Ski Lift Nightmares

In The Wild

With the recent Northeastern storm dumping up to 46 inches of snow in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states, skiers and slope owners are rejoicing with the early winter snow cover. Ski areas rushed to open their slopes to skiers and boarders anxiously waiting for the new season to begin. Add Covid fatigue into the mix, and the ski industry has increased optimism for the coming season. Outdoor recreational opportunities provide for those struggling with extended isolation lethargy, and ski areas are happy to provide an outlet.

But alpine skiing and boarding are not without significant risks. Injury rates have fallen from five to eight per 1000 skier-days in the 1970s to two or three per 1000 skier-days now. A skier day represents one individual day of skiing. Advancements in binding technology have improved skier safety, but helmet efficiency is still debatable. The main dangers include hitting rocks, trees, or other people, getting hit by another person, falls resulting in injury, sunburns, snow blindness, falling into tree wells, and avalanches.

Alpine skiers and riders reach summits by way of chairlifts or gondolas. What are the safety statistics for this equipment? Chairlifts are safe, right?

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