Plans announced to connect Crans-Montana and Lenk-Adeboden with new cable car
By Jan de Boer
High in the Swiss mountains, plans are afoot to create what would be one of the largest and most exciting ski resorts in the world by linking two of the alpine nation’s most popular destinations. Under the plans, a ski lift would connect the Valaisanne resort of Crans-Montana with the downhill paradise of Lenk-Adelboden.
New cable car planned between Valais and Bern
According to a report from 20 Minuten, with funding from Canton Bern and Valais, the two ski regions have commissioned a feasibility study into connecting Crans-Montana with Lenk-Adelboden. Coming just a few months after the resort of Zermatt finally connected itself with neighbouring Italy, the announcement reflects a trend among Swiss resorts: a desire to connect themselves together to create a larger, more impressive and exciting experience for visitors.
In this case, the cable car connection between the two would be roughly six kilometres long, with skiers, snowboarders and hikers able to pass from the summit of Plaine Morte at 3.000 metres above sea level all the way down the Plain Morte glacier to the runs of Adelboden and back.
Cable car would create second largest ski region in Switzerland
If built, the link would create the second-largest ski area in Switzerland with over 360 kilometres of slopes to choose from, only behind the ski resort of Verbier Four Valleys with 410. It would also create an exciting and fast way to get between Valais and Bern - for reference, taking public transport or driving between Adelboden and Crans-Montana would take 2,5 hours and two hours respectively.
According to the local newspaper Bilan, local councils, ski lift and tourism operators in both regions are largely in favour of the plan, arguing that the aim is not to increase tourism numbers. Instead, they hope to develop international tourism by offering a fast and easy connection between the two regions during both winter and summer.
From now, a number of experts will start to determine whether the connection could be made a reality. They are expected to have an answer in 18 to 24 months time.
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Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more