Vail Resorts does it again! On Tuesday, I stayed stuck for one full hour on Tombstone, one of their six person chairlifts without knowing what was going on. After more than 30 minutes of waiting, I called Ski Patrol to be told there was some mechanical problem that they hoped would be fixed soon. I asked: “Why didn’t you sent someone down the line to alert skiers waiting above?” I was told, “We’re doing it now”. 

A ski patrol showed up much later, as the chairlift had resumed moving on diesel power. For my ruined afternoon, I got a free lift ticked. BFD as we say! Vail Resorts doesn’t maintain its lifts as it should, as it probably doesn’t pay its mechanics what they are worth and, over the years, has built a terrible reputation as an employer. One of these day, folks will get killed on its lifts… 

I skied two Ninety-Nine 90 before it closed and then realized that all lifts this time were closed on the account of “lightning hold”. I didn’t hear any thunder, but the gondola kept going. Interesting isn’t it? 

In fact, lighting will always take the path of least resistance to earth, so if the user aren’t touching the earth they'll be safe. The metal cables and towers of the ski lift will conduct the lighting towards earth. In all likelihood, a lift is designed to withstand a lightning strike. 

The Over and out lift line at the base of Tombstone was crowded and no one knew what to do. I ended up walking and skiing down the 1.6 miles (ruining my ski bases too!) on the side of White Pine road to the cabriolet parking lot where I had left my car. What a day and a terrible handling of a situation like only Vail Resorts knows how to concoct!