raises much-needed funds for Rethink Breast Cancer. Watch for brochures and pledge forms in a sports retailer near you or visit seekthepeak.ca to learn more.
Grouse Mountain Passholders: Bring a Guest to Ski or Ride for FREE this Friday! Also, Grouse Mountain extends the downhill season!
As a gesture of our appreciation for another fantastic winter season, Grouse Mountain invites all current Y2Play Snow Passholders and Full Season Snow Passholders to bring a guest to ski or ride for free on Friday, April 3rd, 2009.
Grouse Mountain has consistently had the best downhill offering in British Columbia all season and relishes the opportunity to keep winter alive for a while longer. To that end, we are pleased to announce that we are extending our downhill operation until April 26th, nearly two weeks longer than any other North Shore mountain. Please see the schedule of operations below for specific details.
For all the rest of you, if you know a Grouse Mountain winter season passholder - and chances are you do - now is a good time to give her/him a call!
With Y2Play in its final stretch for another year, this is another good reason in a long list of good reasons to buy or renew your Y2Play Pass if you haven't done so already. Once they're gone, there's no bringing them back!
Passholder Free Guest Stipulations: • Grouse Mountain winter passholders must accompany their guest to the Ticket Centre and present a valid season pass. • Tickets are non-transferable and valid for April 3rd, 2009 only. • There is a limit of one guest per passholder. • This offer applies to: valid Y2Play and Full Winter passes only. • This is a one-for-one promotion, meaning that even a valid child’s season pass is entitled to a free lift ticket for one guest, irrespective of age.
Schedule of Operations for the Remainder of the Season: Until April 13, 2009 (inclusive): 9:00am to 10:00pm (weekends from 8:30am) April 14th to April 26th (inclusive): Monday to Friday: 3:00pm to 10:00pm, Saturdays & Sundays: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Dave Norona, one of Vancouver's most notorious adventurers, created this beautiful video highlighting his experience at the event. His adaptive teammate is a young boy named Karl who lost two of his brothers and was rendered paraplegic in a motor vehicle accident here in Vancouver not long ago. I quickly found myself moved to tears sitting at my desk this morning.
And here's another great video showing the excitement of the day.
Congratulations to all the teams who participated!
I know you've been waiting for this moment if only for the sheer number of people searching our site for Y2Play. Well it's back. Yes, Vancouver's favourite snow pass - the Y2Play 2009/10 Winter Season Pass - is back in action for another year - this one taking you all the way through to the end of the 2009/10 winter season. Not only that, but 20% of this year's limited number of passes have already sold in the first 3 days.
If you want to get out on the hill and enjoy some of these great spring skiing conditions we've been enjoying, think about buying a Y2Play pass instead of a lift ticket. It is the best value season pass on the market, providing a season and a half of skiing or snowboarding for up to 80% off the regular pass price (and that's this year's regular pass price we're using to make the comparison). If you buy your pass today, you can use from the moment you pick it up right through the end of the current winter season, and then again from October 1, 2009 through April 2010. And, since Grouse Mountain is not an official Olympic venue, we won't be closing our doors or... er, turnstiles during the Games.
We are also offering a series of exciting incentives this year - worth noting is the $35 credit for every purchaser to put towards an Air Grouse Mountain Zipline experience! I was thrilled to have a sneak peek at the Phase TWO lines 4 and 5 just a couple of weeks ago. Here is the video from line #5 from Dam Mountain to The Peak. VERY fun!
Also, if you buy online you'll get a complimentary lift ticket to use over the next season and a half so you can bring a friend.
Please do not miss this. Every year we sell out and every year there are those who wish they'd heard about it... so tell your friends and don't let them get caught out. Join our email list, sign up for mobile alerts, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook... whatever works for you, just make sure you don't miss this.
