Lift Development

The Symphony Express Chairlift Project

The Symphony Express high-speed chairlift opened on December 16, 2006, bringing access to 1,000 acres of skiable terrain. This area, known as the Symphony Amphitheatre, was previously accessed only by hiking in and
out, provides an inbounds backcountry experience to skiers and riders.

Construction Phase

A team consisting of a ski area planner, lift engineer, biologist, Black bear researcher, and professional forester worked on a sustainable design that had to manage a lift with 2,400-hour capacity, but could not alter the natural wildlife and fish ecosystems. Through team and public consultation

Whistler Blackcomb placed habitat protection at the center of its 2006 Symphony Project, which involved expanding its terrain into an alpine area known as the Piccolo Peak/Symphony basin. The team developed a minimalist design that kept wildlife habitat intact. Ultimately the project’s footprint was reduced to less than five per cent, down from an original estimate of 40 per cent.

Symphony Amphitheatre Facts & Stats

Reducing the footprint:

• The team focused only on moving trees that were between tree islands or presented a disease threat. This mimics the natural succession of forests at higher elevations as trees need to cluster to survive. Forest species composition was essential, leaving trees that represented a minority species percentage of the overall stand.  Seventy per cent of the stand was sub-alpine Fir with the remainder being Hemlock and Cedar.   

• Each day during logging operations photos and observations were made at all designated visual corridors. Changes were made on a daily basis to ensure no linear or other unnatural visual affect occurred.
• Trees were removed via helicopter and all lift towers and assemblies were placed via helicopter.
• This selective forestry approach called a “silviculture prescription” enhanced lichen production for deer and berry production for black bears.
• Denning and wetlands areas were completely safeguarded from development. Landings for harvested trees and lift tower assembly were allocated in a different watershed where ground was already disturbed. The bottom lift station location was relocated to stay out of sub-alpine wetlands
• Setbacks were established for water courses, ensuring no unnatural sediment flow.

• All lift foundations were built over the snow ensuring ground disturbance was reduced to the foundation site only. This work was done in April/May 2006 under a one to three meter snow pack. Thirty-five to 40-tonne excavators worked overnight and early morning while the snow pack was firm. Meanwhile, fuel was flown to work sites.
• Limited blasting work was performed only by hand drills.
• Course woody debris was prescribed at the direction of a biologist.
• Fuel loads were assessed to ensure low future fire threats.

Micro-Hydro Project

In addition to reducing the ecological footprint of the Symphony Express, Whistler Blackcomb also implemented a renewable energy source to power several man-made features related to the chairlift. This 10-kilowatt turbine in Flute Creek, which is adjacent to the Symphony Chair, powers the lights and heat for the lift hut and washroom at the base of the Symphony Express Chair. The micro-hydro project was the first project of its kind for the ski resort.

Awards

• In 2006, Whistler Blackcomb received the Tourism British Columbia Award for Environmentally Responsible Tourism and was recognized for its work on the Symphony Express.
• In 2007, Whistler Blackcomb received the Silver Eagle Award for Fish & Wildlife Habitat Protection for the development of the Symphony Amphitheatre.