The IMPOSSIBLE skilift that actually exists

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