KILLINGTON, Vermont – Nobody wants to experience a chairlift evacuation but they do have to happen from time to time, so it’s good to know your favorite mountain’s ski patrollers are practicing. This video from Killington Resort in Vermont goes over the steps taken to ensure that skiers and snowboarders who may wind up stranded on a chairlift are removed safely.
When evacuations do become necessary, a long, sturdy rope is thrown over the lift cable and moved from chair to chair. When it reaches a chair with a guest, the skier or snowboarder is provided with a harness and walked through the process of putting it on.
The guest is asked to thread the harness under the bar and over their head. Once it’s attached around their body and clipped back onto itself, the skier simply slides of the chair and is slowly lowered by the patrol below. A patroller then helps to catch them and guide them to ground, ensuring a safe recovery!
Again, nobody wants to experience a moment like this, but it’s nice to know the procedures are in place and practiced.