Dan

Jan, 23 - 2025 - 4 mins

La Grave Cable Car Nightmare: Cable Snaps During Repairs

The La Grave cable car, a lifeline to one of the world’s most famous off-piste ski areas, has had a tough season—and it hasn’t even started yet. What began as a last-minute issue during safety checks in December has spiraled into an ongoing saga, with the latest incident pushing the reopening date even further into uncertainty.

December’s Setback: A damaged cable

The trouble began just before the ski season was due to kick off in mid-December. During routine validation checks, inspectors identified a serious issue with one of the carrying cables on the cable car’s first section. This wasn’t a quick fix; the damage was significant enough to demand a complete replacement to guarantee the safety of skiers and staff. As the only lift to access the iconic backcountry terrain, immediate action was essential to reduce the impact on the season.

La Grave management, led by SATA, acted swiftly, postponing the cable car’s planned December 21 opening. It was a hard blow for the resort, which relies heavily on the cable car to bring skiers to the challenging terrain of the Girose Glacier. A timeline was set for repairs, and a new opening date was targeted for the end of January 2025.

The local community, businesses, and skiers were disappointed but understood the necessity of prioritizing safety over schedules.

January’s Incident: A Cable Failure Causes Further Damage

Just as the January deadline loomed, things took a turn for the worse. On Monday, January 20, while engineers were in the final stages of replacing the defective cable, disaster struck. The old cable suddenly gave way under pressure, despite being supported by an anchor designed to withstand 85 tonnes. For reasons still under investigation, it failed under just 17.7 tonnes of load.

When the cable fell, it caused damage to a pylon located at the intermediate station at 2,400 meters. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, but the consequences for the project are significant. Work has come to an abrupt standstill as experts assess the damage and investigate the mechanical failure.

SATA’s CEO, Fabrice Boutet, reassured the public, saying, “There is no human fault; it is mechanical. But the worksite is at a standstill for an indefinite period.”

The Impact on La Grave’s Community

For the people of La Grave, the cable car isn’t just an infrastructure project—it’s the economic backbone of the town. Mayor Jean-Pierre Pic summed up the situation bluntly: “The cable car is the lungs of the town. Without it, it’s a season ruined.”

Shops remain open, but footfall is scarce. Ski instructors, guides, and local businesses that rely on the steady stream of visiting skiers are all taking a hit. The ripple effect has been felt across the community, which is now bracing for an uncertain few weeks—or months—without its vital ski lift.

Where Does La Grave Go From Here?

With the cable car now out of action indefinitely, the resort is scrambling to figure out next steps. A meeting between key stakeholders is set to take place later this week, with hopes of determining a plan for repairs and a revised reopening timeline.

In the meantime, skiers can access nearby Les 2 Alpes as an alternative, thanks to shuttle services arranged by the resort. While it’s not the same as La Grave’s legendary terrain, it offers a way to salvage some of the ski season.

A Difficult Start to the Season

This season has been anything but smooth for La Grave. What began as a mechanical fault discovered during routine checks has now escalated into a major disruption. The hope of salvaging the season now hinges on swift repairs, thorough investigations, and a united effort from the community to weather this storm.

SATA has assured the public that safety remains its top priority, and the La Grave team is doing everything it can to ensure that, when the lift finally reopens, it will do so with full confidence in its safety and reliability.

For now, the skiers, businesses, and residents of La Grave can only wait and hope that this iconic cable car is back in action soon—because La Grave, quite simply, can't function without it