Brains
When it comes to reaching the summit of the world’s largest ski resorts, there is no more spectacular way than by cable car. These engineering marvels transport snowsport enthusiasts as well as pedestrians to breathtaking altitudes, where powder-covered slopes and panoramic vistas await. While they may not be for those with a fear of heights, aerial tramways are actually the safest form of ski resort transport as well as public transport by any metric (number of passengers, number of trips, miles traveled, etc.).
We are showcasing to our SnowBrains readers the five most spectacular cable cars in ski resorts across the globe:
1. Aiguille du Midi Cable Car, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
– Altitude: 3,842m (12,605ft)
– Resort Size: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc offers 150km (94 miles) of groomed ski runs across an area of around 15,000 acres
Nestled in the heart of the French Alps, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc boasts the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car, ascending from the center of Chamonix town at 1,035m (3,396ft) to the peak or Aiguille du Midi 3,842m (12,605ft), making it the world’s highest vertical in two sections. This cable car provides access to some of the world’s most challenging and rewarding ski terrain in winter and is an ideal starting point for hiking to the top of Mont Blanc in summer. From the top station, you have spectacular views across France, Italy, and Switzerland. There is a cafeteria, several viewing platforms, a post office at the top station, and in the summer months, even a restaurant.
2. Titlis Rotair, Engelberg, Switzerland
– Altitude: 3,020m (9,908ft)
– Resort Size: Engelberg features 82km (50 miles) of groomed ski runs across 200 acres of ski area.
Switzerland’s Titlis Rotair cable car whisks skiers and snowboarders to the top of Mount Titlis, offering a 360-degree revolving cabin that reveals stunning Alpine vistas. The Titlis Rotair is the world’s first revolving cable car and transports you from the middle station to the summit station at 3,020m (9,908ft). During the 5-minute trip, the cable car rotates several times, treating you to idyllic panoramic views of steep rock faces, deep crevasses, and distant snow-covered mountain peaks. The cable car operates year-round and is very popular with international tourists.
3. Peak-2-Peak Gondola, Whistler Blackcomb, Canada
– Altitude: 1,430m (4,710ft)
– Resort Size: With a ski area that stretches across 8,717 acres of terrain, Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains have more than 200 trails combined and are serviced by 35 lifts and gondolas, including the Peak-2-Peak gondola.
Whistler Blackcomb’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola connects two mountain peaks and holds the record for the world’s highest cable car. It travels in one continuous lift line at 436m/1,427 ft above the valley floor and is a true marvel of engineering. It originally held the world record for the longest free span between ropeway towers at 3.03km (1.88 miles) but was overtaken in 2017 when the new Seilbahn Zugspitze cable car (see below) opened in Germany.
4. Zugspitze Cable Car, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
– Altitude: 2,962m (9,718ft)
– Resort Size: Zugspitze has 20km (12.5 miles) of groomed runs, but the area gives access to a total of 10 ski areas to keep you entertained.
Opened in April 2017, the new Zugspitze Cable Car boasts the longest free span between ropeway towers at 3,213m (10,541ft). It holds another world record, covering the largest vertical difference in the world with 1,945m (6,381ft) in altitude covered in one single section. The Zugspitze cable car delivers skiers to Germany’s highest peak, offering stunning views from the newly built top station of the Bavarian Alps. The cable cars boast heated floor-to-ceiling windows, which guarantee a spectacular view of more than 400 peaks in any weather condition.
5. Wildspitzbahn, Pitztal Glacier, Austria
– Altitude: 3,440m (11,286 ft)
– Resort Size: The area at the Pitztal Glacier offers 41km (25 miles) of groomed ski runs. There are many other ski areas nearby for more variety.
Like a space egg, the top station of the Wildspitzbahn juts out over the Austrian peaks. The Wildspitzbahn gondola takes skiers to the heart of the Pitztal Glacier, where pristine snow and high-altitude adventures await. The top station features Austria’s highest cafeteria and offers delicious cakes as well as spectacular views of Austria’s glaciers almost year-round.
