170 people evacuated from lift at Elk Mountain

[asnowmobiler]

170 people evacuated from lift at Elk Mountain after issue with gear box

More than 150 people were evacuated from a lift at Elk Mountain in Susquehanna County Sunday afternoon.

www.pahomepage.com

 

[slatham]

Bummer but they were compensated for their ticket. If this were Vail they'd get a 10% discount off of triple the price food LOL........

 

[abc]

Bummer but they were compensated for their ticket. If this were Vail they'd get a 10% discount off of triple the price food LOL........

 

[urungus]

Bummer but they were compensated for their ticket.

What if they were a season ticket holder ?

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

Seems like we're hearing about lift accidents more frequently in recent years.

 

[PAabe]

That lift, it always seems like it is struggling to pull all the loaded chairs up the hill. Ironically Elk's newest lift but also the most suspect. Hopefully they can get it fixed up.

 

[FBGM]

That lift, it always seems like it is struggling to pull all the loaded chairs up the hill. Ironically Elk's newest lift but also the most suspect. Hopefully they can get it fixed up.

Gearbox went. New one went in today

 

[Cornhead]

Greek is even worse. This is the first evacuation I've heard of at Elk. I know of at least 3 at Greek, one I was an evacuee, all on one lift, chair 5. Scarier yet, I've been on chair 5 when it has rolled back quite a few feet. In fact, I witnessed a couple literally swept off the loading dock as the chair in front of them rolled back far enough that it started rounding the bull wheel at the bottom. So it rolled far enough to change it's direction 90 degrees, at least 20 feet. Two Fridays ago 5 was broke while loaded at the end of the day. People were on the lift at least 40 minutes, in 10° temps, some in the shade.

Oh, you get a cup of hot chocolate for your inconvenience if you're evacuated at Greek. Probably nothing for being stuck in the air for an hour.

But don't listen to me, according to a redneck Greek homer on Harvey's blog, an ex member here, I'm a whiner for being concerned with lift safety and poor management practices.

 

[thetrailboss]

That lift, it always seems like it is struggling to pull all the loaded chairs up the hill. Ironically Elk's newest lift but also the most suspect. Hopefully they can get it fixed up.

Yeah I did a little research and saw that this is a very interesting lift that is a "double-quad" in which two separate lifts share towers. Kind of like the old Double Runner and Spillway lifts at Sugarloaf, Maine. A very interesting set-up. It is troubling that the "newest" lift (the quad) was what went down. I also read a lot of comments about the place having very dated infrastructure.

 

[cdskier]

Yeah I did a little research and saw that this is a very interesting lift that is a "double-quad" in which two separate lifts share towers. Kind of like the old Double Runner and Spillway lifts at Sugarloaf, Maine. A very interesting set-up. It is troubling that the "newest" lift (the quad) was what went down. I also read a lot of comments about the place having very dated infrastructure.

Wow...that's an interesting setup. I just looked at some photos.

Per FBGM's post, it was a gearbox issue. It may be their "newest" lift, but it is still getting close to 30 years old at this point. Mechanical stuff breaks over time (even if properly maintained), so maybe this isn't that troubling unless there's a repeat pattern of numerous issues.

 

[thetrailboss]

Wow...that's an interesting setup. I just looked at some photos.

Per FBGM's post, it was a gearbox issue. It may be their "newest" lift, but it is still getting close to 30 years old at this point. Mechanical stuff breaks over time (even if properly maintained), so maybe this isn't that troubling unless there's a repeat pattern of numerous issues.

The funny thing is that I look at those CTEC chairs and terminals and think, "gee, it ain't that old" but it is indeed over 20 years old!

 

[jimmywilson69]

I wonder if there was any money in the infrastructure bill for ski lifts?

You can be damn sure in Europe there is.

 

[FBGM]

So that quad does share towers with a double like mentioned above. I think back in the day when that was done it was kinda set up for another quad if needed or high speed one at some point? It’s an interesting set up.

The other side has 2 doubled next to each other. Old Hall and old Borvig.

