Mechanical Failure Leads to Rope Rescue on Heavenly’s Boulder Lift

What started as a bluebird Sunday at Heavenly Mountain Resort turned into a long afternoon for dozens of skiers and riders due to the Heavenly Boulder Chairlift evacuation. At approximately 1:30 p.m. on January 11, the Boulder Chairlift, a staple of the resort’s Nevada side, came to an abrupt halt. While lift stops are common in the mountains, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t a standard "stop and restart" scenario.

After mechanics identified a significant mechanical issue, the resort initiated a full-scale rope evacuation. Heavenly Ski Patrol acted swiftly, moving chair-by-chair to lower stranded guests to safety, during the Heavenly Boulder Chairlift evacuation. Using specialized harnesses and rope systems, patrollers worked for over two and a half hours to clear the line.

Despite the dropping temperatures, reports indicate that the atmosphere remained calm throughout the Heavenly Boulder Chairlift evacuation. Guests were lowered roughly 20 to 40 feet to the snow below. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident. As a gesture of goodwill, Heavenly reportedly provided affected riders with complimentary lift tickets for the inconvenience.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the technical skill held by mountain operations teams, especially during events like the Heavenly Boulder Chairlift evacuation. Whether it’s a high-stakes film shoot in the backcountry or a lift evacuation at a major resort, having a world-class patrol team is what keeps us all out there.

Currently, the Boulder Chairlift remains on hold while maintenance teams and regulatory agencies conduct a thorough review. We recommend checking the Heavenly mountain report before heading to the Boulder base area this week.