Industry News
Skiers and riders at Cerro Chapelco, a popular ski resort in the Andes Mountains, Argentina, were concerned on Saturday when one of the resort’s chairlifts began emitting a significant amount of smoke.
Around 2 pm local time on August 5, visitors at the resort witnessed large clouds of smoke billowing from the bottom terminal lift of the chairlift. Despite the alarming sight, Cerro Chapelco administrators were quick to allay fears, stating that the smoke was a result of an auxiliary diesel motor being activated due to electrical issues.
“The ignition of the combustion engine does not present any type of danger for the means of elevation, and much less for the people who were in the place,” the resort clarified.
The incident occurred when the chairlift experienced an electrical malfunction, prompting the use of a backup generator. Argentine news outlet Rio Negro reported that this backup system safely assisted skiers and snowboarders who were momentarily stranded on the lift. All were eventually able to disembark safely at the top station.
The resort confirmed that it’s typical for the backup diesel generator to produce such smoke when activated.
Cerro Chapelco is the third-largest ski resort in Argentina based on its slope length. It’s surpassed only by Catedral Alta Patagonia and Las Leñas, both frequented by locals and international tourists. Skiing enthusiasts usually flock to Argentine resorts between June and September.
SnowBrains is in Argentina for August and September. Check out all our video reports here for current conditions.
