Viewing platforms with panoramic views of the Alps, high-altitude mountain restaurants with outdoor sun loungers where you can feel the sunshine on your face as you drink in the view, suspension bridges that cross dozens of metres above towering ravines... while some people prize these experiences, some of us are quaking in our (ski) boots! And while for some reason we can get it together enough to appreciate the beauty of gliding over the snow on our skis, and maybe even pulling off a black run or two, there's one part that seems to be more difficult to overcome: the dreaded gondola. It floats high up above the snow, shuddering with every gasp of wind, randomly stopping for minutes at a time with no warning. It's the bane of your ski holiday, and there seems to be no getting around it! If you recognise these sentiments, keep reading - we've got some tips for beating your fear of heights while in the ski lift.
Before you can fight it, you have to admit it to yourself: you're scared s***less. You might not have fully admitted it to yourself, but perhaps the following excuses sound familiar: Let's go the other way! I'd rather take the drag lift, the weather is so nice it's a shame to be inside! If these sound like you, then own up to it: you're scared of heights, and that gondola is getting to you.
We're going to go out on a limb and assume that you're on fairly good terms with the people you're skiing with, and that they're not (too) sadistic. Just explain that you feel nervous on the gondola, and be prepared to negotiate - maybe it is possible to avoid it for some runs, without avoiding it altogether all day long. When you are on the gondola, your friends or family can help distract you, maybe tell some jokes, instead of you suffering in silence and cowering in the corner.
Fear of heights in the lift often (not always) means fear of heights on the slopes as well, so it's important to choose your runs wisely. This doesn't necessarily mean skiing greens all day long. Instead, look for runs that don't have a dropoff next to them, or runs that are wide enough so that if you make a mistake, you don't go flying into the trees. Build up slowly and gain confidence instead of trying to push yourself too fast - this can lead to a bad experience and cement your fear even more.
Try not to be queuing for the gondola during the busiest part of the day, lest you want to experience mounting fear as you inch closer to the entry. And nobody likes being crammed into one of those huge gondolas with 100 other people. Ski in the off-season, delay lunch by an hour or get up earlier to beat the crowds.
Hopefully you'll have picked a lovely bluebird day with calm skies and no wind to go skiing. And you're looking forward to getting off this blasted gondola so you can enjoy the view. But why wait? The gondola itself offers some fantastic views, and believe it or not, this can kind of help take your mind off the towering heights below. Fix your eyes on a point in the distance and appreciate the rolling mountains which stretch as far as the eye can see. You're like a bird! How can anything possibly hurt you up here?
Having your friends constantly ask you if you're ok can get unnerving, so ask them to distract you instead. Chat about something completely unrelated, play some kind of game or comment on the view. You might even want to watch skiers on the slopes below or share a snack - anything to get your mind away from repeating "I'm so high up omg I'm so scared!"
Many ski areas offer no choice but to take the gondola at least once, but once you're up high, you can often avoid it for the rest of the day. While planning your route, try to incorporate a mix of drag lifts and chairlifts that aren't too scary - as we know, not all chairlifts are made the same! Do, however, try to take the gondola at least once a day, to push yourself a little out of your comfort zone.
When you have no depth perception, it's hard to have a fear of heights! So take advantage of the poor weather to tackle all those slopes you've been dying to do but couldn't get to before. By the time the sun rolls around again, you'll have the experience under your belt. You've already done it once, so how difficult can it be to do it again?
Anything that takes your mind off your fear of heights is a good thing, so try to send out good vibes. Share a bar of chocolate, have a snowball fight, exclaim at the beautiful view, and generally stimulate your endorphins and dopamine as much as possible! Remember, your fear of heights may be a little irritating, but you're here and you're skiing, so life is pretty good!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
