High Winds Force Gondola Closure, Hundreds Stranded Overnight On Grouse Mountain

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Dec, 2015 02:28 PM

VANCOUVER — Hundreds of people spent the night stranded on Vancouver's Grouse Mountain as high winds forced the resort to shut down its main gondola.

More than 300 visitors and about 100 staff were stuck in the mountain-top lodge as overnight winds peaked at more than 100 kilometres an hour.

It's all fun and games up Grouse Mountain until the wind picks up, the gondola has to close and you can't leave the mountain for 12 hours at 6:30 am the following day. Kudos to Grouse staff though who were pretty great at keeping us all happy #grousemountain #snow #wind #stuckupamountain

A photo posted by sarahjhampton (@sarahjhampton) on Dec 13, 2015 at 7:30am PST

Trams stopped operating between 11:30 p.m. on Sunday and around 5:30 a.m. the following day.

Grouse Mountain spokeswoman Julie Grant says the situation was unusual.

Grant says guests were kept comfortable through the night with blankets, snacks and hot chocolate, while Christmas movies played continuously in the theatre.

Because what else do you do when you're stranded on Grouse Mountain? #stillpretty #snow #grousemountain #wind #allthelights #withmylove #christmasdatenight

A photo posted by @stefi_w5 on Dec 13, 2015 at 12:22am PST

Blustery weather over the past 48 hours also managed to blanket the ski hill with 50 centimetres of fresh snow.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada Commits $2.65 Billion To Climate Fund To Help Developing Countries

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement Friday at the summit of Commonwealth leaders in Malta, where the battle against global warming is becoming the dominant issue.

Canada Commits $2.65 Billion To Climate Fund To Help Developing Countries

Saskatoon Health Region CEO Says Layoffs Coming Before Christmas Season

SASKATOON — Some Saskatoon Health Region employees will lose their jobs this holiday season, but just how many positions will be cut is still up in the air.

Saskatoon Health Region CEO Says Layoffs Coming Before Christmas Season

Doctors Gearing Up To Provide Syrian Refugees With Much-Needed Primary Health Care

Crossroads is one of several clinics that will provide health services to Syrian refugees who come to Toronto, which could take in thousands of migrants over the next few months.

Doctors Gearing Up To Provide Syrian Refugees With Much-Needed Primary Health Care

Supreme Court Defines People Smuggling In Pair Of Key Judgments

In a unanimous judgment Friday, the court ruled in favour of several Tamils who arrived in British Columbia in 2010 aboard the MV Sun Sea, a rickety boat carrying 492 passengers.

Supreme Court Defines People Smuggling In Pair Of Key Judgments

In Nanaimo, B.C., Snorkelling With Seals Is An Option Even In Winter

NANAIMO, B.C. — Snorkelling with harbour seals may seem like an unlikely Canadian wintertime activity, but tourism officials in Nanaimo say it's definitely doable.