Glacier support

A glacier pillar is a special form of cable car pillar that is used in the case of a foundation on glacier ice . Special support structures are necessary on glacier ice, because foundations cannot be concreted, but the supports must be anchored in the ice while floating. Since the ice of the glacier is moving, the incline of the supports has to be adjusted from time to time, depending on the flow speed, and sometimes moved several times a year. There is also the possibility of milling a hole in the glacier in order to concrete a foundation there. However, it must be remembered that the ice that moves up can damage the support. This can be prevented, for example, by means of heated wedges, which melt the ice in the event of contact with the support structure. Such a support was realized for the monocable gondola on the Rettenbachferner in Sölden . The chairlift to the Furggsattel above Zermatt also uses glacier supports. The Vallée Blanche small gondola lift uses a unique form of a glacier support, the hanging support.

Fully anchored in the glacier ice are the base and upper pivot of the Finaillifte 1 and 2 of the Schnalstaler Gletscherbahn .