Officials are investigating the cause of a structural crack in a gondola lift at Winter Park Resort in Colorado, which led to the evacuation of 174 skiers and snowboarders on Saturday. According to the reports of Leaders team, the resort, located about 70 miles west of Denver, automatically halted the gondola just after noon when the crack was detected, according to resort spokesperson Jen Miller.
The dramatic rescue operation, which lasted about five hours, involved ski patrollers entering each gondola cabin from above to retrieve passengers. They used ropes equipped with seats to lower individuals to the ground safely, along with their equipment. Remarkably, no injuries were reported during the operation.
Start of a Busy Season Interrupted
As per the sources of Leaders team, the incident occurred at the beginning of the holiday ski season, a critical time for the resort. Despite the disruption, Winter Park Resort kept 21 other lifts operational for visitors while the affected gondola was shut down.
Investigating the Cause
Resort workers began replacing the cracked section of the lift on Sunday, while state regulators and the gondola’s manufacturer joined resort officials to investigate the cause of the structural failure.
Although the rescue was a significant undertaking, the resort expressed gratitude for the teamwork and expertise that ensured all 174 passengers were brought to safety without harm. The investigation’s findings are expected to provide insights into preventing similar incidents in the future.
