174 Rescued After Colorado Ski Lift Malfunction Halts Gondolas

A cracked structural component at Winter Park Resort triggered a five-hour rope rescue, leaving no reported injuries.

The gondola system at Winter Park Resort, 70 miles west of Denver, automatically stopped Saturday after detecting a crack in a structural piece.
Ski patrol teams conducted a five-hour operation to safely lower 174 stranded riders to the ground using ropes and harnesses.
No injuries were reported, and passengers were later compensated with a $10 voucher and two lift passes for future use.
The gondola, installed in 2018, is undergoing repairs and inspections by state regulators and the manufacturer, Leitner-Poma.
Winter Park Resort, which remains operational with 21 other lifts, has not yet announced when the gondola will reopen.