Gondola Falls at Kicking Horse on a Powder Day
A serious incident occurred at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort this morning when a hanger arm snapped, causing a gondola cabin with passengers inside to fall to the ground. The accident took place near the bottom station of the Golden Eagle Express gondola, minimizing the drop height and reducing the risk of severe injuries. According to witnesses, while the cabin was occupied, there were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
Rescue crews quickly mobilized to secure the lift, remove the damaged hanger and grip, and safely evacuate the remaining passengers. Kicking Horse’s mountain report shows that all lifts were closed following the incident, leaving many skiers and snowboarders stranded on what had been shaping up to be an epic powder day, with 23 centimeters (9 inches) of fresh snow in the past 24 hours. With the lift running near capacity at the time, the failure significantly impacted resort operations.
In an official statement posted this morning, Kicking Horse management provided the following update:
Golden – At 9:20 am, an incident occurred involving a cabin at the base terminal of Golden Eagle Express gondola. Our patrol team and first responders were rapidly dispatched on scene.
Our trained maintenance team is evacuating the passengers as per standard operating procedure. A full inspection has been initiated to determine and analyze root causes. Teams from the manufacturer and relevant authorities have been called in to further assist. Please note Golden Eagle Express gondola will remain closed until further notice.
An update will be provided later today with regards to regular operations.
Impact on Kicking Horse Operations
The Golden Eagle Express gondola, constructed by Leitner-Poma in 2000, is the backbone of Kicking Horse’s lift system. It is one of the longest and tallest gondolas in North America, with 55 cabins carrying skiers more than 3,500 vertical feet from the base to the alpine terrain. The lift operates year-round, including nights, making it essential to both winter and summer resort operations. Without the gondola, approximately 70 percent of the mountain is inaccessible, posing a significant disruption for guests.
As of now, there is no official timeline for when the Golden Eagle Express will be operational again. The investigation into the root cause of the failure is underway, with teams from Leitner-Poma, Kicking Horse maintenance, and provincial safety authorities involved in the process.
More updates will follow as information becomes available.
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