How to gondola lifts work?

Question

I was wondering how they work. Where do you put your ski and poles/snowboard? Does it slow down for you to get in or does it stop completely?

Answer 1

Most Gondolas work on the same principals as a detachable lift. The Gondola enters the loading station and the a spring loaded release removes the car from the cable. It travels on a track at a low speed. The doors open and the passengers enter. Skis are stored outside in racks mounted on the door. Some resorts have snowboard racks outside as well, but on many gondolas, snowboarders still take their boards inside. Skiers take their poles inside. Most gondolas seat eight passengers, (ie. Whiteface, Gore, Killington) however, there are variations. Some are basket shaped (Stratton) and are not enclosed. Some seat less than eight.

Once all passengers are seated, the doors close automatically and gondola is released from the track and the spring mechanism reattached the car to the cable and the gondola begins its ascent.

Debarking is the same process.

Larger gondolas (commonly referred to as trams) (ie. Jay Peak) may accomodate up to 30 passengers (that's the largest I've been on.) These work in an entirely different manner. Most tram systems have two cars that serve as counterweights for each other. The stop completely to load and unload. Passengers take their skis and boards inside and most often, they ride standing up. These cars travel on the cables under their own power and the cables do not move around a wheel as they do on a chairlift.

Answer 2

yeah, in most places it slows down alot and you put the skies and boards on the outside, then the doors will open and you get in

Answer 3

A gondola lift is totally enclosed and holds up to 20 people depending on the model.  Your skiis are put in a rack on the outside of the car, your poles are with you.  The car is detached from the cable at each end and slows as it goes around the bullwheel, as a detachable chair does.  It does not stop so you must move quickly as you do when loading a chair, don't run but don't dawdle either.