They were stuck for hours.
On Saturday, 174 people were rescued from gondolas at a Colorado resort after being stranded for hours due to a malfunctioning ski lift. The incident occurred at Winter Park Resort when the chairlift system automatically halted just after noon upon detecting a malfunction. Ski patrol personnel carried out rope rescues, bringing each rider down individually.
One of the stranded passengers, Taylor Scotland, shared her experience with NBC News affiliate KUSA, saying she was stuck with seven others in a gondola for approximately four hours. The ski patrol assisted them by instructing them on how to rappel down safely. Despite feeling scared, Scotland managed to navigate the descent with guidance from the patrol.
Alexey Dmitriev posted a series of videos on TikTok documenting the rescue. The clips showed ski patrol members checking for medical emergencies and helping passengers lower their equipment. In one video, a patrol member explained how they would lower the riders, one by one, in a seat. Dmitriev also captured footage of a child being rescued and shared his own experience of the operation. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all riders were safely brought down. Other ski lifts at the resort remained operational during the incident.
Winter Park Resort explained that the gondola lift is designed to stop automatically if it detects a problem to ensure safety. After the incident, representatives from the manufacturer inspected and began repairs. A broken part of one of the gondola towers was replaced by Sunday afternoon, and after further testing, the Colorado Tramway Safety Board will conduct an inspection before the lift can be reopened for use. The resort assured the public that they were working swiftly to resolve the issue while prioritizing the safety of their guests and staff.
