Gondola evacuation
The re-uniting can be quite a logistical feat even on a weekday, but at the end of a week ski-weekers may be travelling to any part of the world.
Perhaps the best way of solving the problem is to evacuate the equipment at the same time as the skiers. This has the following advantages:
- In deep snow the evacuated skiers have their own means of transport to the base. (If conditions are unsuitable for walking it is likely that access by over the snow vehicles would be difficult.)
- Skiers and skis are brought together at the time of evacuation and identification and shipping problems are avoided.
In order to achieve this it is necessary to provide some kind of bag for the skis and to lower it in the same way for the passengers, or to arrange a means of lowering the normal storage racks. Either way the job would be done by a rescuer who would probably require a means of access to the cabins. In some cases the slope and conditions allow dropping ski equipment into the snow.
Transportation of those evacuated can be very difficult when the lift traverses unskiable terrain which may also be dangerous to negotiate on foot.
It is not intended to discuss particular evacuation systems but the problem regarding skis cannot be isolated and the total evacuation picture must be considered. In selecting a system these factors should be weighed:
- Capacity of cabins and maximum cabin to ground height.
- Should rescue equipment be in cabins or brought by rescuers?
- How can in-cabin equipment be protected against tampering and vandalism?
- Provisions for rescuers’ access to cabin for:
(i) Unlocking doors or should passengers egress be possible without assistance?
(ii) Evacuating those who need assistance with the rescue equipment because of injury, fright, language problems, etc.
(iii) Evacuating skis.
(iv) Closing doors to avoid wind or clearance problems on re-starting. - Rescuer access must be possible for uphill and downhill cabins, and will be affected by the type of cabin doors.
- Transportation of the evacuated passengers to a place of safety.
- Time required for evacuation of a full load with manpower available. Availability of outside help.
At best, the evacuation of a gondola late in the afternoon with darkness and temperature falling is a tough problem regardless of the system used. In any case, it is prudent to control Winter tourist traffic to avoid the risk of evacuating non-skiers in unsuitable clothing and setting them down on the mountain.
