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Backpacks on Lifts

CarverJill

CarverJill

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
So I have been skiing with my kids at a little So Cal mountain called Snow Valley. They have a really annoying rule that you can't ride the lift wearing a backpack. I have skied with a backpack/camelbak for over 10 years on both the west and east coast and never encountered a rule like that. Every time I get on the lift with it on my back they tell me I have to take it off for the rode up. When I ignore them certain lifties threaten not to allow me on the lift. I'm riding the lift with a 4 and 5 year old who need a little help making sure they get on and off the lift safely. I do not need to be worrying about holding a backpack in my hands as well.

I was so annoyed by this rule I went to the guest services window and they told me that yes, that's the rule now all over the country because someone died at "northstar in Canada" because of their backpack. Well we all know Northstar isn't in Canada but I still think their reasoning is BS. Did I somehow miss that someone died on the lift because of their backpack last year?

Are other resorts telling people the can't ride the lift with a backpack on? I seriously want to show up next time with a list of resorts that are still allowing backpacks on lifts. This rule makes my blood boil.
 
marzNC

marzNC

Angel Diva
It is not a rule at all U.S. ski areas. However, there are plenty of places where people are asked to take one strap off when riding the lift. I noticed that Telluride has that recommendation on placards about lift safety. However, I rode up with a patroller behind two men with backpacks on and he said nothing to them, nor to me. I was wearing the Kulkea Micro Pack.

As far as serious accidents because of backpacks on lifts, they have happened, including deaths.

https://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/05/arapahoe-basin-chairlift-rescue/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...pil-died-alps-trip-backpack-became-stuck-ski/
 
CarverJill

CarverJill

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Ok so I have more of a chance of dying in an elevator than by getting hung by my backpack strap.

I also was wearing the Kulkea Micro Pack. that has a release clip under the arm on both straps. I lied to the lifties and said that because of that my pack was okay-d by guest services and they stopped harassing me.
 
Peaheartsmama

Peaheartsmama

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Jilly said:
When you're in the market for a new pack you might want to look at this one:

https://www.liftrider.me/

It was on kickstarter and I got one then. Really haven't tried it out yet, but it's at the condo. Might this weekend as my friend wants me to take pics of her kid flying in the air!
Click to expand...
Wow that looks awesome... I just ordered a blue one! I have been concerned about the lift incidents since I do use a Camelback backpack when skiing with the kids. Hopefully it also addresses the bulky forward lean on the lift and the frozen mouthpiece/ water tube problem. I'm just surprised that they didn't go with a fully waterproof material/ construction given all the engineering that went into it. I hope it's as good as it advertises!
 
echo_VT

echo_VT

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
i was lining up for the lift, and a snowboarder with a backpack, smooshed me with her butt and her bookbag. she decided to sit sideways so she was taking up the room of two people. i was rolling my eyes and wasn't pleased.

we wear our lift pass on the outside of our jackets/pants. i really hate it b/c it flaps around in the wind and it can also get entangled.

sigh. someone did die recently on the lift at hunter. it's really sad, one of the instructor's wife. i'd definitely say getting on the lift and getting off the lift are the most dangerous parts of my day b/c of people and other mishaps. i do see people's jackets and equipment stay attached to the chair as it comes around and after they're supposed to depart. the lifties always stop the lift and help the person.

if i am getting on the lift with someone who clearly doesn't know what they're doing, i ask the liftie to slow it down for me. they always do and it just makes it less scary for us all. same as when i get on the lift with the kids and i see they're not ready. the kids will often speak up now and ask the liftie to slow down the lift for them. it's just not worth it to take a chance otherwise.
 
Jilly

Jilly

Moderator
Staff member
The ticket scanner kicked a kid off the lift the other day. He was texting in the line and didn't have clue where he was in relation to the world. He ended up on our chair going up and was still texting all the way up...10 min ride!! I got a little pointed at the end and said - put it away and get off the lift!!

I'm so intrigued with the Lift-rider. It came out just after the A-Basin accident. I hate that most packs are made to settle at the bottom.

I understand wanting the pack with kids, but I really don't think most in bound resort skiers need a pack.
 
echo_VT

echo_VT

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
it does look like a great pack.
i agree with you that most in-bound resort skiers do not need a pack. we've got loads of pockets, so i use them! everything else is left back down at the lodge where it belongs.
 
Cascadia

Cascadia

Certified Ski Diva
Packs in Laps has always been a thing at Summit at Snoqualmie for the last 10 years I've been going there. It's the one things I've ever seen lifties care about. Icy maze? Steep icy drop to the loading zone? Steep drop offloading at the top? No one actually remembering to scan? Cutters in line? Not sending full chairs on the quad when there's a 30 minute line? NO PROBLEMO. But you better get that pack in your lap!

