Whistler, British Columbia — The Glacier Express is among the most majestic chairlifts at Whistler Blackcomb. The 1992 detachable high-speed quad chairlift provides views of the dramatic backdrop of Blackcomb. The high-alpine chairlift services intermediate and advanced terrain near the peak of Blackcomb. Unfortunately, it’s been down for a while now.
Last week, Whistler Blackcomb stated that the Glacier Express will not operate for the foreseeable future because of a mechanical issue either with the gearbox or bullwheel.
Yesterday, Whistler Blackcomb updated guests on the status of the Glacier Express. Lift maintenance crews discovered that the issue is a damaged gearbox. Due to this being a challenging repair, it won’t reopen for the next storm, which is coming tomorrow. A reopening date has yet to be announced. For now, those who want to access high-alpine terrain on Blackcomb will need to ride the 7th Heaven Express.
Vail Resorts has seen various lift issues across its portfolio this ski season. A few examples include the Pioneer Chairlift not operating yet at Park City, and two lifts currently being down at New Hampshire’s Wildcat Mountain. Whistler Blackcomb’s a complex ski resort with many lifts, and this situation shows how challenging running it can be, especially considering its operator has to monitor dozens of other ski resorts.

Image/Video Credits: Whistler Blackcomb (@mattsylvester)