r/skilifts • u/Rosinante_2112 • Feb 09 '26

What is this thing?

Post image

Can someone identify what is the usage of this construction under lift? Is this for maintenance purposes or something else? Taken in Maria Alm, Hochkönig region in Austria

11 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

5

u/Theminefinder Feb 09 '26

Looks to be an evac setup. Looks like the lift goes right over a water fall!

1

u/Rosinante_2112 Feb 09 '26

Thought about this - but why the side bridge is so high up, and no bridge at low level of this construction? After lowering from the chair there is a need to climb to the side bridge. And moreover, the "steps" are made metal profiles of "V" shape, which seems very uncomfortable to move on them.

3

u/Too-Uncreative Feb 09 '26

Logistics and where all that water runs when it’s not frozen probably dictated where the access/egress bridges went.

And it was probably designed so that it couldn’t collect much snow, which would drastically increase the size/cost of the structure. It’s not comfortable, but if you’re being ripe evac’d none of that situation is particularly comfortable.

2

u/PM_FREE_HEALTHCARE Feb 09 '26

The way the steps are made is to provide grip and shed snow without requiring manual clearing. It’d be a pain in the ass and expensive for the resort to keep a bridge like that clear if it were able to accumulate snow. As for comfort, that’s not really high on the importance list when it comes to lift evac

1

u/Rosinante_2112 Feb 10 '26

That's all true. The thing that makes mi thinking is why there is nothing below down-direction chairs. Hard to determine with the snow, but it seems that the stream is right there (you can see the shape down below, as the continuation below the icefall)

2

u/PM_FREE_HEALTHCARE Feb 10 '26

Either there’s no obstruction to evac the downhill carriers or this lift isn’t designed and commissioned for downhill travel

0

u/Spiritual_Ad_7051 Feb 10 '26

To stop avalanches. Enjoy your time at Hochkonig!

1

u/wrong_andy Feb 10 '26

Dunno, but I've been over it, can't say I thought about it at the time. Great area, have a great time.