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The Saga of the Hollyburn Chairlift Part 1 On January 17, 1951, the Hollyburn chairlift was officially opened. Hollyburners who had previously relied on a network of logging roads and trails to reach their cabins and skiing grounds could now look forward to a 12 minute ride from Hat-Inn at 300m to Hi-View Lodge at 850m. For school-age children growing up in the 1950's, the "Chairway to the Stars" provided thrills that rivaled those experienced on the scariest amusement park rides. To the generations that preceded them, the easy access provided by the Hollyburn chairlift robbed the mountain of some of its charm. Hollyburn was no longer an 'exclusive' playground for teenagers and young adults. For Hi Colville, Bill Theodore, Dick Lawrence, Roy Sims and others who had invested time and money in Hollyburn Aerial Trams Ltd., the inaugural run of the chairlift was the realization of a dream. They believed that Hollyburn could now compete with nearby Grouse Mountain, which had opened a chairlift in 1948. First official ride up Hi Colville's "Chairway to the Stars" by Reverend Williams, 22"<* United Church, January, 1951 (Bas Collins Collection) The Hollyburn chairlift was designed by Riblet Tramway Company of Spokane, which also provided prefabricated materials for the towers, chairs, and loading platforms. Unlike Grouse's double chairlift, most of the chairs on the Hollyburn lift were single. Hi-View Lodge, built beside the top station, was a magnificent log building, where visitors could enjoy a meal and an expansive view of the Lower Mainland. Oscar Pearson, owner/operator of the Hollyburn Ski Camp from 1927 to 1946, was on hand to greet people when they reached the top of the lift. Page 3 Cont'd. next column Hollyburn Chairlift - cont'd. Hi-View Lodge, January, 1955. (Bill & June Prior Collection. During the fourteen year lifespan of the Hollyburn Chairlift, thousands of people made the trip up and down the mountain without incident. Many were day- trippers, coming to enjoy the ski facilities at Hi-View, Westlake, and First Lake. Others were cabin owners, carrying essential supplies for their weekend retreats, some quiet, some a little more boisterous. Oscar Pearson on the upper terminua loading platform; March 1955. (Bill & June Prior Collection) On occasion, Hollyburners would begin to consume the most essential of these supplies while still on the chairlift. This less than responsible use of alcohol resulted in some memorable trips. A case in point: A few years ago, HHS secretary-treasurer lola Knight found a bottle of wine, half full, near one of the old chairlift towers. Although tempted, she decided not to sample this mature vintage. Perhaps the bottle had been thrown or dropped there by the young man who, smitten by the damsel on the chair ahead of him, had attempted to join her by making a hand-to-hand trip along the cable. Unfortunately for him, the object of his affections went by the next tower before he could reach her, forcing him to drop to the snows below. There were other incidents trips on the chairlift that were memorable for the wrong reasons. Cont'd. page four.