Book 20, Question 130
How Does a Chairlift Work?
A chairlift is a loop of cable with chairs attached. A motor turns the cable at a steady speed. It carries skiers and hikers up the mountain, so nobody has to climb the slope.
More fun facts
- On a fixed grip chairlift, each chair's grip is permanently clamped to the rope.
- Fixed grip chairlifts have been used for decades and are known for a long service life.
- Today, fixed grip chairlifts mostly carry 2 or 4 passengers per chair.
- Detachable chairlifts let chairs leave the fast rope in the station, making them the most popular and fastest choice for skiers.
- Some chairlifts have bubbles that protect riders from the weather, and some even have heated seats.
- A Telemix lift mixes chairs and gondola cabins on the same rope.
Sources: leitner.com
Questions kids ask
Do all chairlifts stop to let people on?
No. On detachable chairlifts, the chairs leave the fast rope and slow down in the station instead.