Dramatic Rescue at Colorado Ski Resort After Lift Malfunction
In a recent incident at a Colorado skiing destination, more than 170 skiers and snowboarders found themselves in need of rescue when the lift malfunctioned during their ascent up the mountain.
On Saturday, December 21st, shortly after noon local time, the ski lift at Winter Park Resort in Winter Park became immobilized while carrying 174 passengers. Reports from both The Guardian and The Colorado Sun provided details on this unusual situation.
A Sudden Stop with No Injuries
According to Jen Miller, a representative for the resort, the lift halted automatically upon detecting a crack in one of its structural components. She characterized this issue as an ”operational malfunction,” which is critical for safety protocols.
Responding promptly to the emergency, ski patrol teams initiated rescues by entering individual cabins from above and meticulously lowering each passenger safely to ground level using ropes attached to specialized seats. Additionally, skiing gear was also removed from each gondola before it was lowered down separately.
“The ski patrol team has undergone extensive training for situations like this,” Miller stated. She highlighted that this marked the first evacuation of its kind since this particular lift opened in December 2018. “It’s quite uncommon for such evacuations to occur,” she remarked.
Rescue Operations Span Hours
The evacuation efforts commenced around 1 p.m., as reported by local station Fox 31. Teams worked diligently until all individuals were safely on solid ground by approximately 6 p.m., with no injuries reported throughout the ordeal.
Footage captured by witnesses showcased skiers anxiously waiting inside their gondolas as patrollers executed their plan methodically from above while utilizing ropes to lower individuals down several feet.
A clip on TikTok captures early moments of crisis management when a resort staff member called out to passengers inside one cabin asking if anyone required assistance: “Ski patrol has started a lift evacuation,” they informed before checking if there were any injured or vulnerable guests aboard.
Another TikTok video illustrates how ski patrol personnel reassured those stranded within; “Is everyone feeling okay?” they asked gently before guiding each guest down using ropes while prioritizing safety over rushing their extraction process.
Safety Inspections Underway
Following these events, Winter Park Resort made an immediate decision to close that specific lift and began replacement work on Sunday for the damaged component. Local regulatory bodies including those from the Colorado Tramway Safety Board and Leitner Poma—the manufacturer—are slated to conduct inspections once operations resume as well as delve into investigating what led to such structural failure.
Miller acknowledged that identifying why this malfunction took place remains under investigation but emphasized that “the gondola performed exactly as intended” upon detecting malfunctions.
As part of ongoing communications regarding safety measures post-incident or delays caused due repairs needed on-site equipment—Winter Park operates over 21 functional lifts across its expansive terrain covering more than 3,000 acres managed by Alterra Mountain Company—has not yet released specifics concerning repair timelines.
“It’s unfortunate indeed,” she stated lamentably about operational interruptions caused due malfunctions but maintained confidence in trained staff responding effectively under pressure: “This isn’t something fixed overnight.”
