Glaciers are constantly moving downhill so do they have to uproot the lifts and move them back to where they started from every so often? Or are they all built on solid rock outcrops?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Have you got an example?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
They have huge ice anchors that are dug into the glacier. The lift station then has a long take up platform to allow for glacier movement.
Saas-Fee even have one with the lift station at the bottom, and the moving ice anchor at the top.
@Feast, The drag lifts on the Saas-Fee glacier for example.
@leggyblonde, my vague understanding is that they can be on movable platforms and get adjusted through the course of time.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
It's because glaciers are constantly moving that they use T bars. Which do have to be repositioned sometimes, yes - watched the process on one of the lifts at Les Deux Alpes some years ago. Interesting.
The tower bases are built on wheels and during summer teams of specially trained marmottes pull the pylons uphill. When they are in place the lift cables are anchored, the lift motors started, and the lift stations are dragged by their own cables to their new position. Simples..
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I'd love to see them being moved and those ice anchors!
I'd also like a specially trained marmotte, can they do the hoovering?
After all it is free
After all it is free
No, but I think they can be used to wash dishes, but they get very soggy, very quickly.
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Have a look at this small glacier drag lift to see one solution http://youtube.com/v/H7kBtJ8q0Xo The mounting points are on rocky outcrops either side of the glacier.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
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@MikeM, You have to train them to hold their breath first. It's not a fun process neither for the groundhogs nor the trainer. But most entertaining to watch from a safe distance.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Didn't one of the pylons on the Rosolin T-bar on the glacier at Tignes fall over a few years ago? I know that lift derailed a couple of years ago because the cable went out of line.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I have seen the pylons of Saas-Fee T-bars bent (and the lift closed of course), when a section of the glacier moved much faster than expected, dragging the lift out of shape.
Also of course, some of the pylons are heavily tensioned to pull the transport cable down to the correct level, where the lift follows a flat to steep profile, rather than a steady gradient.
They also get taken out by unexpectedly large avalanches.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@MikeM, The marmot method works fine in the summer, but of course they hibernate in the winter, so are not available.
Glaciers are constantly moving downhill so do they have to uproot the lifts and move them back to where they started from every so often? Or are they all built on solid rock outcrops?
Most glacier lifts use a hybrid of fixed and "floating" pylons.
Some pylons are fixed to rock or permafrost, while some float on the ice.
For example, the Furgg chairlift in Zermatt has 12 of its 18 pylons actually standing on the glacier ice. And they are repositioned every so often after surveying with a theodolite.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
johnE wrote:
Have a look at this small glacier drag lift to see one solution http://youtube.com/v/H7kBtJ8q0Xo The mounting points are on rocky outcrops either side of the glacier.
Solution? @ 40 secs they fall over backwards
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@johnE,
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
How do they secure ski lifts on glaciers?
They lock the door a the end of the day of course.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
The Panorama Lift in Saas Fee can move as much as a metre in a couple of weeks. Depending on the glacier it is usually re-aligned every 10 days or so.
It takes an experienced team about 3 hours to complete.
@johnE, I have been on that lift its called the "Roca Jack" & is Not on a Glacier !
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@stanton, You are correct, but the structural problem is the same. They were unable to fix pylons at the top or on route at a cost they were prepared to pay. I thought that this was because the snow field was more or less permanent.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
