Emergency teams executed a dramatic two-hour rescue operation to save nearly 70 skiers after a gondola suddenly malfunctioned at a popular upstate New York resort. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning at Gore Mountain in the Adirondack Mountains, forcing an immediate halt to the Northwoods gondola service.
Mechanical Issue Triggers Standard Evacuation Protocol
According to official statements from Gore Mountain, the gondola stalled due to what was described as a "non-emergency mechanical alignment matter involving one component of the lift system." The resort confirmed that the lift was stopped immediately as a safety precaution once the issue was detected.
Approximately 67 guests were inside roughly 15 gondola cabins when the evacuation began. Resort officials emphasised that their trained mountain operations and ski patrol teams carried out a standard evacuation procedure, with all guests receiving support throughout the process.
Rescue Operation Details
The complex rescue operation required the use of ropes, cables, and specialised equipment to lower skiers safely to the ground from their suspended cabins. Footage from the scene showed skiers being carefully lowered as onlookers watched the unfolding situation.
"I came to ski here today but there's been a tough situation here at Gore with gondola down and a pretty massive evacuation going down," skier Linda Clark told NEWS10 ABC, capturing the disruption caused by the incident.
Timeline of Events
The gondola had opened at 8:30 a.m. as usual, with many of those affected being among the first skiers of the day. "We were here about 9 a.m., gondola opens at 8:30, and those people that got the first runs of the day were the ones stuck on the gondola," explained skier Jim Chorman to local media.
The rescue operation concluded successfully by 2 p.m., with all guests safely brought to ground level. Remarkably, despite the challenging circumstances, there were no reported injuries among either guests or rescue personnel.
Resort Response and Restoration of Service
Gore Mountain management moved quickly to address the situation and restore normal operations. The resort released a statement on its website confirming that the gondola had reopened on Thursday morning, just one day after the incident.
"Thank you to our mountain operations crews for their hard work and to our guests for your patience and understanding as we worked to safely resume operations on the gondola," the ski resort stated, acknowledging both the efforts of their staff and the cooperation of affected visitors.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of regular maintenance and safety protocols at ski resorts, particularly for mechanical systems that transport visitors at significant heights. Gore Mountain's response demonstrated established emergency procedures that ultimately ensured a safe outcome for all involved.
