It’s hard to say whether it’s due to having more information at our fingertips or the sheer volume of events in our local Tahoe community, but the 2024/25 US ski season seems to be marked by more challenges than usual. From lift issues to lawsuits, it feels like new problems arise each week. While we can’t pinpoint the exact reasons for this trend, here’s a look at the news that’s been making headlines this winter.
Lift Failures
In Ski Magazine’s recent article, “How Safe Are Ski Lifts? We Found Out,” they explore how rare mechanical failures are, noting that “only two percent of [fatalities] were caused by mechanical or operator error.” Sean Doll, a professor of Mountain Resort Management at Vermont State University, adds, “lifts operate daily with a relatively low number of incidents, and most of those incidents are minor.” While this is generally true, the 2024/25 ski season has seen an unusually high number of incidents, with three occurring within just three days.
On December 22nd, over 170 skiers were rescued via rappel from a stationary gondola at Colorado’s Winter Park after an “operational malfunction.” The very next day, two chairs on Heavenly’s Comet lift collided, causing several riders to fall about 30 feet into the snow, with five needing hospitalization—evoking memories of a similar incident we witnessed at Heavenly. Then, on Christmas Eve, another lift failure occurred at Telluride, where over 60 skiers required rescue. As if that wasn’t enough, in mid-February, a lift failure at Pats Peak in New Hampshire left more than 100 skiers and snowboarders stranded for 90 minutes, with wind gusts being blamed for causing the lift’s rope to come off its cable. That same storm lead to a three tower deropement at Belleayre Mountain as well.
A Lot of Publicized Deaths
Typically, there are occasional stories of fatalities at ski resorts during the season. But this year’s trends are particularly concerning and resonate on an emotional level. A 21-year-old lost their life at New Mexico’s Angel Fire Ski Resort, while a rider was found dead in the trees on Winter Park’s Mary Jane Trail. In Vail, a 26-year-old Denver resident has been missing on the slopes for over a week. Even professional skiers are facing challenges—on Valentine’s Day, two ski patrollers in Mammoth were caught in an avalanche, with one of them tragically succumbing to their injuries.
The dangers extend beyond inbounds areas as well. In just the past week, four fatalities have occurred in the backcountry. For context, during the entire 2023/24 ski season, 15 people died in the backcountry. On a personal level, this news was especially impactful, as one of the individuals was in a region where I regularly backcountry ski. I later learned that he was someone my friends knew and a husband and father of two.
Trending Higher?
The probability of dying at a ski resort in the United States is approximately 1 in a million, a risk known as a “micromort.” This level of risk is comparable to activities such as swimming or jogging. While still very low in comparison to sports like bicycling (which carries a 1 in 140,485 chance of fatality), the death rate has doubled since 2012, increasing from 1 in 2 million to 1 in 1 million. However, there is some positive news: for the 2022/23 ski season, the fatality rate decreased slightly.
Lawsuits
The impact on the future of skiing and snowboarding at resorts extends beyond this season’s fatalities. In November 2019, a 65-year-old doctor tragically lost his life at Sun Valley Resort, leading his widow to file a lawsuit against the resort. For decades, Idaho courts have upheld a 1979 statute placing responsibility on the skier; however, this year, the state’s Supreme Court raised questions that could permanently alter the landscape of skiing in Idaho.
In Lake Tahoe, another widow is suing Heavenly Resort for negligence and wrongful death, alleging that the resort created deceptive and dangerous conditions due to its avalanche mitigation practices.
Out in the Cold – Failed Contract Talks
Another notable issue this season is the rising frustration surrounding ski resorts and third-party organizations. After months of unsuccessful contract negotiations between the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) and Vail Resorts, the union voted overwhelmingly to strike. This action occurred during the peak season, leading to lift lines exceeding three hours and limited terrain access, much to the frustration of guests. In South Lake Tahoe, tensions between the city and Heavenly Mountain Resort have reached an impasse over the annexation of resort property into city limits. As a result, the city has been forced to restrict parking on Ski Run, which is typically used for overflow parking.
As the season approaches spring skiing, we hope that the news from this winter proves to be just an anomaly. In any case, we encourage everyone to stay vigilant, look out for one another, and offer help when needed.
