In the 2021-22 ski season, an accident that will sound all-too familiar to Missoulians occurred at Crested Butte Ski Resort in Vail, Colorado. Annie Miller, 16, and her dad were just boarding the Paradise Express lift when Miller slipped from the chair. After hanging on for her life as the chairlift continued to climb, the teen fell over thirty feet. Miller received a number of injuries, including major damage to her spine which caused her to become paralyzed from the waist down. This very unfortunate accident is being addressed in a case hitting Colorado’s highest court next week. The outcome of this case could change the entire ski resort system in one of the nations major skiing states, potentially changing how waivers work and if kids can even use chairlifts. Needless to say people (both Vail and the public) are, rightfully so, making a pretty big deal out of it.
But you know what people didn’t make a big deal out of? When almost the exact same thing happened right here at Missoula’s home mountain, Snowbowl. Last season, a toddler was thrown off of the Snowpark lift after it struck a tower. Thankfully, the toddler was uninjured, but Snowbowl’s initial response was horrible. Neither the lifties or ski patrol spoke with the kid’s father when they finally reached the top of the lift (which at first continued to operate as usual).
Snowbowl could have been sued into the ground. Larger resorts could possibly have the resources to weather a lawsuit such as the one Vail is now facing. Snowbowl most likely does not.
Vail is facing charges of negligence, because reports say that the lifty was slow to stop the chair and respond to the situation. Could Snowbowl’s response to their own event potentially be classified as negligent? I’m not sure. But the two incidents do seem alarmingly similar, especially when considering the difference in their repercussions to Vail and Snowbowl respectively.
Personally, I’ve been happy with the changes Snowbowl has put in place this season because of the events of the previous year. It’s been a very nice surprise seeing the additional updates and reports, more effective and tighter systems, and overall more positive attitude towards its patrons. If those changes didn’t happen, this would be a very different type of article. But needless to say, if I was a Snowbowl owner, this whole Vail case wouldn’t make me feel super cozy.
