Nearly 200 people were evacuated by rope from gondolas at Winter Park Resort on Saturday after a crack in a metal support structure halted the lift mid-air, stranding skiers and snowboarders for several hours. The gondola system detected “a significant malfunction” and automatically stopped at around 12:15 p.m., said resort spokesperson Jen Miller. Miller confirmed a crack in a metal beam shared on social media was the source of the malfunction. Ski patrol members began evacuating people at 1 p.m., Miller said. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Alterra Mountain Company closes on purchase of Arapahoe Basin Crime and Public Safety | Kids can ski free at Winter Park, Steamboat during one week in December Crime and Public Safety | Colorado ski resorts get a big head start on the 2024-25 season with above-average snow Crime and Public Safety | Winter Park ski train from Denver adds days, lowers prices Crime and Public Safety | What’s new in Colorado skiing and snowboarding for 2024-25 Evacuating the gondola involves patrol members climbing the gondola towers, shimmying down the cable, entering the car from the top and using a rope system to lower passengers to a team on the ground. Eighteen ski patrol members evacuated all 174 gondola passengers by 6 p.m., according to Miller.