Rarely, lifts fail due to mechanical or electronic causes, or as a result of external accidental elements. During the last 60 years lifts have experienced stops that resulted in the need for evacuation at average intervals of only once every  4 1/2 years worldwide. Locally (the Bow Valley) the Sunshine Gondola required partial evacuation once during the winter of 1988, and the Sulphur Mountain Gondola has never required rope evacuation. Sunshine has operated its gondola since 1978, and Sulphur its gondola since 1958.

Passengers stranded on gondola lifts are seldom in danger when a lift stops. However they may require rescue by means of rope evacuation if the lift cannot be repaired within a reasonable time.  While this activity is rescue, it is not usually considered to be an emergency. Nevertheless, work will be carried out as quickly as possible to minimise the discomfort and other concerns of anyone on the lift.

Gondola Rescue Team (Lifeskill Murphy Team);

A regional emergency response team for lift rescue operations was conceived at the Risk Management Seminar hosted by the Canada West Ski Areas Association in 1989. While everyone agreed that lift accident or failure events were uncommon, it was recognized that when some dimension of Murphys Law was set in motion, an army of personnel trained and equipped to respond would be valuable. The challenge was to form and maintain such a ‘Murphy Team’ in a commercially reasonable manner given the need for standing a continuous watch while at the same time serious lift stop events were so infrequent.

Murphy Team Membership level;

Variable with larger numbers during the winter months and never less than 14.

Training exercises;

Conducted monthly at all lift locations with small elements tasked to various technical sections. Exposure to high spans, steep areas, sections that fly over challenging terrain features, tricky access adjacent to complex lift structures, ground work, and practising to solve special problems. Over time we work in all weather and light conditions.

Lift Data, Sulphur Gondola;

Lift Data, Sunshine Gondola;