Snowboarder Stranded 15 Hours Overnight on California Ski Gondola
A snowboarder on a ski resort trip with friends was stranded for 15 hours on a mountainside gondola after it stopped working. She tried to scream for help to workers below, but they couldn't hear her.
Snowboarder's Ordeal on the Gondola
A snowboarder on a trip to a California ski resort found herself stranded on a gondola for 15 hours overnight. Monica Laso boarded the gondola alone at 4:58 p.m. and it stopped just two minutes later. Despite her attempts to call for help, workers below couldn't hear her.
Laso found herself in a difficult situation as she was left without a phone, light, or any means of communication. With temperatures dropping to 24 degrees, she had no choice but to spend the night in the cold cabin. According to Laso, she screamed desperately for help until she lost her voice.
Rescue and Investigation
The gondola started running again the next morning, and resort crews eventually found Laso. In the meantime, her friends had reported her missing to the local sheriff's office. Heavenly Ski Resort, where the incident occurred, operates a 2.4-mile long gondola ride that runs daily.
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue responded to the incident. Kim George, a spokesperson for the fire rescue department, expressed curiosity about the story, as they had never encountered a situation like this before in her 23-year tenure. Laso was treated by the fire rescue department and declined to be taken to a hospital.
Safety is a Priority
Heavenly Ski Resort is conducting an investigation into the incident to ensure the safety of its guests. Tom Fortune, the resort's chief operating officer, emphasized that the safety and well-being of their guests is their top priority. This unprecedented event has prompted further assessment of the resort's protocols and procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As of now, there is no information on what caused the gondola to stop or why the workers below couldn't hear the stranded snowboarder's calls for help. The investigation will shed light on these aspects and help improve safety measures at Heavenly Ski Resort.
