67 Skiers Rescued from Stranded Gondola at Gore Mountain

Nearly 70 skiers were rescued from stranded gondola cabins at Gore Mountain in upstate New York on Wednesday after a mechanical malfunction halted the lift system, leaving passengers suspended up to 70 feet in the air for nearly five hours.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. at the Northwoods Gondola, a key lift at the ski resort in North Creek, about 90 miles north of Albany in the Adirondacks. Authorities reported that approximately 67 people in 15 to 20 cabins were affected when the tower wheel assembly shifted out of alignment, triggering an automatic safety sensor that stopped the lift to prevent further issues. The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, which operates the resort, described the problem as a nonemergency mechanical alignment matter and emphasized that the shutdown followed established safety protocols.

Rescue teams from Gore Mountain's mountain operations and ski patrol, along with rangers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, responded promptly. They climbed lift towers, traversed cables and used ropes and harnesses to lower passengers to the ground one by one. The operation, which began shortly after the call...