Traditional skilifts cannot turn in all four directions due to the way they are built. And yet there is one to defeat this limitation with a surprisingly simple invention. Discover the Hohstock skilift, built in 1982 and the very last of its kind located in Switzerland.


Technical data:

Location: Belalp (Naters VS), Switzerland
Length: 1815m
Altitute: 2654-3113m over sea level
Producers: Borer, Küpfer, Kissling


Further links (in German, use a translation service):
- Technical data: https://www.seilbahninventar.ch/objek...
- History (Belalp): https://www.belalp.ch/belalpbahnen/ge...
- Skilift technologies: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurvens...
- Liftworld (overview): https://seilbahntechnik.net/de/lifts/...
- Gondelbahn Monde (video of full ride):    • Hohstock  


00:00 Intro
00:27 Mighty ropeways
00:55 Skilift basics
01:28 The clamp
02:23 (Im)possible directions for turns
03:17 Partial solution 1: pushing the limits (Skilift at Bürchen)
03:47 Partial solution 2: turn until it fits (Skilift at Chäserrugg)
04:57 The impossible skilift (Hohstock, Belalp)
06:04 The solution that makes it possible anyway
07:35 More awesomeness