Rule #3: https://www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/mountains/safety/chairlift-safety

Now that I think about it, it's probably because there are only 2 chairs on the whole mountain that even have a safety bar. Backpacks would prevent you from sitting back in the seat and some of the fixed grips swing pretty hard when they stop suddenly and don't have safety bars so you'd be on the ground if you had a pack on your back.
 
WaterGirl

WaterGirl

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
@CarverJill doesn't seem to be an issue at Mammoth - my group has been accessing side country via 23 and 12 / 14 no issues, but b/c our packs are bigger we do take them off and carry in laps - plenty of other people w/ camel back etc I've never seen anyone directed to take it off before riding the lift.

However, it may be terrain/ area related rules -- i.e. if you are in the green / blue areas of the mountain the lifties seem to have their own set of rules.
DH can strap in to his snowboard on the chair with one simple movement. He is strapped in when he gets off the lift and rides away.
Several times on Chair 11 they have stopped him and told him he could not be strapped in when he got off the lift. What? who wouldn't want more control when exiting a lift?
Only seems to be an issue at the beginner areas. Perhaps they feel that uses of the lower lifts are not as experienced?
 
newboots

newboots

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I remember that contest! (I was a little jealous) :wink:

So glad they are designing packs with riding the lift in mind. Either that, or packs-on-laps, as @Cascadia described.

I'm a bit of a worrier, and I worry about safety. Reading about the collisions, the occasional lift falls and deaths, and other safety issues is distressing. It's risky enough, without letting yahoos mow you down or squeeze extra people onto the lift! I don't like the idea of lifts without safety bars. What if the wind goes crazy?

 
Peaheartsmama

Peaheartsmama

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I agree when I’m by myself I really don’t need it. But when skiing with two kids it really helps to have water, some snacks, tissues and the “happy chocolate” (aka Halloween candy) that only comes out when someone does something new/brave or is on the verge of a meltdown.;) and a place to keep all the “stuff” kids ask you to hold along the way. :smile:
 
marzNC

marzNC

Angel Diva
I prefer to use a small backpack for larger resorts that have multiple on-mountain lodges. Tried the pocket approach but really didn't like it when staying away from the base lodge from 9:00-3:30. Especially true when skiing with friends when we are trying to meet up for lunch or generally stay together for most of the day. Don't want to have spend extra time going back for something or to leave a base layer if it warms up.
 
Blondeinabmw

Blondeinabmw

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Last week, my husband rode the T-Bar lift in Breckenridge with our 9 year old son. Our son was wearing a small camelbak backpack with the chest strap buckled. It didn't have a waist strap. The liftie put the bar under my husband's behind instead of under my son's. Consequently, it was at my son's lower back, and started to push him forward. My husband tried to pull him up higher, but couldn't curl his 70 lbs with one hand and hang on. At some point, the bar slid up under my son's camelbak vertically and came out around the collar of his jacket. He was hanging from the bar after my husband couldn't hold on any longer. Needless to say, my son was screaming in terror as the chest strap pulled up higher on his body and was around his neck. People on the lift noticed the struggle and started yelling to stop the lift. Finally, the lift operators heard and stopped the tow just before they reached the curve in the lift path, and some people skied down to untangle my son. Poor thing collapsed with fear in my husband's arms.
They did get back on that proverbial horse the next day - sans backpack - and asked the liftie to place the bar at kiddo's butt level. Made it all the way up without incident.
I think this sort of thing is why resorts are banning backpacks...and perhaps to earn a few extra million in food/beverage revenue from guests who aren't able to brown bag their lunches.
 
echo_VT

echo_VT

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
omg what a nightmare...i'm so sorry this happened but so glad it wasn't worse. and glad they got back on the horse the next day and it was just fine. i've been to breck but not the T bar lift you mention.

i agree to stop the lift everytime someone becomes tangled lengthens everyone's day unnecessarily. and it does seem to be a safety thing.

i went to whistler blackcomb to ski the glacier in the summer. there were no lodges and we had to brownbag our lunches everyday. also somewhere to put away layers. one of the lifts you can put your bags in the back, behind the chair, and grab them once you exit the lift. also there's no snow, so you can't strap on your equipment, it has to go in the lift carrier.

on the lifts where there wasn't room, we had to ride up with our bags on our laps. we also took a bus with our gear from lift to lift b/c there was no snow in the summer heading to the top of blackcomb glacier.

on the T bar at whistler we often put the bags on our front. mainly b/c getting off the T bar, it tends to smack you in the back of the head and can get caught on the backpack. we mostly tried to throw away the T bar as quickly as possible and hoped it didn't get us.
 
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