Lutsen first responders were dispatched to the Lutsen Ski Hill late morning on Saturday, January 17, to assist in rescuing skiers stranded on the disabled Raptor Express lift. According to Lutsen Fire Chief Steve Duclos, the call-out from the Cook County Sheriff’s 911 center came at 11:40 a.m. One of Lutsen’s new six-seat lifts, the Raptor Express, suffered a mechanical failure known as a “grip miscapture” as a chair entered the top terminal. This caused the lift to derail and lock, stranding 44 skiers in frigid, sub-zero wind chills. The air temperature that morning was near zero, and peak wind gusts reached 35 mph during the rescue efforts.
Reports stated 10 people self-evacuated, and the remaining 34 were roped off by members of the ski patrol and Lutsen staff. Some were rescued via a ladder truck from the Tofte Fire Department, which responded under its Mutual Aid agreement with the Lutsen Fire Department.
The Fire Departments were on hand for three hours to assist as needed, according to Duclos. He credits the Ski Patrol and ski-hill employees for the success of the operations. “The Ski Patrol did an amazing job,” he said.
The Ski Patrol and the appropriate staff members of the ski area are trained and practiced for rescues of this nature.
The lift remained closed that day for repairs. It is expected to be open and fully operational by this weekend.
The best news is that no significant injuries occurred during breakdown and rescue operations.
