French chairlift tunnel.
French chairlift tunnel.

This chairlift could either be one of the coolest rides or one of the scariest rides of your life, depending on how you feel about heights. The Auris Express lift at the Alpe d’Huez is a two-way transportation chair that runs for thousands of feet, at one point passing through a tunnel before quickly dropping into the valley below.

After all that drama, the chairlift takes you back up to a terminal on the other side of the gorge, bringing you from one section of the ski area to another. It seems like a pretty cool ride overall, though it’s one you definitely want to put the bar down for.

Tim Konrad is the founder and publisher of Unofficial Networks, a leading platform for skiing, snowboarding, and outdoor adventure. With over 20 years in the ski industry, Tim’s global ski explorations...