Magic Lift Grip Slips

A chair's cable grip failed on Magic Mountain's Black Lift Saturday, Jan. 5, allowing one loaded chair to slide backward into another. Nobody was injured, but loading was stopped and the lift was run slowly to unload passengers already aboard. Operators took immediate steps to repair the grip, inspect the lift, and get it ready for operation. This illustrates several things. First, risk in skiing takes many forms, and despite the best efforts and intentions of all involved, mishaps happen. Second, always, always dress as if the lift you are riding on will break down for an extended period just when you are at the high point, dangling far above the ground, in the teeth of a bitter north wind. It probably won't happen often, but when it does, it's better to be dressed appropriately.