Mt. Snow Lift Evac.

[Euler]

While skiing at Mt. Snow yesterday I noticed that the entire North Face area was roped off, and I thought I overheard that there had been a problem with the lifts over there. The details were confirmed this morning on the Mount Snow passholders forum:

Mount Snow Evacuates 40 from Lift

WEST DOVER (January 13, 2010) – Mount Snow Ski Patrol and trained staff evacuated approximately 40 individuals off a ski lift this afternoon.

The Challenger Triple, located on the North Face of Mount Snow, experienced a mechanical failure. Lift mechanics assessed the situation and an evacuation was warranted. Ski patrol & Mount Snow personnel, trained in lift evacuation, were shuttled in via snowmobile and grooming machines to evacuate the lift.

About 40 skiers and riders, riding the lift at about 1pm were evacuated safely in under an hour and half.

Mount Snow’s lift mechanics have assessed the problem and the Challenger Triple should be operational and spinning for the busy Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

While it sound like the evacuation went smoothly, I'm glad I missed out on being part of that experience. It was the first lift evac in over 8 years at Mount Snow.

 

[jaywbigred]

Good to know.

 

[Newpylong]

use the Outpost triple lol

 

[Glenn]

I've had to evac before (not at Mt Snow). It's a really interesting experience. You gain a lot of respect for the folks who get you down in a safe and timely manner.

 

[vcunning]

I've watched them practice lift evacuations over the summer. Good to know that all the practice works.

Euler, I'm with you and glad I missed that.

 

[billski]

I see they had another lift evac Wednesday, 12/29 due to an electrical switch failure.
200 people, up to 95 minutes, Challenger lift again.

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/local/ci_16983049

 

[Newpylong]

yup, the gale force winds helped snow find it's way into the motor housing at the summit.

 

[Breeze]

This week in Ski Town Anywhere is known as Hell Week # 1. Here's hoping that the New Year has better news in store, and is gentler and kinder to everyone.

Breeze

 

[Cornhead]

I've been rescued only once in 18yrs of skiing, chair 5 Greek Peak about 10yrs ago, cable derailment. It was an experience, my son was around 10yrs old, he was very nervous, he asked me how they were going to get us down. I told him,"Maybe they inflate an air bag that we drop onto." He said, " Really?" I said," I doubt it" I was pushing 300lbs at the time, I told the two guys working the rope I was sorry the diet wasn't going so well, they laughed. They wrap the mountaineering rope around it's self, so the more weight, the tighter it constricts on it's self. They had no problem lowering me.

Sometimes when a chair stops longer than normal, I'll ask the people on the chair behind me if they have ever been evacuated and proceed to tell my story. Some newer skiers aren't too thrilled to hear the details. We were half way up the hill, it took an hour and a half. I bet the people who had to get rescued at The Loaf were quite chilly by the time they got them down. It was brutal all over the East Monday, it was 50 degrees at 5:30PM when I got home today.