Canada - Sea-to-Sky gondola cable deliberately cut, Squamish, BC, 10 Aug 2019

[dotr]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/squamish-gondola-falls-1.5242787

"RCMP say they believe someone deliberately cut the cable of the Sea-to-Sky gondola located along Highway 99 in Squamish, B.C., felling the two-kilometre cable route early Saturday morning.

The gondola, which wasn't operating at the time, normally carries up to 240 passengers at a time on its 30 cars. The trip from the base to the summit 885 metres above sea level lasts approximately 10 minutes and gives visitors views over Howe Sound. It is a major tourist destination in B.C.

"We believe the cables were cut and this was a deliberate act of vandalism, " said Inspector Kara Triance with Squamish RCMP. "

"At this time, it's a crime scene."

Almost all of the 30 gondola cars attached to the cable crashed to the ground at around 4 a.m., according to staff working overnight. No injuries have been reported as a result of the incident."

"RCMP officers are canvassing a large geographic area for their investigation.

"The trails in the area may have been used to access the gondola line," said Triance".

 

[dotr]

 

[muggles63]

This is terrible, thankfully it was not open when it happened

 

[dotr]

August 12, 2019
Cable snaps, B.C. tourist gondola plunges, sabotage suspected
"Police continue to investigate what appears to be a terrifying potential act of sabotage in British Columbia that the RCMP say would have had “catastrophic” results had the timing been different

The RCMP believe someone deliberately cut the cable of the Sea-to-Sky gondola along Highway 99 in Squamish, causing 30 gondola cars to crash to the ground around 4 a.m Saturday morning.

Hikers camping in the area say they were woken by loud banging and sounds of metal scraping.

The gondola, which was not operating at the time, normally carries up to 240 passengers in the 30 cars on a 10-minute trip from the base to the summit 885 metres above sea level.

The Sea-to-Sky gondola in normal times, when it carries up to 1,500 and 3,000 guests a day during the summer. (CBC)

Between 1,500 and 3,000 guests visit the gondola each day during the summer season"

 

[TristanP]

Yowza! What kind of equipment would it take to cut a cable like that? It must be huge!

 

[dotr]

Sept 18 2019 rbbm.
Sea to Sky Gondola sabotaged, concludes report
"The safety authority, which launched an investigation following the collapse of the gondola on Aug. 10, says there were no defects with the haul rope or the design of the haul rope that contributed to its separation.

The report concludes that the haul rope was deliberately cut, resulting in approximately 30 gondola cabins falling to the ground, causing damage beyond repair."
"The incident happened just hours before the popular attraction was set to open to hundreds of visitors."

"Jeff Coleman, director of risk and safety knowledge at Technical Safety BC, says the rope wires were “substantially cut” while under tension.

“Once a sufficient number of wire strands had been cut, the remaining rope segment yielded under the tension from the non-operating gondola,” he said, in a statement."

 

[LadyL]

wow that is terrible - how will they find the perp? I hope there's surveillance video ... if not, I'm sure there will be after this (and security)

 

[dotr]

Cut again!
Sept 14 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sea-to-sky-gondola-vandalism-2020-1.5723042

''The cable of the Sea-to-Sky Gondola has been deliberately cut for the second year in a row, and less than six months after the attraction fully reopened.

General manager Kirby Brown confirmed the 55 millimetre-thick line of the gondola was severed overnight, sending cars crashing to the ground.

Brown said his phone started ringing off the hook before dawn with the news.

"This is a repeat incident of what happened last year," he said. "... We are in shock."

''No one was hurt. Police have not announced any arrests for the 2019 crime''.

''The two kilometre-long gondola, located off Highway 99 near the Stawamus Chief mountain, is a major tourist attraction carrying 400,000 visitors annually up a steep mountainside above Howe Sound.''

 

[LadyL]

Cut again!
Sept 14 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sea-to-sky-gondola-vandalism-2020-1.5723042

''The cable of the Sea-to-Sky Gondola has been deliberately cut for the second year in a row, and less than six months after the attraction fully reopened.

General manager Kirby Brown confirmed the 55 millimetre-thick line of the gondola was severed overnight, sending cars crashing to the ground.

Brown said his phone started ringing off the hook before dawn with the news.

"This is a repeat incident of what happened last year," he said. "... We are in shock."

