A Chondola:
What's the benefit of a Chondola? I've seen the word mentioned, but never actually realized what it was until now.
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Switzerland: The Land of Cool Ski Lifts
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
What's the benefit of a Chondola? I've seen the word mentioned, but never actually realized what it was until now.
Sunday River has one. They say that some folks prefer the gondola for summer use and in bad weather. And the North Peak Lodge is now in use year round and non-skiers just don't do chairs.
Jully
Active member
Skier preference? Also versatility in windy situations. I know SR will remove gondola cabins on days with high wind to enable the lift to still operate.
Other than those I am at a loss.
benski
Active member
People who prefer to keep there skis on can ride the chairs meanwhile people who prefer gondolas can ride the cabins vs. everyone having to ride either chairs or gondola cabins.
jimk
Well-known member
I've ridden the one at SR, but never have paid too much attention to chondolas either. However, I used one at Beaver Creek recently to great effect. I was there on Feb 28 for a one foot powder day. No one was skiing under the chondola and that line was skiing great.
It snowed all day and that lift was empty. Instinctively I kept going back to the gondola cabins to get out of the elements and did about 6 straight runs off it. Next day still good, but no need to wait for a gondi cabin:
edit: There are separate lines for gondi and chairs. Centennial Chondola at BC has more than 2000' vert, and is only six-pack chair/10pass gondi combo in the world. Details here on the great lift blog website:
https://liftblog.com/2015/07/17/lift-profile-centennial-chondola-at-beaver-creek/
It snowed all day and that lift was empty. Instinctively I kept going back to the gondola cabins to get out of the elements and did about 6 straight runs off it. Next day still good, but no need to wait for a gondi cabin:
edit: There are separate lines for gondi and chairs. Centennial Chondola at BC has more than 2000' vert, and is only six-pack chair/10pass gondi combo in the world. Details here on the great lift blog website:
https://liftblog.com/2015/07/17/lift-profile-centennial-chondola-at-beaver-creek/
Last edited:
Jully
Active member
Yeah. At least at SR there are separate lines. Separate unloading sections up top too obviously, meaning that you do not have people walking off of gondola cabins onto the chair offload ramp.
I knew SR had a "Chondola" but never really put two and two together. I always just sort of thought that was the name they gave their Gondola whenever I saw it mentioned. :smile:
Makes sense. What surprises me is that there aren't whole threads here devoted to complaining about chondola line abuse!
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
And thus the ultimate First-World Problem was resolved.
Jcb890
Active member
Interesting. I figured the majority of crowds would be skiers anyways though. Do you think the issues had to do with your friends' abilities as a rider or just the terrain itself? I'll readily admit I don't even bother with surface lifts. Traversing sucks, but sometimes is a necessary evil. Run-outs can be done if you can plan ahead for them... most of the time at least.
Stop Number Two: Mount Rigi off of Lake Lucerne
On the north is the village of Goldau. Sound familiar? It is where Garaventa is located and where many a tram have been born, including Snowbird's tram. Mount Rigi epotomizes the Swiss attitude of "why not?" It overlooks Lake Lucerne, has spectacular cliffs and views, and has been a point of interest for hundreds of years. There weren't really any roads up there. Instead, they have built several railways and trams to get you up there. Once you are up there you can go to a new world class spa (incredible), hike, relax, ski off of several T-Bars (or by taking the train), and enjoy the scenery.
The view from Luzern:
Pretty easy to know where to go once you get off the ferry:
The Tram from Weggis...built by Garaventa in Goldau:
Just amazing scenery:
CONCRETE support towers:
Coming into the summit station. One ski hill is on the far right.
Trams are not for you? Take the mountain railway. Amazing new train station that is incorporated into the Mineralbad & Spa Rigi Kaltbad.
Taking a nice leisurely stroll:
On the north is the village of Goldau. Sound familiar? It is where Garaventa is located and where many a tram have been born, including Snowbird's tram. Mount Rigi epotomizes the Swiss attitude of "why not?" It overlooks Lake Lucerne, has spectacular cliffs and views, and has been a point of interest for hundreds of years. There weren't really any roads up there. Instead, they have built several railways and trams to get you up there. Once you are up there you can go to a new world class spa (incredible), hike, relax, ski off of several T-Bars (or by taking the train), and enjoy the scenery.
The view from Luzern:
Pretty easy to know where to go once you get off the ferry:
The Tram from Weggis...built by Garaventa in Goldau:
Just amazing scenery:
CONCRETE support towers:
Coming into the summit station. One ski hill is on the far right.
Trams are not for you? Take the mountain railway. Amazing new train station that is incorporated into the Mineralbad & Spa Rigi Kaltbad.
Taking a nice leisurely stroll:
Here is a view of the top portion of Rigi. One railway runs along the right hand side, along the ridge, and to the top. Another one is below us.....just to the left of center through the trees. You can see the ski trail going around it and the chalets. The T-Bar, in a triangle shape, is in the center portion of the photo:
Said train. Ski trails on either side:
Former rail line now a XC ski trail, hiking trail, and trail for horse-drawn sleighs:
Someone getting fresh tracks:
Old railroad bridge:
Directing you to trails, trams, and railways:
See the ski trail?
Shot of the spa:
One of the ski hills and T-Bars:
Weggis Tram:
Next stop will be Zurich's equivalent of Wachusett: Flumserberg. You won't believe the lifts that "local's hill" has.
Said train. Ski trails on either side:
Former rail line now a XC ski trail, hiking trail, and trail for horse-drawn sleighs:
Someone getting fresh tracks:
Old railroad bridge:
Directing you to trails, trams, and railways:
See the ski trail?
Shot of the spa:
One of the ski hills and T-Bars:
Weggis Tram:
Next stop will be Zurich's equivalent of Wachusett: Flumserberg. You won't believe the lifts that "local's hill" has.
Jcb890
Active member
So cool! Thank you for sharing!
rocks860
Active member
Zermatt is amazing. I skied there back in 2003 I think when I was studying abroad. Spent a week there and stayed in a hostel.
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jimk
Well-known member
Where's the like button?
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
Is it easy to get lost skiing in Europe? Some of those areas are so massive I dont even know how you'd decide where to go. And when you ski from one town to two towns over, I guess there are taxis to take you back to your base hotel?
rocks860
Active member
Forget town to town, at zermatt you can ski from Switzerland to Italy
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