Climate change prompts demolition of German ski lift

The Bavarian Zugspitze Railway is in the process of dismantling the last remaining ski lift on Germany’s highest mountain.

Germany’s largest glacier, the Schneeferner is located at an altitude of 2,640 m (8,661.42 ft) in the Wetterstein Mountains, below the Zugspitze peak, in Bavaria.

The retreat of the ice due to climate change has dramatically altered the terrain at glacier, which is projected to vanish completely by the 2030s.

As a result, the slope has become much steeper, making lift operations technically unfeasible.

“The lift route is now far too steep for safe operation,” explained Matthias Ostler, operations manager of the lifts on the Zugspitze and responsible for the project.

The dismantling of the ski lift, which has been in operation since 1967, began on 20 March with the cutting of the glacier support cables, which hold the supports in an upright position.

To ensure the demolition is carried out in a controlled manner, the glacier support cables were cut simultaneously at the mountain station using cutting charges.

Next, the remaining six supports will be dismantled one by one and transported down to the valley by cog railway.