''No one was hurt. Police have not announced any arrests for the 2019 crime''.

''The two kilometre-long gondola, located off Highway 99 near the Stawamus Chief mountain, is a major tourist attraction carrying 400,000 visitors annually up a steep mountainside above Howe Sound.''

oh ok great and they didn't bother to install surveillance after the last time?

 

[dotr]

Lengthy article..rbbm.
Sept 14 2020
UPDATED: For the second time, the Sea to Sky Gondola has been cut down
As smog from forest fires burning in the United States enveloped town, the incident happened in the early morning hours of Sept. 14.
"Almost the exact same situation as last year," general manager Kirby Brown told The Chief. "An individual climbed the tower with the right tool with great speed and cut through the cable and brought the system down."

''He didn't say if there was any indication that it was the same perpetrator as last year, but noted that the crime was repeated in what appeared to be a proficient manner.

"You can draw your own conclusion on that one," he said. "He certainly knew when and how to do it."

There is an image from security cameras, Brown said, adding the RCMP has much more to work with this time around.''

''The method used to cut the gondola this time, like the last time, can only be done when the gondola is closed and the lift is turned off, he said.''

''Banks said she didn't know whether there was any note or manifesto sent or posted by the suspect, but asked if anyone online sees anything like that, to contact the Squamish RCMP with that information.''

''The associate director of SFU's school of criminology speculated that the incident could be an act of protest.''

"We can think of it [as] terrorism in the sense that it is terrorizing to people who routinely use the facility who start to worry that it is safe to participate. That is a form of certainly impact on the community that feels like terrorism," he said.''

 

[Satchie]

Whoever it was chose a night when heavy smoke obscured the camera images and probably kept other people away.

IMO it's related to an expansion proposal announced in 2019. Sea to Sky Gondola proposes spiraling, mid-air tree walk in new expansion plans

I would guess, a somewhat deranged climber who is angry at how busy and expensive the
Vancouver/Squamish area has become.

 

[LadyL]

HUGE REWARD OFFERED!

Owners of vandalized gondola in Squamish, B.C., offer $250,000 reward for information

 

[Pipsissiway_Potts]

from the CBC, September 14, 2022, RCMP release thermal image, profile of suspect

a poster on Reddit posited a theory that whoever is cutting the gondola cables is a serial vandal, similar to an arsonist, due to similar vandalism near enough to be possibly from the same person,

Also from the CBC, July 10, 2019, Dangerous act of vandalism damages transformers in Vancouver and from the North Shore Daily Post, October 24, 2019, Someone again is drilling holes in BC Hydro transformers

 

[dotr]

Sep 14, 2022

''Still no arrests since gondola cable was severed in 2019 and 2020; reward for info doubled to $500K''​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sea-to-sky-gondola-vandalism-update-2022-1.6582667

''RCMP have released a profile and a thermal image of the person suspected of cutting the cable of the Sea to Sky Gondola twice in the past three years.

The individual is believed to be "extremely fit," know the area around the gondola well and have extensive knowledge of the tools needed to cause damage to the cable while allowing them to get away safely.

The gondola's cable was deliberately severed on separate occasions in 2019 and 2020.

RCMP Sgt. Chris Manseau says investigators believe it could have been the same person who severed the cable both times, sending the gondola's cabins crashing to the ground, but different people may also be involved.

"We know there are people out there with information that could assist police with this investigation," said Manseau on Wednesday.''

 

[annpats]

Sep 14, 2022

''Still no arrests since gondola cable was severed in 2019 and 2020;​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sea-to-sky-gondola-vandalism-update-2022-1.6582667

Well, he may have had a year off in 2021, but with any luck he will come back again in 2022. The year isn't out yet....still 3 and a half months to go.

Let's hope lessons have been learned, and more cameras with night vision have been installed around the gondola and also on some of the access trails.
Let's get this person caught, 3rd time lucky.

 

[Tee7077]

Well, he may have had a year off in 2021, but with any luck he will come back again in 2022. The year isn't out yet....still 3 and a half months to go.

Let's hope lessons have been learned, and more cameras with night vision have been installed around the gondola and also on some of the access trails.
Let's get this person caught, 3rd time lucky.

Openly rooting for sabotage? I kinda like the cut of your jib!