The Alpauris Lift at Alpe d’Huez, France has developed an affectionate nickname over the last 30 years.
It’s known by many as ‘The Scare Chair’. And for good reason.Â
It ferries skiers through a tunnel the ducks under an active airport runway, down a steep ravine, and back up the other side.Â
The chairlift is a high-speed detachable quad that was built by Poma in 1988.
The video below shows a first-person POV of what riding ‘The Scare Chair’ is like.
Enjoy as Michael Jackson’s Thriller plays in the background:
Video uploaded to YouTube by SeeAlpedHuez – Alpe d’Huez Resort Guide & Bookings.
According to SkiResort.info, ‘The Scare Chair’ is 4,714 ft. long, and has a net vertical rise of about 853 ft.
The chair is used as two-way transportation for skiers to travel between the Alpe d’Huez village and Signal de l’Homme. But with the drop into the ravine the lift is just as scary going in either direction.Â
You can see it on the trail map below:
Gotta love the French and their passion for skiing.
They’re willing to build a nearly one-mile long chairlift that goes through a tunnel, down a steep ravine, and back up the other side just for skiing.
What’s the scariest chairlift you’ve ever ridden?