Best lift or tram in the world

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Originally Posted by addict

I 2nd Truth. That La Grave lift is a rockstar. Totally rad. Especially when it stops over the big upper bowl and that crazy black dog that lurks on the mountain just barks and barks at it from, like, 300ft below for no reason.

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Is he the one that hops in the gondala to hitch a ride.

I love that lift. I get butterflies whenever I'm in it.

@fabio, Non Autorizzato

aiguille de midi is definitly the best I know of. 2nd would be lagrave, followed by mont gélé if it would only be running once and a while, gemsstock, and mont fort..

is that krippenstein, subtle?

nobody's mentioned the single at mad river glen?

travesty!

Well, the top 5 that i´ve taken.

1.Punta Indren : You get the biggest thrill wondering if its gonna make it or not.
2.La Grave : Well, it´s a legend.
3.Marte : Giggling manically all the way to the top if that piece of shit is running.
4.Klein Matterhorn: The views and the possibilities are just mindblowing.
5.My legs.



It´ll be nice to go to cham next aprill. Wonder if i finally would get on the Aguile D´Midi tram, after 10+ visits to cham...
Yes.

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Originally Posted by Mrs Roo

I get butterflies whenever I'm in it.

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especially when the door does not close correctly or some french rastalookalikes open it again to roll a spliff. :)

@ greg: yup.

My favorite lifts (That I've ridden personally, in no particular order. I've ridden other lifts on other peoples' lists, but this is purely due to the quality of skiing I've personally had on them):

1. Palivacinni, A-basin
2. Single Chair, MRG
3. Alberta, Wolf Creek
4. KT-22, Squaw Valley
5. Sundown Express, Steamboat

My fave five:

1. La Grave gondola
2. Vaujany tram
3. KT-22 at Squaw
4. JH tram
5. Chair 10 Kirkwood

The best lift in my history, and some of you "older" schoolers might agree with me...

The old Bannock double chair at Grand Targhee. The first time I rode that thing I was 6 years old with my dad. It was the biggest chairlift I had ever ridden. We approached the midway drop off, and the wind was howlin', snowing sideways. You could see about 30 feet in front of you. My dad said "you wanna get off here, or go to the top?" I looked up at my dad and saw a big grin on his face, and I looked down at his 210cm Dynastar GS race skis. Then I looked down at my little K2 rental skis. I was scared to death, but how could I tell my dad that I was scared. "Let's go to the top" I said lightly. In my mind, I knew as long and I followed his navy blue parka and those big Dynastars, everything would be ok. Being 6 years old, what was boot-top average Targhee powder to my dad was huge to me; at times waist deep. I was so scared of going fast into the white unknown fog, but I skied as fast as I possibly could to keep up with him (french fries - pizza shape - french fries...). All I could hear was wind and the subtle scrape of our skis on the harder snow underneath. Every once in a while the subtle outline of a lonely tree would go by in the distance. All I could do is focus on the back of my dad.... when suddenly we dropped below the fog and I could see the base area. We went into the lodge and got a hot chocolate and a cinimon roll to share. After that, I said "Let's do that again!"

I was hooked.

I'd have to throw an honorable mention to chair 2 at Alyeska from the days before the tram and high speed lift. Access to the high traverse and the north face, powder all day. Unfortunately I haven't been there since the tram went in.

I know Vail sucks, but I've had more good days than bad riding Chair 5. Same goes for Grouse Mt. in the Beav.

Since you guys are on the Tram, I'll yoyo Little Cloud at the 'Bird and Supreme at Alta. Then again I don't huck.

Who am I kidding... I'd trade most of the stuff I own for that slightly weightless feeling after Tower 1 on a Powder day.

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Originally Posted by addict

I 2nd Truth. That La Grave lift is a rockstar. Totally rad. Especially when it stops over the big upper bowl and that crazy black dog that lurks on the mountain just barks and barks at it from, like, 300ft below for no reason.

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That would be Sam, the dog noted for the potency of his wind when in the gondola. Link by Supercastor.

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Originally Posted by 72Twenty

The best lift in my history, and some of you "older" schoolers might agree with me...

The old Bannock double chair at Grand Targhee. The first time I rode that thing I was 6 years old with my dad. It was the biggest chairlift I had ever ridden. We approached the midway drop off, and the wind was howlin', snowing sideways. You could see about 30 feet in front of you. My dad said "you wanna get off here, or go to the top?" I looked up at my dad and saw a big grin on his face, and I looked down at his 210cm Dynastar GS race skis. Then I looked down at my little K2 rental skis. I was scared to death, but how could I tell my dad that I was scared. "Let's go to the top" I said lightly. In my mind, I knew as long and I followed his navy blue parka and those big Dynastars, everything would be ok. Being 6 years old, what was boot-top average Targhee powder to my dad was huge to me; at times waist deep. I was so scared of going fast into the white unknown fog, but I skied as fast as I possibly could to keep up with him (french fries - pizza shape - french fries...). All I could hear was wind and the subtle scrape of our skis on the harder snow underneath. Every once in a while the subtle outline of a lonely tree would go by in the distance. All I could do is focus on the back of my dad.... when suddenly we dropped below the fog and I could see the base area. We went into the lodge and got a hot chocolate and a cinimon roll to share. After that, I said "Let's do that again!"

