Industry News
After a loaded gondola cabin fell from the Golden Eagle Express lift at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort on March 10, the resort has suspended all operations on the lift while an in-depth investigation unfolds. The incident, which occurred as the cabin was leaving the bottom terminal with eight people inside, resulted in no serious injuries—but it has left one of British Columbia’s premier ski resorts without access to most of its terrain.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) confirmed Thursday that the Golden Eagle Express will remain closed for at least another week while officials from Leitner-Poma and Technical Safety BC examine what caused the mechanical failure. The issue appears to have stemmed from a snapped hanger arm, the part that connects the cabin to the haul rope. As a result, the cabin dropped a short distance to the ground near the base station.
“The Golden Eagle Express Gondola remains out of service at this time,” the resort wrote on its online Snow Report on Wednesday. “Our lift maintenance team and senior management continue to work closely with Technical Safety BC and our lift manufacturer to investigate the root cause of the March 10 incident and develop a safe plan for returning the gondola to service. We understand that many guests are eager for updates, and we appreciate your patience. The next scheduled update will be provided on Wednesday, March 26.”
The Golden Eagle Express is central to resort operations. At 11,266 feet in length and over 3,500 vertical feet of gain, the lift ferries skiers from the base area to Eagle’s Eye restaurant and the upper alpine. More than 70% of Kicking Horse’s skiable terrain is normally accessed via this lift—including the Stairway to Heaven Chair, the resort’s high-alpine workhorse.
With the lift offline and no return-to-service timeline in place, KHMR has pivoted to an unconventional solution: opening an uphill travel route. Beginning last Saturday, March 15, skiers are now able to hike or skin from the top of the Pioneer Chairlift to the base of Stairway to Heaven. From there, the lift is spinning daily (conditions permitting) between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to allow access to alpine terrain. While the distance hasn’t been officially released, resort staff are encouraging guests to use touring gear or bootpack setups to complete the connection. This approach mirrors trends across the ski industry, where uphill access and backcountry touring have gained traction in recent years.
To account for the limited lift access, Kicking Horse has reduced its ticket pricing, with adult lift tickets now starting at $72.95. RCR Rockies Card holders can still apply their discounts to the adjusted rate. Guests are encouraged to visit Guest Services in the Whitetooth Grill Daylodge for full pricing details or to purchase tickets in person.
Though the workaround won’t fully replace the uphill capacity or convenience of the gondola, early feedback from guests has been positive. The resort has framed it as an opportunity to embrace a more self-powered style of skiing, while still delivering access to the steep chutes and alpine bowls that define the Kicking Horse experience. The resort says it will issue its next update on the Golden Eagle Express status by Wednesday, March 26. In the meantime, KHMR is urging patience while safety teams and engineers work to understand what went wrong. As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the mountain is still open—but guests will need to earn their turns.
