I love it when people come to me and say they heard a rumour that they want me to check into.
This happens to me a lot and most of the time I nod and smile and say I will check into it but then instantly forget about it because it is the craziest thing I've ever heard and know that to follow up would be a complete waste of my time.
A rumour came to me late last year that fit into the category of being simply too outlandish to be true. One of my best sources told me someone is talking about building a gondola to take people up the Stawamus Chief to see the view from the top of our beloved granite monolith.
I wrote it off as an impossible dream. My source provided me with a local name: a respected business person and an entrepreneur with a proven track record. This particular person was someone who I needed to talk to about something completely unrelated. I decided to just ask if there was any truth to the rumour.
This individual said he was not involved in any such initiative. He seemed genuine and I believed him - and I still believe that he is not involved.
After that conversation, the rumour came back to me from a number of other sources. I concluded the rumour is too lively to be just that, so I talked to a few more people who are close to issues like this one and asked a bunch of questions.
Normally, I don't write things that come from sources I can't name but in this instance, naming my sources will apparently upset the proponents of the project and get a whole string of local people in trouble. And, my sources told me that this proposal is very real.
So, if you too heard that someone is thinking of installing a gondola to make the vistas from the top of the Stawamus Chief more accessible to more people, don't dismiss it as a pipe dream. The initiative is reportedly backed up with documentation, drawings and private funding.
From what I understand, the proponents are having trouble selling the idea to the climbing community. Mayor Ian Sutherland confirmed for me that if the project's Whistler-based proponents have support from climbers and other groups in the community then it will have a better chance at succeeding.
From my own informal conversations I can see why. The idea isn't well-received in my circle of acquaintances. Most people want the natural beauty of Squamish's climbing and hiking hot spot preserved.
I wish the gondola proponents all the best. It looks to me like getting the project up the mountain won't be easy.
Done right, a gondola could be an excellent addition to the community.
