WINTER PARK, Colo. — A mechanical issue on Saturday led to the evacuation of over 170 skiers and snowboarders from the gondola lift at Winter Park Resort, just as the holiday ski season was gearing up. Fortunately, all passengers were safely rescued without any injuries reported.
Jack Bronchetti, who was at the resort with his father, shared their experience of being stranded approximately 100 feet above ground level for five hours. They were part of the accustomed holiday crowd eager to hit the slopes when the gondola system came to a grinding halt due to a crack detected shortly after noon.
According to resort spokesperson Jen Miller, the gondola stopped automatically upon detecting the crack, which occurred in the rocker arm connecting two sections of tower one. This design is aimed at ensuring passenger safety during mechanical failures. The resort acknowledged the malfunction through its blog post but did not provide additional comments when approached by media outlets such as The Denver Gazette.
Over the course of five hours of rescue operations, ski patrollers worked tirelessly to evacuate passengers from the gondola. They employed rappel systems to lower passengers down safely, ensuring no one was left stranded. Each gondola cabin was attended to, and individuals were lowered one by one, demonstrating the ski patrol's commitment to safety and training.
During the initial hours of their ordeal, Bronchetti found himself sharing the cabin with his father and a family of five. The first two hours were filled with anxiety, compounded by Bronchetti's own struggles with claustrophobia. He expressed relief at having his father to provide support. "I'm glad my dad was there to keep me calm and lead by example," he stated.
To cope with the situation, the group began cracking jokes and attempting to lighten the mood. Bronchetti remarked on the unexpected camaraderie formed during their time together, reflecting, "It was pretty cool how our gondola came together as a group even though we were all strangers." Such positive sentiments emerged even from those involved with the rescue, with the ski patrollers reportedly maintaining their spirits throughout the event.
After their dramatic descent, ski patrollers took down the evacuees' information and handed out $10 vouchers for the resort as compensation for the inconvenience. Winter Park Resort later extended free passes for the remainder of the season to those affected, reinforcing their commitment to customer care. "I think they handled it as well as they could have. It was kind of a freak accident," Bronchetti added, emphasizing his feeling of safety throughout the process.
The Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board, responsible for overseeing chairlifts and gondolas within the state, is investigating the incident. They, along with the gondola manufacturer, Leitner Poma, arrived on-site on Saturday afternoon to assess the damage and gather insights on the structural failure. Initial inspections were completed by the following afternoon, and repairs began swiftly thereafter.
By Monday afternoon, the gondola was reopened to the public after having run through extensive testing. Daren Cole, president of Leitner Poma of America, affirmed the teamwork involved, stating, "It was an amazing turn of events from a recovery process," after the team fabricated and shipped the replacement component within hours.
Meanwhile, ski resorts across the region have begun taking precautionary measures to inspect similar gondola structures, aiming for the highest standards of safety amid the busy ski season. Fortunately, no other issues were reported at nearby resorts, easing concerns for holiday visitors.
Safety protocols are especially significant considering the past incidents associated with ski resort lifts. The Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board was established after multiple fatalities were reported involving ski lifts. Historically, serious accidents have led to legislative action to increase regulatory oversight on the safety of skiing equipment.
Winter Park’s gondola was built just five years ago, replacing a much older lift and was noted for having one of the highest capacities among gondolas at the time. With its ability to transport 3,600 skiers every hour, the gondola remains pivotal for resort operations.
Another lift malfunction two days later at Heavenly Ski Resort, South Lake Tahoe, raised alarms among ski patrols, as five individuals were hospitalized following the incident. With heightened scrutiny on ski lift safety, the stability and mechanical integrity of resorts are under the microscope.
While the recent evacuation could be labeled as unsettling, the overall response and eventual success of rescue operations—a true collaboration between skiers, snowboarders, and resort personnel—point to both community resilience and commitment to safety within the industry.
