No matter how experienced you are at skiing, there will always be something new to learn. Even the most skilled skiers are expected to learn something new every year, and that’s what keeps the hobby interesting. However, sometimes you get in a situation where you aren’t prepared for yet another learning curve. Maybe you’re on a chairlift that suddenly stops, or maybe you just landed on a packed snowfield and have nowhere to go but down.
When that happens, all you want to do is get off as soon as possible. After all, you don’t want to remain on the lift for the rest of the day, trapped with no way to escape. Fortunately, there are often alternatives. In this article, we will discuss some of the most effective ways in which you can get off a ski lift when blocked.
Table of Contents
Find An Alternate Transport Method
The best way to get off a ski lift when blocked is to find an alternate transport method. This can vary from simply changing chairlift ticket to purchasing a ski pass for the next group of passengers, to taking a taxi or bus to the bottom of the slope. Of course, you should do your research before you take the latter option, as the former two options usually require a lot of time.
If you’re on an intermediate or expert level, finding an alternate transport method shouldn’t be too much of a problem, as you’re usually surrounded by other skiers and/or ski technicians who will be able to help. But for beginners, this can be tricky, especially since the situation is usually not communicated clearly to the passengers remaining on the lift. In that case, you might want to consider taking a break and drinking some tea while you search for the next chairlift.
Ask For Help
Another option when getting off a ski lift that’s blocked is to ask for help. This is usually done by tapping or ringing the bell near the base station. It’s usually not necessary to ask for help every time you’re blocked, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Especially if you’re stopped at a crowded lift, and someone doesn’t come to your aid after a while.
If you’re at the beginning of the season, or if you’re just passing through the area, it’s usually fine to continue skiing, as you can ask for help when you get stuck again. But if you’re somewhere more popular or if you’re an experienced skier, you might want to consider waiting it out until people are less crowded or until the lift stops completely. This will also give you more time to enjoy the view.
Check The Ropes
The ski ropes are clearly visible near the top of the mountain, and they’re always a source of fun and entertainment for anyone who watches them. However, they can be an obstacle when you’re trying to get off a ski lift that’s blocked. In this case, you have to make sure that you pull your ropes straight, so that they’re no longer between you and the next chair. If you do this, you should be able to reach the top without any problems.
In some cases, you have to back down a bit until you reach a point where the ropes are no longer in the way. In others, there’s simply no avoiding them. In these situations, it might be safer to stay on the lift and wait for it to arrive at the next station. Pulling the ropes straight is usually not a difficult task, so long as you’ve got someone to help you. But if you’re by yourself, it can be tricky, especially since you don’t want to end up dropping the rope and strangling yourself.
The main problem with the ropes is that even when they’re not in the way, they’re still there. This means that when you pull up on them, you’re going to be accelerating quickly, and it’s going to be more difficult to stop before you hit the ground. This is why you should only do this at the very top of the mountain, or in less crowded situations.
Hang On
The last option when getting off a ski lift that’s blocked is to hang on and wait until the next group of passengers arrives. Of course, you don’t want to do this if there aren’t any other options, but sometimes it’s the only one available. Especially if the lift is really crowded and you don’t want to spend too much time riding it to the top. In these cases, you just have to wait it out, and enjoy the ride until the next group of skiers or tourists arrives. This might not be the most exciting option, but it’s usually the safest one.
Hopefully, you won’t ever find yourself blocked on a ski lift. But if you do, you’ll be glad you read this article, because you’ll know how to get off the lift safely. Even if you’re an experienced skier, you will always learn something new about the sport, and that’s what keeps it interesting. Don’t forget: when in doubt, hang on and wait for the next group.