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2 chairlifts suffered ‘critical component failures’ on Black Mountain during one of the busiest days of the season
Skiers were manually evacuated from the double chairlift on Sunday.
Black Mountain’s two chairlifts are closed on Monday after experiencing “critical component failures” during what officials called one of the busiest days of the season.
After a record-breaking day Saturday at the Jackson, N.H. ski area in terms of visit records and revenue, the chairlifts broke down within 90 minutes of each other on Sunday, wrote Erik Mogensen, president and general manager, in an open letter posted Monday on Black Mountain’s website and Facebook page titled “Broken Lifts — Stand by.”
“Losing both aerial lifts within hours due to critical component failures on one of the busiest days of the season sucks,” wrote Mogensen.
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The trouble began Sunday morning at 10 a.m., he wrote. The mountain opens at 9 a.m.
“We discovered an intermittent noise coming from the top bull wheel on the East Bowl Triple,” Mogensen wrote. “We ceased loading the lift and determined we could safely continue to run the lift for a few minutes and get everyone off the line.”
Traffic was diverted to the Summit Double Chair and the mountain’s two open surface lifts while officials assessed the situation, he wrote.
Shortly after that, the double lift showed signs of trouble.
“About 90 minutes later, the Summit Double started to show irregularities at the base terminal, and within seconds, I witnessed a critical failure in the front electric motor cabinet,” Mogensen wrote. “We determined that we should keep the lift spinning, getting as many people safely off the line as possible. Once we had a complete failure, I concluded we would be unable to safely decouple and separate the failed electric drive system, and utilize the auxiliary power unit to finish unloading skiers. Patrol quickly mobilized and completed a manual evacuation of the lift within 30 minutes.”
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The triple lift had “a complete failure on the top bull wheel bearing,” wrote Mogensen.
The part, which has a 10-year lifespan, was on season eight and officials planned to “overhaul this section of the triple” in the spring, he wrote. The mountain is now working to secure the new specialized bearing and the heavy equipment needed for its installation. Mogensen says an employee may fly to Tennessee as early as Monday for a complete bearing set and his team will “work around the clock” to get it installed once it arrives.
As for the double lift, the Black Mountain team removed the failed drive motor, he said.
“This motor and mechanical assembly was completely overhauled this summer, bringing it to like-new status,” wrote Mogensen. “Obviously not so much. After working with the manufacturer on-site yesterday evening, it was determined that the failure was not in the electric motor itself, but in the output shaft and bearing.”
The staff worked overnight and “the entire assembly is en route for remanufacturing under warranty as of 4 am this morning. We may have it back within 24 hours. Stand by,” he wrote.
Skiers and riders who bought a lift ticket on Sunday will be refunded in full, Mogensen said. In addition, anyone who visited on Sunday (including season pass holders) will receive a transferable comp lift ticket valid for any day of the 2025/26 season.
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“If you joined us yesterday, we delivered a subpar product, and we know it,” he wrote. “This is unacceptable, and we will make it right.”
The mountain is open for skiing and riding on Monday, but only the three surface lifts are running. The mountain is offering free uphill equipment rentals for season pass holders. The ski school is running, with students accessing the upper mountain via free rides on a snowcat.
The NYE Torch Light Parade on Wednesday will continue as scheduled, with officials taking visitors up the mountain on a snowcat if necessary, Mogensen wrote. According to a description of the free event, skiers and riders take the triple lift up the mountain at 7:30 p.m. and then ski or ride down while holding a lit torch.
Mogensen invited skiers and riders to email officials at [email protected] with concerns.
Earlier this month, Black Mountain officials reached a settlement with the town of Jackson and Mogensen said a system is now in place for the ski area and town to collaborate on issues such as parking, restrooms, and communication.
The historic ski area almost closed down in recent years.
The Ficheras, previous owners since 1995, announced the ski area would close in 2023 due to staffing shortages and soaring costs. Then Indy Pass, stepped in shortly after with resources to keep the mountain open for another year. After that, the ski area was purchased last year by Mogensen with the goal of turning it into a community co-op.
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Black Mountain surprised skiers and riders on Nov. 15 by opening first in the state, its earliest opening in 91 years.
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