WINTER PARK, Colo. — Officials are investigating a crack in a Colorado ski lift that led to the evacuation of over 170 stranded skiers and snowboarders. The gondola lift at Winter Park Resort, approximately 70 miles west of Denver, automatically stopped Saturday afternoon after detecting a crack in a structural component. Resort spokesperson Jen Miller stated that passengers were lowered to the ground via ropes over a five-hour period.
No injuries were reported during the rescue operation, which occurred at the beginning of the busy holiday ski season. Ski patrol used a unique method: they accessed each gondola from above, lowered passengers’ equipment, and then individually lowered each of the 174 passengers to the ground using a rope-equipped seat.
On Sunday, crews worked to replace the damaged section of the lift. Meanwhile, state regulators and the lift manufacturer joined resort officials in investigating the cause of the crack. Despite the incident, the resort remained open with 21 other lifts in operation.