glad i'm not on this chair.

[teletoes]

In 1990, Winter Park did a test of the bullwheel brake failure mentioned by wasatchbill. Here 's the result:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8rXiN_Oys4

[Don]

Interesting in several ways.

The snow effect I found interesting way the way the compressed or groomed snow went into liquefaction when it started to slide. The same thing can happen to soil during an earthquake. Imagine that happening to your mountain side home.

[bobbuilds]

^^^

roll back is my biggest fear in a resort setting. I always carry 30' of webbing and a small sling just in case i need to bail. it works great. I tested it twice. once during a wind related shut down. they left us up there for 20 minuets in 50 mph winds so i figured now was a good a time as any. no harness though!

[wasatchbill]

Bob, I'm curious how you'd bail with 30' of webbing and no harness?
I often carry a 70' 7mil for backcountry belays (mostly avi slope testing/jumping, or belaying to dig a pit), and a couple slings and biners for anchoring to trees. Trying to go light, so wouldn't bring much. Thats enough gear to rig one sling for a waist loop, and one for a single leg loop (I like to be able to breathe , and rappel; barebones rappel device being a single locking biner, and use a munter hitch; though I'd usually carry an ATC. So if I want to be able to retrieve the rope, could do a 35' rappel; maybe 40 feet with rope stretch.
They make such superlight locking biners these days; and quickdraw biners; works of art.

[hojo]

Originally Posted by bobbuilds

^^^

roll back is my biggest fear in a resort setting. I always carry 30' of webbing and a small sling just in case i need to bail. it works great. I tested it twice. once during a wind related shut down. they left us up there for 20 minuets in 50 mph winds so i figured now was a good a time as any. no harness though!

Being on the same chair as Bob is my biggest fear for if we're more than 30' off the ground I know I'm likely his survival food me being a pacifist and generally weak in the upper body and you know he's got a knife. Cannibal.

[Jensjustduckie]

Originally Posted by hojo

Being on the same chair as Bob is my biggest fear for if we're more than 30' off the ground I know I'm likely his survival food me being a pacifist and generally weak in the upper body and you know he's got a knife. Cannibal.

I too have this fear, which is why I ride the lift alone...

[bobbuilds]

Originally Posted by wasatchbill

Bob, I'm curious how you'd bail with 30' of webbing and no harness?
I often carry a 70' 7mil for backcountry belays (mostly avi slope testing/jumping, or belaying to dig a pit), and a couple slings and biners for anchoring to trees. Trying to go light, so wouldn't bring much. Thats enough gear to rig one sling for a waist loop, and one for a single leg loop (I like to be able to breathe , and rappel; barebones rappel device being a single locking biner, and use a munter hitch; though I'd usually carry an ATC. So if I want to be able to retrieve the rope, could do a 35' rappel; maybe 40 feet with rope stretch.
They make such superlight locking biners these days; and quickdraw biners; works of art.

The long story.

a couple of years ago I was thinking about roll back and and what would I do if it happened. I thought if I had to jump i'd break my leg or worse. That night I went home and grabbed about 30' of "mule tape" we use it as electricians to measure wire pulls. I cut the first 2 feet off and tied a loop. took the remaining 30something feet and stuck it in my jacket. The next weekend at the resort the wind was whipping 30+ mph. we were getting stalled out every 1/2hr or so and was getting worse in the afternoon. After 2 long lift rides we got stalled out big time. I figured "here we go" I took out my webbing, and my sling. I sat there for 5 minuets trying to figure out how I was going to tie it. I then realized I had no harness or belay device. I decided I was going to do it anyway! I did not want to leave my sling attached to the arm of the chair, so I took the loop and "U" around the arm of the chair. feed my 30' of webbing through the loop in a "U" fashion as well. wraped it through my poles in the center like a ladder break. grabbed the poles on each side and slid off the side of the chair. I dropped 4' and came to a stop. I realized i had a bind in the ladder break loosened my girp a little and fell 20' to the ground. I landed on a wind loaded slope that broke my fall. 1 ski popped off and the people around me laughed. I got up gatherd my stuff and skied to the car. at least i was out of the wind.

I still have the sling and webbibg. I've since made a sit harness and carry 2 biners. I know a lot more about climbing/webbing/repelling now. I like your approach better. I think it's time to switch to cord.

[Iraft]

Bobbuilds,If you are that paranoid of a rollback you should stop skiing at resorts, or at least the one you ski at.

[jpbay]

Originally Posted by bobbuilds

The long story.

a couple of years ago I was thinking about roll back and and what would I do if it happened. I thought if I had to jump i'd break my leg or worse. That night I went home and grabbed about 30' of "mule tape" we use it as electricians to measure wire pulls. I cut the first 2 feet off and tied a loop. took the remaining 30something feet and stuck it in my jacket. The next weekend at the resort the wind was whipping 30+ mph. we were getting stalled out every 1/2hr or so and was getting worse in the afternoon. After 2 long lift rides we got stalled out big time. I figured "here we go" I took out my webbing, and my sling. I sat there for 5 minuets trying to figure out how I was going to tie it. I then realized I had no harness or belay device. I decided I was going to do it anyway! I did not want to leave my sling attached to the arm of the chair, so I took the loop and "U" around the arm of the chair. feed my 30' of webbing through the loop in a "U" fashion as well. wraped it through my poles in the center like a ladder break. grabbed the poles on each side and slid off the side of the chair. I dropped 4' and came to a stop. I realized i had a bind in the ladder break loosened my girp a little and fell 20' to the ground. I landed on a wind loaded slope that broke my fall. 1 ski popped off and the people around me laughed. I got up gatherd my stuff and skied to the car. at least i was out of the wind.

I still have the sling and webbibg. I've since made a sit harness and carry 2 biners. I know a lot more about climbing/webbing/repelling now. I like your approach better. I think it's time to switch to cord.

In Oregon they put you in jail for that! That is if your alive.

[jpbay]

Originally Posted by teletoes

In 1990, Winter Park did a test of the bullwheel brake failure mentioned by wasatchbill. Here 's the result:

The safety commettie must have wanted a new high speed chair!