"Cat skiing" redirects here. Not to be confused with
Cattski.
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.[1]
Types
Aerial lifts transport skiers while suspended off the ground.[2] Aerial lifts are often bicable ropeways, the "
bi-" prefix meaning that the cables have two different functions (carrying and pulling).[3]
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.[4] Skiing at select, extreme resorts, like
Silverton Mountain, is also guided, even when skiing just off the lift.[5]
Locations
Ski lifts are built in many parts of the world.
Extreme locations of outdoor ski lifts: