First put into operation in 2003 and replacing a drag lift dating back to the sixties, the Furggsattel Express is the longest glacier chairlift in Europe with 12 of its 18 pylons floating on the surface of the Theodule Glacier.

The 6 man detachable chairlift carries skiers from Trockener Steg up to the “Furggsattel” on the Swiss-Itailan border at 3370m and the 2.6 km journey takes less than 9 minutes.

The pylons are pulled upright

 As the mass of the glacier slowly progresses down the mountain, dragging the chairlift’s pylons with it, they are regularly righted by pulling their specially designed bases uphill whilst an upper cable which joins each pylon to the next is used to ensure they remain vertical.

Operational during part of the summer ski season as well as during the winter, the Furggsattel Express gives access to a variety of pistes that return to Trockener Steg or directly to Furg at 2430m.

Article by Ed Mannix of Matterhorn Chalets