Whiteface Lift Derailment

[Dave L]

I searched for this after reading the Schenectady Gazette this morning and didn't see anything here...Apparently the summit quad had a teeny snafu shortly before closing at 3:30 Saturday?
This was from the Press Republican
http://www.pressrepublican.com/0100_news/local_story_364224608.html?start:int=0

 

[Kerovick]

Yup, there's a thread over at SkiADK about this. Sounds like the Redcoats did a great job of resonding and got all 47 people off the lift in less than 2 hours, part of that in the dark.

Hats off to Ski Patrol!

 

[MichaelJ]

I read the same article you posted. It apparently made the 6pm news in New York, but I couldn't find video online anywhere. Sounds like it was handled pretty well.

 

[Dave L]

Found an interesting old photo from "Peter" on picasa web that depicts a similar method to the evacuation technique used.

Hope he's not mad I linked up!

 

[jimmer]

Found an interesting old photo from "Peter" on picasa web that depicts a similar method to the evacuation technique used.

Hope he's not mad I linked up!

nice pic for guess the ski area.

 

[Method9455]

Is this the same lift that was having problems on opening day?

 

[skicone]

I saw the Summit Quad was shut down today. Now I know why ! I am skiing at Whiteface on Friday and Saturday this week and will post a ski report when I return. Anyone have any news on the current snow conditions?

 

[tjf67]

I saw the Summit Quad was shut down today. Now I know why ! I am skiing at Whiteface on Friday and Saturday this week and will post a ski report when I return. Anyone have any news on the current snow conditions?

8 inches today. another 8 on the way its going to be spring like conditions this weekend. Bring your rain gear for the weekend.

 

[thetrailboss]

Just read this article..

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

The summit quad is open again. The lift evac was the first one at WF in 25 years. We have practice drills for it every fall, but you never think you'll actually have to do it. The evac was and interesting and rewarding thing to be a part of.

 

[crank]

Is that chair jinxed or somehing? I was at Whiteface 2 seasons ago in March. We'd skied a few runs off the gondola and headed for the summit chair. There was a line there because the lift was stopped. we waited a bit and were informed the chair would be closed for a while. A half hour or so they said. We skied Whiteface the rest of that day and the next and the lift never reopened. A lemon of a lift perhaps? They did not have to evacuate it when we were there.

 

[Skier75]

Found an interesting old photo from "Peter" on picasa web that depicts a similar method to the evacuation technique used.

Hope he's not mad I linked up!

Okay, that's one thing I hope never to be a part of, especially if it was higher up than that. It would take some coaching to get me to do that! We had a bit of a scare today at Gunstock.....was on the HSQ on the way to the top and it stopped, for a while. At first we figured someone fell off at the top or bottom, then we were on a bit longer, and I was thinking, OMG, please don't let it be another lift issue! Finially got running and at the top the attendant assured us that things were okay...... Thank God.

 

[billski]

a funny coincidence?

Is that chair jinxed or somehing?

with all these lift problems this year, I have to wonder if there is a relationship to number of skier visits. With conditions so good so early this year, there's a lot more people on the hills. I know, it's more likely just a probability thing, but it's a funny coincidence.

 

[billski]

Okay, that's one thing I hope never to be a part of, especially if it was higher up than that. It would take some coaching to get me to do that! We had a bit of a scare today at Gunstock.....was on the HSQ on the way to the top and it stopped, for a while. At first we figured someone fell off at the top or bottom, then we were on a bit longer, and I was thinking, OMG, please don't let it be another lift issue! Finially got running and at the top the attendant assured us that things were okay...... Thank God.

Everyone I know who has involuntarily been a part of a lift evac really enjoyed it (!) Perhaps it's just the nature of the clientèle, who take jumps, ski fast, etc. etc...

 

[Method9455]

The only thing that would make a lift evac really suck is the length of time you are stuck in the chair. You are much more exposed, at some point you would start to get really cold. I dress real light because I get hot skiing down so if I was stuck on the lift I would be freezing my ass off very quick.

 

[MichaelJ]

Do they really have people rope down with their skis still on? I would have thought the risk of leg injury with a slip would be too great, and skis would get tossed down prior to evac, but I've never actually seen one.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Do they really have people rope down with their skis still on? I would have thought the risk of leg injury with a slip would be too great, and skis would get tossed down prior to evac, but I've never actually seen one.

The poles get tossed down, but the skis stay on. The people being brought down land slowly and gently, like getting out of bed.

If they where told to drop their skis, some might have a hard time getting them off in the chair and could be in danger of falling out. Plus, if they dropped their skis and there was damage to them, they would be pissed.

 

[MichaelJ]

Gotcha.

 

[skicone]

We'll be there on Friday and Saturday. Glad to see the evac went as smoothly as it did. Great job for all that took part in it. As HPD says, that drill is something you do not plan on using.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Here's another one that tells about swag evecs. received.

http://blog.nj.com/skiing/2007/12/evacuees_got_the_vip_treatment.html