A chair became lodged sideways entering the top terminal of Lutsen Mountains’ Raptor Express yesterday, leading to a full rope evacuation. Winds were reportedly picking up at the time and made for a multi-hour evacuation. The 2023 Leitner-Poma six pack crosses several roadways, allowing a ladder truck from the local fire department to reach some of the lift’s 53 chairs. Other riders were roped down by resort staff. “We sincerely appreciate the patience and continued support of our guests,” the mountain noted on its snow report. “We are grateful to our patrol, ops and lift teams for all they do to keep us safe and having fun,” Lutsen said. I have asked Lutsen whether anyone on the affected chair fell or was injured and will update with any new information.
Lutsen says the Raptor Express will remain closed for several days as parts arrive for repair. The Bridge double will run in Raptor’s place, providing access to all the same terrain. “Our teams are working hard to ensure safe operations, and we look forward to delivering positive experiences on the mountain today and throughout the season,” said Lutsen.
Update 1/19: Lutsen provided the following statement to Lift Blog: “On Saturday, 1/17 at approximately 9:45 am, Lutsen Mountains experienced a mechanical failure on the Raptor Express chairlift which caused the lift to cease operating. After a thorough inspection, it was determined the guests on the lift would need to be evacuated. In total, 44 guests were evacuated by Lutsen Mountains Ski Patrol and transported to Lutsen’s Ski Patrol building and Eagle Ridge Registration building where cookies, hot drinks and guest services personnel awaited them. One guest experienced non-life threatening injuries as a result of the mechanical issue, and no guests were injured in the evacuation process.
At this time, Raptor Express remains closed until the upcoming weekend while the team awaits replacement parts. In the meantime, guests can continue to access the same terrain via Bridge Lift. Any updates will be made via our website, daily mountain report, and social media. Thank you for your patience during this time and we thank our ski patrol for their training and professionalism during the evacuation.”
Update 1/20: Lutsen confirmed to Lift Blog that “four people fell from the chair at the top terminal of Raptor Express when the mechanical failure occurred. Ski Patrol responded immediately and minor injuries were assessed on-site.”
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