More than 170 skiers and snowboarders were evacuated from a ski lift at Winter Park Resort in Colorado after a crack was detected in the structure. The incident occurred at the start of the holiday ski season, but no injuries were reported during the hours-long rescue operation.
The lift automatically stopped when the crack was detected, prompting ski patrolers to lower passengers down using ropes and seats. The resort spokesperson, Jen Miller, stated that the ski patrol had trained extensively for such situations and that evacuating a lift is a rare occurrence.
Workers replaced the cracked section of the lift on Sunday, while state regulators and the lift’s manufacturer worked with resort officials to determine the cause of the crack. The resort still had 21 other lifts open for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.
The evacuation of Winter Park Resort’s gondola lift highlights the importance of safety protocols and preparedness in the skiing industry. Luckily, the situation was handled without any injuries, and authorities are working to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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