67 People Rescued from Stuck Ski Resort Gondolas

Mechanical issue leaves skiers and snowboarders stranded for hours at New York's Gore Mountain

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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A mechanical problem at the Gore Mountain ski resort in upstate New York left 67 skiers and snowboarders stranded in gondolas for several hours on Wednesday. Rescuers from the New York State Police and Department of Environmental Conservation responded to the scene and worked to safely lower the passengers from the stuck gondolas.

Why it matters

Gondola malfunctions at ski resorts can pose significant safety risks, especially in harsh winter conditions. This incident highlights the importance of proper maintenance and safety protocols at ski areas to protect guests. It also showcases the skill and coordination of emergency responders in executing a complex high-altitude rescue operation.

The details

A tower wheel, known as a sheave, became misaligned at the Gore Mountain ski resort, triggering a safety sensor that stopped the gondola lift. Rescuers ascended the lift towers, traversed cables, and rappelled down to the stranded gondolas in order to lower the 67 passengers safely to the ground using ropes. The rescue operation took around five hours to complete.

  • The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 around 9 a.m. ET.
  • The rescue operation lasted approximately 5 hours.

The players

Gore Mountain

A ski resort located in North Creek, New York, approximately 85 miles north of Albany.

New York State Police

Law enforcement agency that responded to the gondola incident at Gore Mountain.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

State agency that assisted in the rescue operation at the ski resort.

Darcy Norfolk

Communications director for the Olympic Regional Development Authority that operates Gore Mountain.

Dan Laurie

A skier who was riding in one of the stranded gondolas.

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What they’re saying

“Oh boy, we're going to be here for a while,”

— Dan Laurie, Gondola passenger (Adirondack Daily Enterprise)

“We are very thankful for the outcome, which was everyone was safe,”

— Darcy Norfolk, Communications director, Olympic Regional Development Authority (Statement)

“We heard a click and the door unlatched and she rappelled down and came into the car and then, you know, it was a little bit of joking involved too. 'Oh, nice of you to drop in.'”

— Dave Higgins, Gondola passenger (The New York Times)

What’s next

The ski resort will likely conduct a thorough investigation into the mechanical failure that caused the gondola incident in order to prevent similar issues in the future.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and safety protocols at ski resorts to protect guests, as well as the critical role of emergency responders in executing complex high-altitude rescue operations when things go wrong.