As a mom who has spent over a decade herding kids onto chairlifts and gondolas, my heart absolutely skipped a beat when I saw the recent footage coming out of Utah. We always talk about lift safety with our little ones, but a recent incident at Park City Mountain serves as a stark reminder that accidents can happen to adults, too.
What Happened at Park City?
In a video captured by skier Mike Novik, a guest was filmed hanging upside down outside a gondola cabin, apparently stuck after a piece of her gear snagged on the cabin structure. It is the kind of situation that we parents dread thinking about—a fun day on the slopes turning into a frightening ordeal in seconds.
According to reports, bystanders and a quick-thinking Park City Mountain employee rushed to help, holding the skier up until she could be freed. While it is unclear exactly how the snag occurred, the good news is that she is reportedly doing alright. I can only imagine she might be in the market for some new snow pants after such a scare, but I am just so relieved she wasn't seriously injured.
Park City is a massive destination that many families love—it holds a solid 75.5/100 on ShredIndex—but this incident proves that no matter where you are skiing, vigilance is key.
The Reality of Lift Safety
We don't know the specific details of the victim's choices or gear, and it is important not to speculate. However, as a family ski instructor, I use moments like this to double-check my own family's protocols. Gondolas often feel like the "safe" option compared to open chairlifts, which can lead us to let our guard down. We might be adjusting boots, shuffling backpacks, or wrangling excited kids, forgetting that machinery is still moving around us.
4 Gondola Safety Tips for Families
To keep your crew safe and avoid any "nightmare fuel" scenarios of your own, here is the mental checklist I run through with my kids:
- The "Strap Check" Dance: Before the cabin doors open, we do a quick wiggle. Make sure backpack straps, pole straps, and loose clothing are secured. It is surprisingly easy for a loose toggle to catch on a door latch or bench.
- Sit Back, Stay Still: Once inside, I teach my kids to sit all the way back on the bench. It is tempting to lean against the doors or windows to see the view, but keeping gear away from the moving door mechanism is safer.
- Clear the Doorway: When loading and unloading, treat the doorway like a "no stopping" zone. We move efficiently in and out. If something drops, we leave it. It is never worth trying to retrieve a dropped glove if the doors are closing.
- Listen to the Lifties: This sounds obvious, but in the chaos of loading a family, it is easy to tune out. The lift operators are watching for safety hazards we might miss.
We are sending our best wishes to the skier involved—it must have been a terrifying few minutes. Let’s all take a moment to double-check our gear this weekend so we can focus on the fun stuff: shredding that snow together.
Stay safe out there, families!
Source: Unofficial Networks