The lift infrastructure at elk always comes under fire because people want a high speed quad. I just skied there a few days ago, the current lifts, while old, seem to do just fine. It’s still like 6min if that ride up.

They have invested pretty well in snowmaking over the past few years. I just don’t see them pulling the trigger on a high speed lift.

For what’s it’s worth Elk is by far, hands down, best ski area in PA

 

[jimmywilson69]

For what’s it’s worth Elk is by far, hands down, best ski area in PA

I need to get there... Its only 2:45 from my house not sure why I haven't made this happen yet...

 

[trackbiker]

So that quad does share towers with a double like mentioned above. I think back in the day when that was done it was kinda set up for another quad if needed or high speed one at some point? It’s an interesting set up.

The other side has 2 doubled next to each other. Old Hall and old Borvig.

The lift infrastructure at elk always comes under fire because people want a high speed quad. I just skied there a few days ago, the current lifts, while old, seem to do just fine. It’s still like 6min if that ride up.

They have invested pretty well in snowmaking over the past few years. I just don’t see them pulling the trigger on a high speed lift.

For what’s it’s worth Elk is by far, hands down, best ski area in PA

I agree that Elk is the best ski area in PA. The quad double was not built that way. There was originally a double there and when they added the quad they put them on the same towers, I guess to not have two sets of towers going up the same slope. I have never had any concerns about the safety of the lifts at Elk. While old, the lifts are very well maintained as is the rest of the ski area. I can't remember the last time I heard a lift was down there due to a mechanical problem. They have great snowmaking and are the absolute best at grooming. If a not having a high speed lift keeps some people away, I hope they never get one.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Are they still assholes about tree skiing?

 

[thetrailboss]

So that quad does share towers with a double like mentioned above. I think back in the day when that was done it was kinda set up for another quad if needed or high speed one at some point? It’s an interesting set up.

The other side has 2 doubled next to each other. Old Hall and old Borvig.

The lift infrastructure at elk always comes under fire because people want a high speed quad. I just skied there a few days ago, the current lifts, while old, seem to do just fine. It’s still like 6min if that ride up.

They have invested pretty well in snowmaking over the past few years. I just don’t see them pulling the trigger on a high speed lift.

For what’s it’s worth Elk is by far, hands down, best ski area in PA

Got it. Some reviews I read were griping about dated lodges and other things. If the lifts run and are safe then all is good.

 

[thetrailboss]

I agree that Elk is the best ski area in PA. The quad double was not built that way. There was originally a double there and when they added the quad they put them on the same towers, I guess to not have two sets of towers going up the same slope. I have never had any concerns about the safety of the lifts at Elk. While old, the lifts are very well maintained as is the rest of the ski area. I can't remember the last time I heard a lift was down there due to a mechanical problem. They have great snowmaking and are the absolute best at grooming. If a not having a high speed lift keeps some people away, I hope they never get one.

HSQ’s result in more traffic and beat up the skiing surface faster. I get that they can adjust the number of chairs, but they can’t change rhe fact that a skier will get more runs in a set time which means more impact on the snow.

 

[FBGM]

Got it. Some reviews I read were griping about dated lodges and other things. If the lifts run and are safe then all is good.

The lodge is a bit dated. I go their on some senior days with my dad if I get the day off, and we just sit in the bar area which is nice, and mellow mid week.

From what I’ve heard the owner is old and set in his ways with his kids starting to take more of a role. Some improvements and modernization I think have started to slowly come with this change over.

This was the first year I’ve skied there since I was in high school. So like 15 years give or take. And the place still feels the same. Which is not bad.

Their tree planting and tree farms are also pretty awesome. Lots of lift lines and trails have large pines on the sides. Amazing wind and snow buffer. And they keep planting more every year and have done this for like 40+ years.

 

[Cornhead]

Are they still assholes about tree skiing?

Yes, I think it's the only thing that keeps me leaving Greek and becoming an Elk pass holder. Elk has better grooming and bumps than Greek.