Riding uphill on a Chair

Up-lifts in ski resorts fall into three main types. Drag lifts, Cable Cars and Chairlifts. Drag Lifts (Button, Poma or T-Bar) are a bit of a nightmare for novice skiers until you master the required skills. Drag Lifts simply tow you back up on your skis or board beside the piste. Cable cars and Gondolas – large or small sealed containers –  protect you from the elements (nice in bad weather), but in the huge ones you are likely to be packed in like sardines, uncomfortably close to a garlic reeking stranger, and the windows will usually be misted up so any potential view is limited.  Assuming of course that you are anywhere near a window – which is unlikely.

Chairlifts take you up the mountain, seated (big bonus), and with a grandstand view. What could be better!

On the chair to Furgg, Zermatt - click to enlarge

They can be very cold if it’s sub-zero and there’s a wind blowing, but modern ones usually come with a large transparent hood that can be lowered to protect the occupants from the elements but still allow a view.

I wish I'd gone on a beach holiday - click to enlarge

[Note – generally skiers look a lot happier than this miserable bunch!]

There’s something special (assuming you aren’t scared of heights), about riding up, admiring the views of the piste and its skiers from as much as 100ft or so up in the air with your legs and skis dangling in space.

Carving those turns - click to enlarge

They also offer opportunities to get the camera out (carefully) and capture some unusual images on the way.

The Matterhorn from the Furgg Chair, Zermatt - click to enlarge

Lenticular clouds over Chamonix - click to enlarge

While you are here , please read ‘Sleeping Rough‘ – a post on this blog about the Homeless this Christmas.  Thank you.