On Christmas Eve, Heavenly Ski Resort experienced a significant chairlift collision on its Comet Express lift. One chair unexpectedly moved backward and struck another occupied chair, causing several guests to fall. Five injured skiers required hospitalisation at Renown Regional Medical Centre in Reno. The 35-year-old lift primarily serves intermediate and advanced terrain.
Also on Christmas Eve, an electrical failure on the La Festoure chairlift at Superdévoluy left 240 skiers stranded in freezing temperatures. A massive rescue operation involving helicopters, mountain rescue teams, and local authorities successfully evacuated all stranded skiers by abseiling them off chairs or airlifting them. Remarkably, no injuries were reported despite the challenging conditions.
At Winter Park Ski Resort, more than 175 skiers and snowboarders required evacuation after the resort's gondola unexpectedly shut down. Ski patrollers executed a textbook rope evacuation that took approximately four hours. The cause was identified as a crack in a structural component on a tower near the resort base. The resort continued operations with alternative lifts while repairs were completed.
One of the more serious incidents occurred at Astún Ski Resort in the Spanish Pyrenees, where a mechanical malfunction on the Canal Roya chairlift led to multiple chairs dropping to the ground. A structural component supporting one of the lift's bullwheels collapsed, causing one side of the chair cable to lose tension. Approximately 15 people were injured, with three requiring hospitalisation and two being airlifted in critical condition.
At Attitash Mountain Resort, a chair detached from the Flying Bear chairlift and fell to the ground with a passenger aboard. The individual sustained back injuries but was fortunately conscious and later released from hospital. Preliminary investigations suggested ice buildup around the closing rail might have prevented proper grip closure, while other experts noted signs of potential metal fatigue.
Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire (February 6, 2025)
Just three days after the Attitash incident, Cannon Mountain experienced a mechanical failure on its Peabody Express Quad chairlift, necessitating the rope evacuation of 64 passengers. The resort identified the cause as "the failure of a bolt affixed to the power take-off shaft." No injuries were reported during the two-hour evacuation.
Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont (February 12, 2025)
At Stowe Mountain Resort, a window fell out of a gondola cabin on the historic Mansfield Gondola. While minor compared to other incidents, it served as a reminder that even small maintenance issues can pose potential hazards. Fortunately, no one was injured by the falling glass.
Kicking Horse Resort, British Columbia & Red Lodge Montana (March 10, 2025)
The final major incidents of the season occurred on the same day. At Kicking Horse Resort, a gondola cabin fell off the Golden Eagle Express near the loading terminal when an arm failed. Despite people being inside the cabin, no serious injuries were reported.
However, at Red Lodge Mountain, a rider sustained fatal injuries in what the resort described as an "unfortunate incident" on their Triple Chair lift. Weather conditions that day were particularly challenging, with gusts reaching 55 mph, potentially contributing to the accident.
Industry Implications
This unusual concentration of lift incidents raises important questions about infrastructure maintenance, inspection protocols, and crisis response in the ski industry. What stands out across all these incidents is the professional response from ski patrol teams and mountain operations staff, whose training and preparedness likely prevented more serious outcomes in many cases.
For skiers and riders, these incidents serve as reminders to always remain vigilant, pay attention to safety briefings, and follow instructions during any evacuation scenarios. As resorts investigate these incidents and implement preventative measures, the findings will hopefully contribute to even safer lift operations in future seasons.
