After a gondola malfunctioned in Colorado, 174 skiers and snowboarders were stranded 150 feet in the air and rescued in a spectacular operation.#Colorado #WinterParkCO #News #Accident
WINTER PARK, COA At Colorado’s Winter Park Resort, a typical day on the slopes became a rescue mission for 174 skiers and snowboarders. Due to an issue with the gondola system, officials had to evacuate visitors who were stuck far above the mountain on Saturday, December 21, 2024. Emergency personnel labored for hours to safely bring everyone down, transforming what could have been a catastrophe into an amazing demonstration of collaboration.
Gondola Malfunctions and Immediate Response
The incident started at 12:15 p.m. when Winter Park’s gondola system detected a crack in one of its structural elements and immediately stopped. The lift was stopped by the resort’s safety systems, which also informed the workers of the issue.
Procedures for evacuation started within an hour. Using ropes and other gear made for such situations, ski patrol crews labored feverishly to lower the stranded passengers one by one.
Hours of Rescue Operations
It took over five hours to evacuate. By 5 p.m., resort workers were able to lower most skiers. However, it took a little longer to evacuate the final few gondola cabins as the daylight faded.
Ski patrol members entered each gondola, dropped the equipment of the passengers, and then used a seat-equipped rope system to safely lower them to the ground. The procedure was executed with extreme accuracy.
Everyone was back on solid ground and out of the gondola by 6 p.m. Surprisingly, no injuries were reported throughout the procedure.
Compensation and Resort Response
Following the event, Winter Park Resort gave visitors two lift passes to use this season or the following year along with a $10 voucher. The next day, new parts would be placed to restore the damaged gondola.
The resort’s other 21 lifts continued to run regularly, allowing other visitors to enjoy the slopes even if the problem interrupted the day’s skiing.
Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the gondola malfunction. Resort officials are collaborating with state regulators and the manufacturer to identify the cause of the lift’s structural defect. Winter Park Resort is still committed to making sure its visitors are safe in the future while authorities carry out their investigation.
CONNECTED TOPICS: Colorado Accidents
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