2017-09-03 - Aiguille du Midi Cable Car

[@raphaelwellig5066]

Hello Mr Billingham Thank you for the beautiful instructive and impressive film of the Aiguille du Midi cable car. There are many unforgettable memories. Thanks. I wish you great experiences in the mountains Cordially Raphael Wellig

[@petergibson2318]

It's the guys who walked all the way up to the top of that mountain hauling all the the building materials and the cables up by hand that I admire. That building on the top didn't just "appear" there. It was Blood,Sweat and Tears that built it.

[@sharkheadism]

Don't care

[@Hello-fz3cj]

@@sharkheadism Well go away then. You probably couldn’t afford to holiday here anyway.

[@sharkheadism]

@@Hello-fz3cj Projection

[@adrianburgler7774]

They did not walk, most likely. They either built a transport cable car first or had helicopters, depending on when it was built.

[@MrOpenGL]

@@adrianburgler7774 can't use helicopters this high, so they walked there, then built a temporary cable car (required bringing up approx 5 tons of materials) and then used that

[@raphaelwellig5066]

Bonjour Monsieur Billingham Merci pour le beau film instructif et impressionnant du téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi. Il y a beaucoup de souvenirs inoubliables. Merci. Je vous souhaite de belles expériences en montagne Cordialement Raphael Wellig

[@fabriziovescovi7464]

Panorama mozzafiato. Spettacolare. Complimenti per il post.

[@mycroft16]

That is an impressive feat of engineering. And one hell of an intense ride. Especially that 2nd stage. That's gotta be murder in any sort of wind.

[@koreanature]

Wow, that's a great video. I will always cheer for you in Korea I'm looking forward to a great video. Have a nice day.

[@ponyrang]

Wow... !!! My best friend, It's always great. We liked and enjoyed to the end. Thanks

[@VishwaNathGummaRaju]

Nigel, Thank you for a trip fantastic! To really be there; Ohhhhhh... You were so fortunate.

[@debalinasarkar3936]

Is there lack of oxygen issues in the altitude ?

[@debalinasarkar3936]

Lovely. Did you go in summer? I am planning in august. Do we need winter clothes?

[@nafestrawn1]

Thanks for the virtual trip, hope the arm recovered quick!

[@stevenshailer5605]

Hi there just watched your cable car video if possible could we please have some more cable car pov 😊.

[@leangrypoulet7523]

What few people know is that recent studies have shown that the permafrost and rock under the top station is slowly degrading due to global warming, and the structure is gently listing (more and more each year) towards the valley. This is the reason regular visitors to the valley will see the cable car undergoing servicing each year, (with services being halted), whilst they tighten the cable. Further they will notice the frequency with which the service is temporarily stopped as the cable jumps under high winds etc, and has to be repositioned. It is regularly being shored up by new concrete, but French government engineers who have undertaken a study see this as a very temporary solution and believe that within the next ten years or so the viability of keeping the top station working will be beyond acceptable safety limits and it will have to be shut down and mothballed or if money allows, rebuilt. This is obviously something that’s not mentioned by the Compagnie du Mont Blanc, but is well known by locals. So, use it while you can, it may not be around in a few years time.

[@drdreel5559]

True to an extent and the degradation of the rock is being monitored. However, checking/retensioning of cables is a normal (and obligatory) practice for cable cars and has been for decades. Periodically the cables also need to be replaced -- much more frequently for the traction cable than the "cable porteur" (the cable that bears most of the weight). The traction cable is VERY frequently checked. All cable cars in France (and other countries with regulations on the subject) are required to stop at specified wind speeds. The primary danger is not of the cable jumping (though this does, rarely, happen) but to the cabins. In either circumstance the wind be so strong the cable car would not be operating. If it reassures anyone, the upper section of the Aiguille du Midi (the windier section) is far less vulnerable to this kind of problem than most cable cars because there are no pylons on the span. Accordingly, the cable is entirely encircled by the support structure and the cabin cannot "fall off" the cable (an extremely, extremely rare occurrence in most countries itself, mercifully).

[@mariusmatei2946]

What's wrong with the trees?!? Thanks for not waving the camera all over the place; I thought the video was pretty great!!

[@Thelift2013]

just how much the cables sway so much up there, at the last portion.. scary

[@gogomong]

wow great

[@MarioRossi-sh4uk]

Thank you for the video.

[@Crazy_Alex_7667]

12:00 it’s built in the moutnakn

[@DaveKarl]

Is it wheelchair accessibile?

