What is the worlds highest ski resort?

Answer 1

The highest "ski resort" (one old tow-rope lift and a cafe at the base) is in South America's poorest country, Boliva, atop Mt. Chacaltaya. The lift isn't always running, so chances are you'll have to hike it.

And it's high -- more than 17,300 feet. I'm from Colorado and use to skiing some fairly high terrain, but I got an immediate, hard headache when I hiked to the top (not all that impressive, since I started at 11,800 feet in nearby La Paz, Bolivia's capital city). I got down quick.

I only did it for bragging rights :) And for the photo op.

But it's melting. Rapidly. The long-time skiers who operate the lodge told me they once skied atop a 40-foot snow base with snow extending all the way to La Paz, which is visible from the mountain but a hefty drive.

Now, it's mostly rock. The only visible snow was above the lodge... at least when I was there in February, which apparently use to be the middle of the ski season.

Most scientists blame global warming. Science labs (including a NASA-run facility, I was told) dot the side of the narrow dirt road to the mountain's base.

So, certainly not a skiing destination. Though it is a visually powerful example of how fast the globe is warming and what can happen in a very, very short period of time.

Writer: Bolivia is in the Southern Hemisphere, and you visited in February (summer), so perhaps it's not global warming. Maybe you need a better travel agent for ski vacations, mate. No wonder the lift wasn't working.

Answer 2

There actually seems to be several candidates to this title:

1) Vallée Blanche in Chamonix from Aiguille du Midi down to Chamonix. There are several different numbers given for this run between 20 and 22 km. The Chamonix home page claims 20 km. Note that this is not a piste, it's a commonly used off-piste route where a mountain guide should be used.

2) From Kleine Matterhorn to Zermatt. Ski-zermatt claims 13 km and zermatt home page claims 22 km.

3) The Sarenne run in Alpe d'Huez is often claimed as the longest piste. It's on the piste map (from the Alpe d'Huez home page) stated as 19 km but on the Alpe d'Huez home page itself it says 16 km so it's probably not the longest piste but it is the longest black piste, even though the last part of it is more transport than black.

Answer 3

There have been 17 ski descents from Mt. Everest, but only one has ever been the full length (from the summit back to base camp). On October 7, 2000 Davo Karnicar skied Everest's South Side.

Answer 4

Chacaltaya in Bolivia at 5421 m.

See also "Where is the highest altitude ski resort in the world?"

Answer 5

A good candidate would be Gobba di Rollin in Matterhorn ski paradise at 3883 m.

Answer 6

It's Chacaltaya in Bolivia at 5421 m.

Answer 7

Mount Everest

Answer 8

K2 skied by Andrzej Bargiel