North America's Longest And Fastest 10-Person Gondola Opens Today In Colorado
Today, at 9 a.m., saw the opening of Steamboat Ski Resort's new Wild Blue Gondola, the fastest and longest 10-person Gondola in North America.
The resort's decision to open the Gondola came after the arrival of 50 inches of snow in December, facilitating expanded terrain operations.
The Wild Blue Gondola transports skiers from Steamboat Square—through the Greenhorn Ranch mid-station—to the top of the 10,384-foot Sunshine Peak. In total, the Gondola spans 16,000 horizontal feet and 3,371 vertical feet. The ride time from base to summit is a brisk 13 minutes.
The lower portion of the Wild Blue Gondola—from Steamboat Square to Greenhorn Ranch—can operate independently from the upper section, allowing for the Gondola's continued use if the upper mountain is experiencing high winds.
One skier, who shared his story on Reddit, couldn't contain his excitement for the new Gondola, queueing up seven hours in advance last night.
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It was an interesting, borderline questionable decision. While Steamboat offered free cookies and commemorative Wild Blue gifts to the first skiers and riders on the Gondola, there was little to be gained by waiting alone for hours.
The absurdity wasn't lost on the intrepid skier. "I'm cold, tired, and have 7 hours until it opens. I think this was a mistake, but I'm here now," he wrote below his Reddit post.
Still, he remained defiant against the naysayers, holding to his guiding mantra: "I want the glory of being first," he wrote—a goal he made manifest when he caught the first Wild blue Gondola car at 9 a.m. You have to respect the tenacity.
With the Wild Blue open, Steamboat has tacked an additional 600 acres onto its current terrain offerings. The resort is now 30 percent open with more than 60 trails, 16 lifts, and over 1,100 acres of skiable runs.
Related: Colorado's Snowiest Ski Resort Picks Up 10 Inches Of Fresh
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