[@billinghamn]

According to: www.chamonix.net/english/chamonix/disabled-access, the Aiguille du Midi is wheelchair accessible.

[@28881828]

I was twice there, but this is the first time ive seen something else than the cloud around me :D

[@ewaf88]

You didn't fancy the hike up then :) Nice video but perhaps just one panoramic shot from the top would have been nice

[@billinghamn]

Not on this occasion! Bit too much of a hike for my liking! Good idea about the panorama shot - wished I'd thought about that at the time.

[@ewaf88]

Well at least you didn't climb to the top of Everest and find out you'd forgotten your camera. If you haven't already try Mount Titlis (I've hiked this one) and The Jungfraujoch railway. That final span on the cable car is incredible - the cables must be very strong.

[@tryptofannafotpyrt2691]

Is it open in october?

[@billinghamn]

Best to check the website which you can find here: www.montblancnaturalresort.com/en/horaires-tarifs-aiguille-du-midi

[@ultimobile]

no view from the top - I feel cheated ! the day we were there was a complete whiteout - at first they didn't open the cable car - then after a delay they were only allowing a few - we saw fully kitted out professional-looking skiers going up - to ski down in a white out - wow - so I still haven't seen the view ...

[@roadracer517]

On the trip down I got nervous.

[@placide6259]

Fait le 15 07 2022

[@claudiaradmore9032]

Great Video, you showed me everything without going. Ted the husband of Claudia.

[@alfredocortes6702]

thanks for sharing, how long it took to go all the way up and down at du midi? 4 hours is all i got in my connection, i hope i could stay there , any info will vastly help, congratulations for your trips

[@francinesicard464]

Wrong! In 20 minutes from the heart of the Chamonix valley (1035 m), you reach the 3777 m of the Aiguille du Midi thanks to fast and safe cable cars.

[@fleiva30]

i was expecting more from the top of the mountain..!!

[@billinghamn]

Sorry about that! You can see some of the photos I took at the top of the mountain here: billingham.net/post/164958047110/2017-aug-euro-road-trip-day-9-sun-03-sep-2017

[@ericmermoud9519]

SUPER 👍👍

[@mariacandidamorroni474]

EU NEM MORTA NÃO IRIA NISSO AI...DEUS ME LIVRE !!!

[@pornstarlivesmatter3319]

im having anxiety just watching the video, i am terrified of heights even cleaning out my gutters on a 12 ft ladder makes me cry lol

[@AssasinTacos]

I'm the same way, but I can ride a cable car with no problem, so you might be fine

[@veronicaroach3667]

Gutter guards are the answer to that - been there done that ! Not too expensive considering what they save you in agro !!!

[@Robert_030]

My hands are sweating but great video !

[@marcobenedettim.b.3041]

Mamma mia che alta sta roba

[@yvan54640]

J'ai fait un tres bon voyage😉

[@gisellesinclair6811]

The summit station looks like the delivery entrance at Darth Vader’s house

[@julianheath7160]

What a swizz; no views from the tope of the mountain!!! I've been up there and it's spectacular but you haven't shown it at all! Not impressed with that!

[@jesusruiz4372]

Parece un palomar !!

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Very spectacular indeed, l think, Mother Earth is this beautiful seducing charming gorgeous for a precise reason friends, we need to stay united and save this heavenly delight, everybody plant a tree as a tourist , let's save the planet together friends

[@frankanddanasnyder3272]

Trees are more interesting than rocks & snow!

[@veronicaroach3667]

Not half as nice a cable system as some of the others - the Matterhorn from Zermatt one is much better, smooth & no shaking or noise - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6PWiWCEgpt5iKM

[@kubu79]

Hell no! No way I am going to get into any of these death traps. Especially after what we all saw happen in Stresa, Italy

[@veronicaroach3667]

Like all things man does - there is a slight risk, but so is crossing the road or driving your own car !

[@drdreel5559]

This is one of the most checked cable cars on earth.

[@davidzugspitzfan2301]

I HAVE to learn French

[@baturrez7485]

No le merece la pena.

[@stefanotorome5460]

bravi francesi avete rovinato una bella cima. Ora sembra una grande supposta. Ora cambiategli nome chiamatela così l aguille della grande supposta.

[@Karim-en9on]

Jabardast hi mountain lift cable system I appreciate 🤍🌹 this beautiful mountain valley great idea who thinking to operate lift cable system jetay rato haha