174 skiers and snowboarders in Colorado saved following lift malfunction

Officials are looking into the cause of a crack found in a ski lift in Colorado that led to the evacuation of more than 170 skiers and snowboarders.

The incident occurred at Winter Park Resort, located approximately 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of Denver. According to resort representative Jen Miller, the gondola lift came to a halt shortly after noon on Saturday after it automatically detected damage in a structural component of the lift. For around five hours, individuals trapped in the gondolas were safely assisted in descending via ropes.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the evacuation process, which coincided with the commencement of the bustling holiday ski season. As part of the rescue operation, ski patrollers accessed the cabins from above to help secure passengers’ equipment before using harnesses attached to ropes to lower the 174 stranded guests to safety, Miller elaborated.

On Sunday, workers began replacing the damaged section of the lift while state regulators and the lift’s manufacturer collaborated with resort officials to determine the underlying cause of the crack. Despite this incident, the resort remained operational, with 21 other lifts available for use.