San Bernardino National Forest, California — A terrifying moment unfolded on the slopes of Big Bear Mountain in Southern California where a skier somehow slipped under a chairlift safety bar and was left dangling high above the ground as the chair continued towards the top station.
The incident happened somewhere along the 5606 foot length of the high-speed detachable quad chairlift which shuttles passengers 1309 vertical feet up the ski resort. Clearly ski patrol was aware of the situation as they can be seen at the top terminal awaiting the arrival of the chair and they must have determined the best course of action was to continue its progress uphill and hope the skier hung on rather than stopping the chairlift and either attempting a rope rescue or holding a catch blanket to break the skiers fall.
Thankfully the skier hung on thanks to the help of the snowboarders flanking her and avoided what could have been a catastrophic fall. Accidents happen but they are highly preventable if you just follow a few simple safety protocols. Learn more about chairlift safety below.
Lift Safety Tips
- Be familiar with the type of lift you are riding, and ask for help if you need it.
- Before loading, remove backpacks and secure loose items. Remove pole straps from wrists.
- Look over your shoulder to watch the chair approach.
- Sit all the way in the chair, with your back to the seat rest.
- If the lift has a restraint bar, wait until everyone is seated, and slowly reach up and lower the bar. Do not attempt to lower the bar if you cannot reach it! Adults should always help kids to lower the bar.
- Be aware of your surroundings while riding the lift. If you drop something, let it fall! You can always ask ski patrol for help retrieving the lost item.
- As you approach the top terminal, prepare to raise the bar. Look for signs advising you to do so to help with your timing.
