8 - North Shore News — Sunday, March 19, 2000 What g NEWS file photo Pau! McGrath: A News photographer was on hand last winter as a Cypress Mountain ski patcol member was lowered during a demonstration “lift evac.” Whistler same day return «” Whistler with your friends, let us do $ Next time you head up to the driving. That way you can have fun, enjoy the company, and have a great breakfast and dinner, all for just $49 BCFA www. bcrail.com/bcrpass Meals, shuttle & taxes incl. Deana Lancaster News Reperter dlanucaster@nsnews.com APPROXIMATELY 200 people were stranded on the Sunrise Quad Chair for two hours on Cypress Mountain on Tuesday night. It was cold, and some of the skiers and boarders dan- gling an average of 35 feet above the snow were getting cranky, bur Cypress Mountain staff worked safely and efficiently to evacuace the stranded, and at the same time to repair the problem. This News reporter was one of these 200 people — one of the cranky ones, actu- ally. Fd arrived at the fift at about 7:50 p.m., late to meet a friend. We loaded, [ apolo- gized for my tardiness and five minutes later, the lift stopped. As anyone who rides or skis knows, this is not unusu- ai. Someone may have had trouble loading or unloading — usually it’s only a couple of minutes before the bells cing and it starts up again. Except on Tuesday night, at about 8 p.m. the bells did- n’t ring, and the lift didn’t start up. from March 18th to the 31st. For just $100, you even get a one-day lift ticket, taxes included. Just book two days in advance by calling 984-5246 or toll free 1-800-663-8238. Overnight packages also available from $255 per person, based on double occupancy. Tickets are non-refundable. 2 day advance purchase and same day return required. [Wetmore Motors Famil Owned Since ! 946 | winiy wel 8:20 p.m.: Time was pass- ing relarively quickly — tor- tunately it was a mild night and it took time for the cold to setin. Burt the weight of a snowboard hanging from one foot can get a little uncomfortable and it was when [started to feel twinges in my ankle that I twisted in my seat to try and geta look at the base station. Tcouldn’t see much, except that where I expected a massive line-up of people waiting to load onto the recalcitrant chairlift, there was no one. In fact, | could see people walking away from the base station, carry- ing their equipment. “Houston, we have a problem,” I said. And it was then that I stacted getting cold. 8:50 p.an.: We could hear a voice shouting from up the line a ways but we couldn’t hear the words. We didn’t wait long. A Cypress staff member crested the hill on his snowboard and came to a skidding stop. “The chairlift has broken down,” he announced. “We're going to evacuate you off. We'll start at each tower and work our way down. It’s a very safe proce- dure, just listen to your res- cuers’ instructions.” He rode on, to repeat his message lower down. It may have been the cold, but suddenly I started shaking uncontrollably. 9:25: Two _ patrollers snowmobiied to the tower four chairs above us. One climbed the tower and threw the rope over the cable. He climbed down and we could faintly hear them as they called instructions to the couple sitting in the chair. “This is very safe ... going to fower the seat to you ... kind of like a swing ... do aot touch it until [ tell you.” We watched as the skier cased himself from the edge of his seat and the team working the ropes belayed him to the ground. My shak- ing was growing worse and now included teeth chatter- ing. But I realized now it wasn’t the cold — I was ter- rified of the rescue proce- dure. Once both passengers had been lowered to the ground, the rescuers prepared to move the gear down to the next chair, three ahead of us. Then one of them got a mes- sage. “[ve just heard from my supervisor and they think they may have repaired the problem. They're going to try and start it up. If it does- n’t work we'll continue with the evacuation.” They detached the equip- ment and we waited. 9:55 p.m.: Success! The lift starts running with hard- ly a shudder and 10 minutes later we're at the top. Two hours and five min- utes after hopping on the Sunrise chair | take my first and only run down Collins, G& OR REFUSAL CHARGE? You only have 7 days. Did you know that you automatically receive a 90 day prohibition from driving for being picked up on 08 or Refusal charges, whether or not you have been convicted. You only have 7 days from the date that you are stopped by the Police to appeal your 90 day automatic driving prohibition. You have the right to an experienced lawyer... One who can advise you of your options... Point out the potential problems... Help you deal with the significant penalties... PHONE FOR A FREE CONSULTATION IMMEDIATELY. ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER 986-4366 AFTER HOURS 926-3181 (Criminat matters only) #300-1401 LONSDALE Ave. NorTH VAN. E-mail: harryh@ahtlaw.com ES Up doesn’t always come down straighr to the Patrol Hut for hor chocolate and a quick debriefing. The problem it) seems, was computer-related. “These new lifts are like space shuttles,” said Cypress Mountain marketing manag- er Matthew Broadbent on Wednesday morning. According to Broadbent, the lift usually runs on an electrical system, but it has a second diese! generator and another generator as a third, back-up system. All three were working fine, he said, but the brains of the system — a computer card — decid- ed there was a problem, and shut the whole thing down. “We called the guys at Palmer in Colorado and woke them up and got them working on the problem, But we started the evacuation. We didn’t want to wait twe hours and find out it could- n't be fixed and then start the lift evac.” Palmer is the American company — that designed and installed the lift. About 50 people were evacuated before technicians were able to bypass the com- puter card and start it up again. Broadbent said there were no reports of any injuries, other than feeling cold, and the Sunrise Chair is now fully operational ayain. To his know ledge it’s the second time Cypress staff have done a lift evacuation. “Once last year during a windstorm it broke down. That was worse, it was a lot colder. We took everyone off that time.” But he added, bad average. “It’s unfortunate, you don’t really want to go through it, but in general it’s not that uncommon (at, ski resorts). The guys are well trained to do it and it’s safe. It’s more a matter ¢ of geting the person’s trust.” FE know they would have atten mine, and I'd. have followed their directions. But boy, was I glad I didn’t have to. it’s not a How are we tatna? ‘When we fail shor: of your expectation, pleave cell us. When a Newspaper story does not seem to. * reflect fairly what was said, ler our 1 editors kxow. 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