I was hooked.

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Great story. I wish I could have gone skiing with my dad.

1. Silverton's chair (forget propper name). Always freshies, no deushies
2. Blackcomb chair
3. Jean Paul at Snowbasin
4. Jackson Tram
5. Marte (would be 1st but it never runs and has a HUGE line when it does)

honorable mentions: RJ and Condor at Portillo, Snowbird Tram, Germania, the chair on the side of Baker (forgot name), main chair in Termas, Summit @ Bachelor, BD Ascension Skins

Silverton, Poma & High Lift @ Crested Butte in addtion to what's already been mentioned.

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Originally Posted by bad_roo

Great story. I wish I could have gone skiing with my dad.

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That was a great one. I skied at Targhee as a youngster as well. My first experience with real powder. I remember being bogged down somewhere in the flats in chest deep. My mom had to pull me and my dad had to pull my sister (who was a little bigger) out with our poles.

I remember being utterly confused by my lack of progress and just standing in what seemed like a flood of snow, nobody around except my family, complete whiteness beyond 100 feet, and my mom and dad were laughing and laughing as the trudged their way back to retreive my sis and I. Thank goodness for my trusty Rossignol Smash Jrs. My first powder boards.

Fun stuff the seventies were.

nate

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Originally Posted by mattitude

http://www.mattitude.com/images/auguille_du_midi.jpg

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CHECK OUT THAT SWITCHBACK ACROSS THE VALLEY!!!

That would be such a sick run topside!

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Originally Posted by Mulletizer

That would be Sam, the dog noted for the potency of his wind when in the gondola. Link by Supercastor.

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That story nails it. I'lll never forget the ride I shared with Sam in a gondy with a broken door and ex-pat Americans discussing new arrival of another member of the Coombs family the previous evening. Quite the day, yeah, it was quite a day.

http://homepage.mac.com/hakcds/.Pict...1C4F5711D8.jpg

My favorite lift is the one I'm on.

Other than that, I'd have to say, of the ones I've done its:
Class Loony::Loony
La Grave Deuxieme Etage,
Punta Indren (Alagna),
Klein Matterhorn;

Class Dolls Head Soup::Loony
Val Frejus Upper Gondola,
JH tram,
Boid Tram,
Silverton;

Class Heart Pure Twinkie Cream::Loony
MRG Single,
Castlerock,
Alpental #2,
Chair 6 Crystal,
Mania (RIP),
Granite Red,
Summit Whitewater,
Peak Whistler;


On the list:
Marte'
Midi
Grand Montets
Mont Forte

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Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

Alpental #2
Chair 6 Crystal

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Two solid choices!!

Bochard gondy, which accesses the vast open fields of Le Lavancher, a region so huge you ski untracked snow 2-3 days after a storm.

http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_45538.jpg

...and it's spelled A-I-G-U-I-L-L-E. Learn your fucking German.

http://www.francemonthly.com/n/1204/...able-car-6.jpg

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Originally Posted by homerjay

My favorite lifts (That I've ridden personally, in no particular order. I've ridden other lifts on other peoples' lists, but this is purely due to the quality of skiing I've personally had on them):

1. Palivacinni, A-basin

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I really do have to agree here. The lift isn't all that impressive compared to midi, but the memories that ive had on that lift and for the terrain it accesses are truely my best memories of skiing.

A couple votes here for the Peak chair at Whistler, but what about Harmony? Not too shabby, either.

Besides Indren, Midi, Matterhorn, La Grave ect. the gondolas up to Forcella Staunies and Tofana @ Cortina and the Marmolada come to mind. When riding them last they didn't fully load them - for safety concerns. :the_finge :FIREdevil

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Originally Posted by The AD

A couple votes here for the Peak chair at Whistler, but what about Harmony? Not too shabby, either.

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I agree - endless Lapping of Harmony on storm days are some of my best ski memories.

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Originally Posted by uglymoney

That was a great one. I skied at Targhee as a youngster as well. My first experience with real powder. I remember being bogged down somewhere in the flats in chest deep. My mom had to pull me and my dad had to pull my sister (who was a little bigger) out with our poles.

I remember being utterly confused by my lack of progress and just standing in what seemed like a flood of snow, nobody around except my family, complete whiteness beyond 100 feet, and my mom and dad were laughing and laughing as the trudged their way back to retreive my sis and I. Thank goodness for my trusty Rossignol Smash Jrs. My first powder boards.

Fun stuff the seventies were.

nate

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Ahh, Targhee... (my experience was in the 80's though...)

I found this photo on a google search...

http://www.fastdatertravel.com/images/danny_000.jpg