Ski Lifts Closed Over Possible Cracks

Five California ski lifts, including one at Mammoth Mountain and two at June Mountain, have been shut down pending inspection of possible cracks in their grip mechanisms.

The lifts, all with detachable quad (four-skier) chairs, are the Yan 7 type manufactured by Lift Engineering of Carson City, Nev. The inspections, ordered by the state Department of Industrial Relations’ director of tramways, are partly the result of a fatal accident on a similar lift last December at Whistler Mountain in Canada.

The inspection of Mammoth Mountain’s Chair No. 1 has been completed, according to resort spokeswoman Pam Murphy, who said: “Tiny flaws were detected in seven of the 90 or so grips, and those have been replaced. It is believed that they came that way from the foundry, but the lift will remain out of service until further lab tests have been completed. Our 30 other lifts are completely safe and operational.”

Bob Roberts, executive director of the California Ski Industry resort association, said the other lifts affected are J6 and J7 at June Mountain, Summit at Alpine Meadows and Inspiration at Sierra-at-Tahoe. He added: “There are 22 Yan 7 lifts in the United States, but we are the first state to take this precautionary measure.”