Deropement at Blue Chairlift at Crystal Mountain Resort

Incident synopsis

On March 1, 2014 at approximately 11:00 am a deropement occurred at tower #2 on the Blue Chairlift at Crystal Mountain Resort ski area located approximately 30 kilometers west of the city of Kelowna, British Columbia. A deropement occurs when the wire rope that carries and moves passenger carriers falls off of the tower equipment that supports it.

The deropement caused four passenger carriers to fall to the snow surface injuring four people who required hospitalization. Media reports later identified two additional injured passengers that received bruising resulting from the deropement.

The incident caused extensive damage to five passenger carriers. Haul rope and tower sheave assembly components received minor damage.

Attached documents:

Crystal Mountain Resort Limited, Blue Chairlift Deropement - Investigation Report