Scariest Ski Lift Evah? Whitefish Mountain Resort's Chair Number Five!

Some POV camera footage of my cousin and I skiing to, ridiing up, and skiing from WMR's chair number five. The point of the video is more to start familiarizing myself with the KDENLIVE video editor. Also this video will serve to inspire me to keep working on my knee rehab! I still want to bash pow-bumps!

[@NilezII]

When I went to Alta (1983?) they had a lift that went 100 feet off the ground with NO safety bar!

[@Cowskiman]

I made it to the yellow sign about to be a hike out when I saw people on the chair actually thinking I was gonna drop that massive cliff lmao

[@magnifichades9710]

It’s a hell of a lot scarier in person. That cliff is terrifying for sure

[@igetu2c]

The resort chair on the far left of the ski map at Squaw Valley (now Palisades Tahoe) is the scariest chair I have ever been on. The chair is a slow triple but has a slightly narrower bench to sit on. There is a gap where it seems like it is 200 feet down and you feel like you might slip off of the bench. That is the last time I can remember wrapping my arm around the pole on the side of a chairlift.

[@chadedwards7689]

Ive been skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort for 12 years, worked there for 4, and I still get freaked out every time I ride chair 5.

[@wisskier]

I'm headed back in March! Can't wait to ride it again plus the Snowghost Express! Thanks for viewing and commenting!

[@chadedwards7689]

@@wisskier say hi if you see me! Im usually around somewhere at all of the lifts!

[@wisskier]

​@@chadedwards7689 I'll be on the mountain this coming MO-FR.

[@eadecamp]

Somebody please hold that camera still.

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

This lift was originally located on the upper part of the lift line currently used by their new Leitner-Poma high speed six pack.

[@wisskier]

I looking forward to riding the new Snow Ghost Express this coming March! Yes, WMR is known for reusing its old capital instead of getting new stuff. Ticking off one of the Rs in reduce, reuse, and recycle! I known Chair 8 was moved too in order to extend Hellroaring Basin's season. Thanks for viewing and commenting!

[@noahbyrne2402]

March 😂😂

[@wisskier]

@@noahbyrne2402 Yes? I'm planning a trip there in March. I know the lift will be going before then.

[@noahbyrne2402]

Well I saw it today… Chairs are mostly on and they were working on it Hopefully soon

[@miguelservetus9534]

Had to hang up the equipment a few years ago due to a progressive disability. I miss it so. This video brings back such joyful memories. All to be gone like tears in rain. Thanks for the posting.

[@wisskier]

Sorry to hear about no longer being able to ski. I'm glad this simple video brings back joyful memories to you.

[@nicoleonardo6268]

sublette at jackson hole is also very scary and freakishly high up aswell

[@KA22305]

Video must not do it justice. Doesn't look scary at all. Looking forward to riding it next week to check it out though!

[@bowlander]

I rode chair 5 a lot the first year it was open and it never bothered me one bit, then they had the lift evac in december of 2018 and now I'm like NOPE. That gap over the cliff is legit, I just have to keep looking forward and breathing evenly.

[@noahbyrne2402]

I’ve definitely been on scarier lifts…. The old 10 at mammoth stands out But this lift does have a sketchy factor everytime I ride it So many fun lines off of it….

[@AlbaAdventures]

That cliff is gnarly! Any markers to make sure people know that is coming?

[@wisskier]

Yes there was a bunch of markers on the approach and I see some traversing tracks cutting across the approach, but one needs to make sure to traverse high. This is a no-go zone for me. IIRC, in 2018 around Xmas time they had to evacuate that lift, it made the national news.

[@crunchysoup406]

I don’t think I have a vid uploaded of it but pretty much all the lift poles leading up to the lift have giant red buffers on them saying CLIFF, along with that there are many signs saying “double black diamond cliff area, exercise extreme caution” it would be just about impossible to enter that area and accidentally go off the cliff. there’s also like 8 other cliffs surrounding it so hard to accidentally make it into that area in the first place

[@magnifichades9710]

Coming back here in a few weeks. I’ll try out this lift again, wish me luck! 👍

[@markshuford450]

Nice video, except for the fast jerky motion of the camera. I assume you are using a helmet mounted Go Pro, or something similar. In the future you might want to slow down your head movements when panning side to side and up and down. My wife and I took a ski vacation to WMR, formerly known as the Big Mountain, about 15 years ago. We rode the Amtrak Empire Builder from Portland OR to Whitefish. It was an epic experience. I can't wait to return there.

[@wisskier]

I was shooting similar video today and your comment preceded its appearance here! I did just that, when I was shooting lift video, I was slow and deliberate in my movements. Thank you for viewing and the comment. We took the train from Wisconsin and plan to do so again.

[@chumrob100]

Been on that lift before. Again this February!

[@wisskier]

I'm planning to get back there in March! I'm stoked!

[@narrowistheway77]

I don’t get why you think this is scary, you have a safety bar. Go to Niseko Japan and ride the pizza box chair….. now that’s scary 😂

[@wisskier]

I don't.

[@wisskier]

It's click bait. Sigh, Niseko got bluebird pow days when I was in 日本 last January but I got rain and thick fog in 斑尾.

[@Manetherenlw1982]

It's so scary, yet you didn't even lower the safety bar?

[@wisskier]

I have a confession to make. I am running an experiment in click-baity titles. I am finding out it works. My cousin and I were quite okay with the ride, but I bet my brother wouldn't be and can see for many the pucker rating would be high on this lift.

[@MaxRank]

Chair 5 is cool, the Ant hill is the first challenge to get there. 😂

[@wisskier]

Stay tight to the fogballs lest ye be surprised!

[@mr.austin8007]

I've went there for the first time today for a field trip. I went on chair 1 going up it wasn't bad but going down was scary. I'm also scared of heights

[@wisskier]

Did you see the evacuation of Chair 4?

[@mr.austin8007]

No. Since it was at 9:40 and we got there maybe 9:50 or 10 we didn't see chair 4 evacuation.

[@mr.austin8007]

I figured out that the skiers on chair 4 unloaded at 12:35 and that's when we were at the resort

[@blackpanter12345678]

what is so scary about this lift? I fail to see it. Maybe it is the video that dont really tells it.

[@wisskier]

You are well above the ground as you approach the cliff face -- the guy I'm riding up this lift with says it is comparable to the Whitecap peak to peach chair which is often featured on scary lift lists. Admittedly, it didn't really phase me but that is N=1 and I can see how people who fear heights will really be squeamish about this chair. Thanks for viewing and commenting, I appreciate it.

[@blackpanter12345678]

@@wisskier Thank you for the answer.

[@crunchysoup406]

it’s a 150 foot cliff which you are about 30’ above supported by an inch thick cable so 180 feet off the ground floating through the sky. doesn’t phase me that much cause I like heights but it’s a bit sketch feeling for first timers

[@parkerflorence5332]

How does ski patrol do a chair rescue when you are 150+ ft in the air over a cliff? Like if the lift breaks down I’ve seen them use harnesses up and over the wires to lower people, but how do you get a harness over the wire at that height if you aren’t close to a tower??

[@parkerflorence5332]

How does ski patrol do a chair rescue when you are 150+ ft in the air over a cliff? Like if the lift breaks down I’ve seen them use harnesses up and over the wires to lower people, but how do you get a harness over the wire at that height if you aren’t close to a tower??