The 10 Highest Lifted Ski Resorts in the World

Higher-elevation skiing tends to deliver colder, more extreme conditions with lighter, more prominent snow, but reaching those heights can require mountaineering and long, intense hikes. Several resorts provide access to very high terrain through lifts. Taos, New Mexico features the Kachina Peak Lift reaching 12,481 feet, replacing an older chair and enabling easier lapping of steep, powder-rich terrain. Snowmass, Colorado has the Cirque T-Bar climbing to 12,510 feet and providing access to steep north-facing chutes and alpine faces. Telluride, Colorado includes the Revelation Lift peaking at 12,570 feet, while Chamonix, France is served by the Aiguille du Midi cable car with a peak elevation of 12,605 feet and a very large vertical ascent.

"The best skiing is at higher elevations. It is colder, more extreme, and the snow is lighter and more prominent. The issue is that reaching these elevations can require mountaineering and long, intense hikes to complete a single run, which is not for everyone."

"The Kachina Peak Lift reaches the Kachina Peak at 12,481 feet (3,804 meters). The new 2023 high-sped chair replaces the 2015 fixed grip chair to Kachina, which prior to 2015 was only accessible to those willing to hike. Now, everyone is lucky to be able to lap this behemoth of a mountain with the luxury of a lift. Known for massive powder dumps and steep grades, this spicy Southwest Mountain will leave you planning your next trip back to Taos."

"The Cirque T-Bar at Snowmass climbs to 12,510 feet (3,813 meters), making it the highest lift at Snowmass and one of the highest in Colorado. From its top terminal, skiers and riders access the resort's steepest inbounds terrain: north-facing chutes, sustained fall lines, and wide-open alpine faces that often hold cold, chalky snow long after storms pass."

"This iconic European resort is home to not only the tallest mountain in the Alps - Mont Blanc - but also boasts the world's highest cable car ascent. The Aiguille Du Midi has a peak elevation of 12,605 feet (3,842 meters) and a base elevation of 3,396 feet (1,035 meters). That gives it a spectacular vertical ascent of 9,209 feet (2,807 meters)."

Read at SnowBrains