Alyeska tram accident photo (Holy cow!)

[Admin]

We've published a couple of news stories over the past couple of weeks about the New Year's Eve tram accident at Alyeska. The accident has been reported by resort officials as a cabin bumping the tower and we more or less accepted that because available information has been very, very sketchy and difficult to obtain.

However, we should have dug deeper. Check out this photo that has appeared in the Alaska Dispatch:

That's no bump, that's a skewer! They're very fortunate that cabin only had a few passengers in it. That's also going to take a good long while to fix.

Here's a link to the full story in the Alaska Dispatch:

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/h ... tram-tower

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note II using Tapatalk 2

 

[Marc_C]

Ulp!
It's not supposed to be like that, is it?
Clean up on aisle 5 please.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I'm sure every design is different, but Jackson's tram is designed to operate in winds up to 60MPH. it's not uncommon for the the tram to be running when the Sublette chair has to be closed. Anyone know what the tram wind parameters are at Squaw or Snowbird?

 

[Marc_C]

After the software upgrade in 2005, the Bird tram can operate up to 65mph if the wind is parallel to the tram cables; it's about 50mph if it's a cross-wind.

 

[egieszl]

The reader comments in that article are ridiculous. To suggest that resort intentionally endangered the lives of others is ridiculous.

A very unfortunate incident, but fortunate in the sense that no one was seriously injured. Tram incidents are very rare and the fact that resort has successfully operated the lift for 17 years without incident proves their ability to safely operate it. To suggest otherwise is lunacy.

I've personally experienced a "roque wind gust" before or let's just say a sudden, intense, momentary gust of wind that came out of no where, so it's possible.

 

[EMSC]

To suggest that resort intentionally endangered the lives of others is ridiculous.

+1. The conspiracy theories are a bit over the top. I was on a 'last tram of the day' at Jackson once at 10am as we slammed the top tower (sideways swinging from crosswind) and then the upper loading dock from 60+mph winds as a storm suddenly came in. The first guy out of the tram literally took one step out and was immediately shoved straight backwards into the tram again it was blowing so hard by then. So either the Alyeska tram is super light weight, or the gust that did that to it was HUGE (like 100mph+).

That said, it would seem that as usual, ski resort communications and marketing directors are pretty horrible at handling nearly any and all events that are outside of the expected norm. Aleyeska could have and should have been a lot more forthcoming about the scope of the incident. Now it makes them look look like they are/were hiding things instead.

Glad to have not been part of that mess though. Teenage girl knocked unconscious and eventually needing staples in her head, etc... super yikes!

 

[Tony Crocker]

So either the Alyeska tram is super light weight, or the gust that did that to it was HUGE (like 100mph+).

I think there were only 5 people in the tram, so probably easier for the wind to blow it around than if it were full. I can tell you from my visits to Alyeska it's not all that uncommon to ride that tram with only 5-10 people at a time. In glaring contrast to Snowbird and Jackson, where trams are usually full or very close to it.

 

[jojo_obrien]

Tony -- that might have been your experience....but...last season...I rode the tram every weekend...and with 900+ inches of snow last season...every ride on the tram was jam packed (just like at the Bird).......................usually 10 minute wait nearly every Friday or Saturday....

:lol:

 

[Tony Crocker]

Interesting. I'm sure the locals were not out much during my 2010 and 2012 visits with super high pressure or late season slop. But in 2007 I was there Friday/Saturday of Alaska's spring break week with dumping snow and fresh powder and it still wasn't that busy. Maybe half full, and I was always on the next tram after I got in line.