Bartlett, New Hampshire — As extra surprising photos and movies have emerged concerning the provider fall from the Flying Bear chairlift at Attitash yesterday, numerous folks spoke up in regards to the attainable causes of the incident.
A notable one got here from Reddit consumer @Fluffhead_Phan, who described their expertise driving the carry when the incident occurred.
The Reddit consumer mentioned the next within the submit in regards to the detachment:
“This occurred Feb. 2, 2025 at Bear Peak (Attitash). The workers on the high of the carry supplied vouchers however had no different data. We had been 13 chairs behind this one on our ‘final run of the day.’ We spoke to some of us on the high who had been nearer to this chair when it fell and mentioned the chair began swinging violently when the carry got here to a sudden halt, it hit the pole and got here crashing down (can verify our chair swung quite a bit too). The chairlift began transferring once more then stopped, it stopped proper above the place he fell. So we noticed the ski patrol come down with the med-sled and stabilize his head, neck and again. Skier gave us a thumbs up however mentioned his again was fucked up.”
The person was assisted by ski patrol and was taken to the hospital. Based on New Hampshire Public Radio, the person was launched from the hospital.
One other perspective got here from Althea Rowell, who’s a tenured carry mechanic. She hypothesized what occurred at Attitash within the Elevate Mechanics of the World Unite!!! Fb group:
“This seems to be a D-104 grip, with the attention witness assertion of seeing/listening to ice fall whereas leaving the terminal, together with the grip remaining open, my wager could be that there was ice construct up in/across the closing rail that didn’t permit for the correct drive to be exerted on the grip with a view to shut (when decommissioning grips it takes a really exhausting, full drive slap in opposition to the bottom or chair to shut the grip). The carry operator who reset the preliminary fault is 200% at fault, particularly if they didn’t go into the terminal to learn the grip drive worth earlier than resetting. In my expertise I’ve had carry ops reset with out even calling a 10-7 to a mechanic. Supply – I’m a mechanic and carry supervisor that works on D-104 grips and trains carry ops.”
As well as, a regarding picture has been making the rounds on social media displaying the downed chair. Elevate mechanics who’ve seen this photograph imagine that the chair suffered important steel decay over time earlier than falling off the haul rope.
For now, these takes must be thought of as hypothesis. The state of affairs is presently being investigated by the New Hampshire State Fireplace Marshal’s Workplace and the New Hampshire Passenger Tramway Security Board. The Fireplace Marhsal’s Workplace has said that the possible trigger was a mechanical failure. Doppelmayr, the carry producer, and Attitash Mountain are additionally aiding within the investigation. The New Hampshire Passenger Tramway Security Board will seemingly launch a doc concerning the official explanation for the detachment sooner or later.
The Flying Bear chairlift was closed right now as crews investigated the reason for the incident. Its standing going ahead this season is unknown. The Bear Peak facet stays open to the general public, with Kachina and Abenaki chairlifts working in that terrain pod.
Picture Credit: @Fluffhead_Phan, @OEM_knees, Attitash Mountain Resort
