The Scariest Ski Lifts: Heart-Pounding Stories from Our Audience
Here at Unofficial Networks, we love hearing from you about your wildest adventures on the slopes. On September 5, 2025, we posed a simple question to our followers on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook: “What is the scariest ski lift you have ever been on?” The responses poured in—over 600 in total—from seasoned pros to casual riders sharing tales of rickety rides, ripping winds, and sheer drops that left them gripping the bar (or lack thereof).
Whether it’s the fear of heights, mechanical mishaps, or just bad weather turning a routine ride up into a nightmare, one thing is clear: ski lifts can be as thrilling (and terrifying) as the runs they lead to. In this post, we’ll dive into the highlights, including the most mentioned lifts, eye-opening stats, memorable quotes, and even a chart to visualize the “fear factor.” One thing is certain: these are among the scariest ski lifts you can encounter.
Common Themes: What Makes a Lift Scary?
From analyzing the hundreds of responses, a few patterns emerged:
- Height and Exposure: Many mentioned lifts that soar hundreds of feet over gullies, cliffs, or valleys, like those crossing massive gaps or hanging over unskiable terrain.
- Old or Rickety Infrastructure: Outdated lifts without safety bars, prone to bouncing or stopping unexpectedly, dominated the stories—especially “old school” doubles and triples from the 70s and 80s.
- Weather Woes: High winds (up to 70 mph in some tales), blizzards, and sudden stops amplified the fear. One respondent described being stuck in -55°F temps with wind chill!
- Personal Circumstances: From riding alone as a kid to awkward social moments (like a proposal or a fighting couple), context often made the ride scarier than the lift itself.
- Global Spread: While most responses focused on North America (U.S. and Canada), shoutouts went to international spots like Niseko (Japan), Portillo (Chile), and even Uzbekistan.
Interestingly, several of your picks align with expert lists of the world’s most extreme lifts. For instance, Roca Jack in Portillo is notorious for its slingshot-style speed and group towing, often called one of the sketchiest worldwide. Similarly, Sublette at Jackson Hole is infamous for its loading challenges and exposure, making them among the scariest ski lifts you can find.
Top Mentioned Lifts: The Fear Leaders
We tallied the mentions across all responses to crown the “scariest” based on popularity. The undisputed champ? The old Red Dog at Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley), with a whopping 52 nods—often for its bounce over Poulsen’s Gully without a safety bar in its earlier days. (Note: It’s been upgraded since, but the legends live on!)
Here’s a breakdown of the top 14 most-mentioned lifts, sorted by count:
| Lift Name | Mentions | Why It’s Scary (From Responses) |
|---|---|---|
| Red Dog (Palisades Tahoe) | 52 | Old version lacked safety bars, bounced over deep gullies; frequent stops in wind left riders swinging. |
| Whistler Peak Chair | 36 | Extreme height near the top, rock cliffs below; windy conditions make it feel like a rollercoaster. |
| Silverton | 19 | Single or double seater with no bars, high exposure in remote terrain; cloudy days add disorientation. |
| Whitecap (Gap Chair) | 17 | Massive gap over a valley, ill-maintained feel; one user called it “insane” for its height and neglect. |
| Chair 23 (Mammoth) | 11 | High over rocky peaks; “takes souls” when sitting in the middle during storms. |
| Sublette (Jackson Hole) | 11 | Gnarly terrain below, high winds; recently replaced but old version was a beast for loading/unloading. |
| Arapahoe Basin (Various) | 11 | High altitude winds (13,000+ ft), old Lenawee triple felt crumbly; St. Elmo’s fire incidents add eerie factor. |
| Roca Jack (Portillo) | 10 | High-speed 5-person poma; riders get tangled or launched, steep pitch feels like tandem skiing gone wrong. |
| Pizza Box (Niseko) | 9 | Feels like a hanging box in whiteouts and winds; single chair visibility issues in blizzards. |
| 7th Heaven (Stevens Pass) | 8 | Steep and short with quick exits; accesses expert terrain, breezy rides feel precarious. |
| KT22 (Palisades Tahoe) | 8 | Old double with center pole, no bars; over fingers and cliffs, ramp unload was sketchy. |
| Chair 10 (Kirkwood) | 6 | High winds halfway up; one lift op story of nearly dying at tower 17 in gusts. |
| Single Chair (Mad River Glen) | 5 | Iconic single seater; frigid, exposed rides with no company amplify isolation fears. |
| Slide Brook Express (Sugarbush) | 4 | Longest detachable lift; ups and downs over hundreds of feet, feels like a wild ride. |
Stay safe out there, and remember: always lower that bar. Until next time, shred on!
Standout Quotes: Tales from the Terrified
Our audience didn’t hold back with vivid stories. Here are some favorites that capture the essence:
- On Red Dog’s Bounce: “NOT the Red Dog! It’s the old Red Dog, especially when that baby would occasionally shut down mid mountain and you were between towers, bouncing up and down all over, with no p****y bar to hold you back 🔥” – Anonymous X user.
- Whistler Peak in Wind: “The old Whistler peak chair in 1999. I was sitting in the middle, we never thought to put the safety bar down. Almost to the top with the rock cliff staring at us. The chair comes to a screeching halt. We were swinging front to back.” – Neil Gould.
- Silverton’s Isolation: “The first chairlift at Silverton always widens my eyes a bit.” – Anonymous X user. (Bonus fact: Silverton’s single chair is known for its backcountry access and lack of frills.)
- Roca Jack Chaos: “Roca jack portillo. My neighbor was tangled in it while descending. She was being dragged.” – Young Garner.
- Humor in Horror: “Magic carpet after 13 fireball shooters” – Anonymous X user. (Not a traditional lift, but the circumstance wins for comedic fear!)
These quotes highlight how fear often mixes with nostalgia—many respondents said they’d ride again despite the scares.
Interesting Facts and Figures
- Replacement Trends: Several top lifts like Red Dog, Sublette, and Whistler Peak have been modernized or replaced by 2025, often with high-speed quads and safety bars. Yet, memories of the originals persist, with users lamenting (or celebrating) their retirement.
- Global Comparisons: While your picks are mostly North American, global lists often include Europe’s Leissieres Express (Val d’Isère, France), dubbed the “scariest” for its rollercoaster-like drop that makes riders feel like they’re tumbling forward. It’s a 6-person high-speed chair with stunning Alps views—but 100% safety bar usage due to intimidation.
- Extreme Stats: The Peak 2 Peak Gondola (related to Whistler mentions) holds the record for the longest unsupported span at 1.88 miles and hangs 1,427 feet high. Slide Brook Express is the world’s longest detachable chairlift at over 11,000 feet.
- Weather Impact: About 40% of responses mentioned wind or storms; one extreme tale involved a lift struck by lightning, echoing real risks like St. Elmo’s fire at Arapahoe Basin.
- Fun Figure: Only a handful claimed “no scary lifts” – true thrill-seekers who said they’re too excited for the top to feel fear!
Wrapping Up: Why We Love the Fear
Your stories remind us that skiing isn’t just about the descent— the ascent can be an adventure too. Whether it’s conquering acrophobia on Red Dog or braving winds on Whistler Peak, these lifts add to the sport’s adrenaline. If you’ve got a tale we missed, drop it in the comments!
