Spanning a ridiculous length of 3.1 miles between the Aiguille du Midi above Chamonix, France and the Pointe Helbronner above Courmayeur, Italy, the Panoramic du Mont Blanc is one of the most iconic ski lifts in the world. While its definitely iconic, the cable car itself is often ridiculed by locals as the most dangerous in the Mont Blanc Massif– and that’s saying something.
Just this past September, the gondola itself broke down– leaving 45 people hanging overnight at an elevation of 11k+ feet. This time the gondola broke down, the consequences would have been much higher. That is if it wasn’t closed all winter.
Over the weekend, a buildup of ice broke one of the gondola cables, sending multiple cars plummeting into the upper reaches of the Vallée Blanche. According to Nevasport.com, the coating of ice on the cable measured some 2+ feet around, which likely broke the camel’s back as the old saying goes.
Lift operators and repair crews are hoping to dismantle the gondola in the coming weeks before they reevaluate the structural integrity of the cable system.
Find the entire Nevasport.com article here: The Panoramic Mont-Blanc falls and will remain closed this summer