Ski lift
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A ski lift is a mechanism for transporting skiers up a hill. Ski lifts are typically a paid service at ski resorts. The first ski lift was built in 1908 by German Robert Winterhalder in Schollach/Eisenbach, Hochschwarzwald.<ref>Hochschwarzwald.de: 1. Skilift der Welt in Schollach entdecken (German)</ref>
Types
- Aerial lifts transport skiers while suspended off the ground.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Aerial lifts are often bicable ropeways, the "bi-" prefix meaning that the cables have two different functions (carrying and pulling).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Surface lifts, including T-bars, magic carpets, and rope tows.
- Cable railways, including funiculars
- Helicopters are used for heliskiing and snowcats for snowcat skiing. This is backcountry skiing or boarding accessed by a snowcat or helicopter instead of a lift, or by hiking. Cat skiing is less than half the cost of heliskiing, more expensive than a lift ticket but is easier than ski touring. Cat skiing is guided.<ref name=hound>Template:Cite web</ref> Skiing at select, extreme resorts, like Silverton Mountain, is also guided, even when skiing just off the lift.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Locations
Ski lifts are built in many parts of the world. Extreme locations of outdoor ski lifts:
- The northernmost is near Tromsø, Norway
- The southernmost is near Ushuaia, Argentina
- The closest to the equator in the northern hemisphere is near Liang, China
- The closest to the equator in the southern hemisphere is near Mahlasela, Lesotho