using a drag lift

It often is the simple questions that cause much discussion!

There are three basic reasons for such "lifts"!
1. Economic
Many of the European centers are local/village type centers! it costs much less to have such lifts!

2.Many such lifts are in the high plateau/peak areas of skiing again cost is factor but also ecological impact!

3. In high "avalanch" areas it is better to have such lifts, since rebuilding pulley type system is much easier and cheaper!
If you ever ski Fernie Ski Resort, there is a T-bar lift that every year gets ripped away by avalanche. In fact the top anchor posts and pulley system are designed to release from base!
In Fall a new system is place!

pavelski wrote:It often is the simple questions that cause much discussion!

There are three basic reasons for such "lifts"!
1. Economic
Many of the European centers are local/village type centers! it costs much less to have such lifts!

pavelski wrote:2.Many such lifts are in the high plateau/peak areas of skiing again cost is factor but also ecological impact!

the impact of a ground lift is far higher in ecological terms, they disturb the local flora and fauna, that's why you see chamois or ibex under aerial lifts and not strolling along side you on a drag lift.

pavelski wrote:3. In high "avalanch" areas it is better to have such lifts, since rebuilding pulley type system is much easier and cheaper!
If you ever ski Fernie Ski Resort, there is a T-bar lift that every year gets ripped away by avalanche. In fact the top anchor posts and pulley system are designed to release from base!
In Fall a new system is place!

that might be true in Fernie, although I doubt it really, in the rest of the world lifts are protected from avalanche risk, less people die that way. Aerial lifts are much safer, pylons can be placed at safe distance in islands of safety with spans extending over any terrain traps.

http://www.avalanche.org/proc-show.php3?OID=5406924

You never know


Trencher

Trencher wrote:http://www.avalanche.org/proc-show.php3?OID=5406924

You never know


Trencher

Interesting incident, more so because it was inbounds as I read the report. Was it you who commented a while back inbounds incidents were on the increase?

ise wrote:
Interesting incident, more so because it was inbounds as I read the report. Was it you who commented a while back inbounds incidents were on the increase?

It was one of several inbounds fatalities that year.
In that incident I read a few comments that the wind caused by the avalanche might have dislodged the kid from the chair.

Trencher

Trencher wrote:

ise wrote:
Interesting incident, more so because it was inbounds as I read the report. Was it you who commented a while back inbounds incidents were on the increase?

It was one of several inbounds fatalities that year.
In that incident I read a few comments that the wind caused by the avalanche might have dislodged the kid from the chair.

Trencher

IIRC, that was the official verdict from the report, i.e. the air-blast dislodged him. What I don't recall though is was the chair-lift equipped with safety bars and were they in use? It all sounded rather avoidable sadly.

Perhaps just to lighten the mood I would like to make a small comment in support of the humble drag lift.

How often do we hear "experts" extolling us to warm-up before setting off at the beginning of the day? But how many repeat the warning about dismounting from Cablecars, Gondolas, or chairs? I find that using a "surface lift" keeps me just warm enough that additional warmups are not required whilst a long journey up in/on a non-surface lift often leaves me cold and stiff. From the point of view of continued warmth I would like to vote for surface lifts. Additionally the use of a drag gives many people the chance to "stretch-out" tight legs and re-establish blood flow to cold feet.

Perhaps for those who only get a few days skiing per year the chance to get some "free" fitness training may be more valuable than the comfort of a chair ...

I'd also mention that a resort with a high level of surface lifts is unlikely to attract a high percentage of snow-boarders ... Don't know what that matters but I thought I'd mention it :)

Jan

Jan I Stenmark wrote:

Perhaps for those who only get a few days skiing per year the chance to get some "free" fitness training may be more valuable than the comfort of a chair ...

I'd also mention that a resort with a high level of surface lifts is unlikely to attract a high percentage of snow-boarders ... Don't know what that matters but I thought I'd mention it :)

Jan

I'm reasonably fit, but I still hate to expend energy going up the hill.

I've mentioned in the past that my local little ski hill has put more people on the US ski team than any other place. Locals attribute this to the high speed rope tow that is on the slalom run. It goes three times as fast as the chair lift. and kids training will go up it 30/40 times a session. It is said to give them thighs like tree trunks. When that run is open and my short memory forgets, I've gone up that rope tow. You get to the top and and your thighs are burning, abs aching, and arms feel stretched. I normally have to catch my breath befor starting down.
Try it on a snowboard and your eyes are watering halfway up from the discomfort.

Trencher