Investigation After Gondola Collapse in Kicking Horse
10th March 2025
Last modified on March 13th, 2025
A single gondola fell off the lift as it left the base station. Several people were in the lift, but no-one is seriously injured. An investigation is underway and the resort has partially re-opened. UPDATED
The accident in the resort in British Columbia, Canada, happened early on Monday morning.
It is understood the hanger arm that attached the cabin to the supporting bracket simply snapped.
The cabin on the Golden Eagle Express was not far off the ground and had just started its journey.
Eight people were in the cabin at the time.
All lifts in the resort were immediately closed..
The lift in question has been in use for 25-years.
It is one of the longest gondolas in North America with 55 cabins carrying skiers 3,500 vertical feet.
Without the gondola all most three quarters of the resort of Kicking Horse cannot be accessed.
The resorts has announced that other lifts in the resort will, re-open, but the Golden Eagle Express is the main one and its closure will seriously impact on the skiing available and the rest of the season.
“Kicking Horse Mountain Resort plans to operate tomorrow March 11, with the Catamount and Pioneer Chairlifts and the Jelly Bean Magic Carpet,” said a statement form the resort on Tuesday.
” Reduced lift tickets will be in effect.
“All outlets and services will be available for regularly scheduled hours of operation excluding the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant and Heaven’s Door Yurt.
“Terrain above the Pioneer Chair will be closed as there will not be mountain safety response and avalanche control available.”
“At 9:20 am, an incident occurred involving a cabin at the base terminal of Golden Eagle Express gondola,” said a statement from the resort on Monday.
“Our patrol team and first responders were rapidly dispatched on scene.
“Our trained maintenance team is evacuating the passengers as per standard operating procedure.
“A full inspection has been initiated to determinate and analyze root causes.
“Teams from the manufacturer and relevant authorities have been called in to further assist.
“Please note Golden Eagle Express gondola will remain closed until further notice.
“An update will be provided later today with regards to regular operations.”
“I saw it happen while waiting in line for the gondola this morning,” said one eye-witness on social media.
“Very scary, glad to hear everyone’s okay. Could’ve been much worse obviously.
“But logistically the entire resort is probably going to be shut down for several days.
“That’s basically the only route onto the mountain.”
Here at PlanetSKI we will update this story as we receive more information.
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