 Poster: A snowHead
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and what is it like if they do?
Actually, I know they do, up to a point because I was up Vesuvius on holiday and the bus stops where the chair lift (not actually a ski lift then) went from before it was struck by lightning and destroyed.
I suppose we tend to get electrical storms in summer, so it isn't a likely ski problem.
Anybody any experiences?
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brian
brian
Guest
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Some of the lifts at our place were closed for about an hour last winter due to danger of lightning strikes. It was the first time it had occurred to me that this might happen as you don't normally get those sorts of storms in the winter. I expect a skier on an exposed mountainside might also be at higher risk.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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My mum and dad were on a cable car in Switzerland a few months ago when it was struck by lightening. It took about 1/2 hour to get it going again.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Yes, ski lift at the local dry slope was hit by lightning a few years back. Fortunately we'd already got everyone off the lift and slope before it happened.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
| If however your riding a Poma Drag lift, bail |
Interesting advice. Seems to make sense, but has anyone on a Poma actually died in that situation? I've never heard of a fatality.
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| Elizabeth B wrote: |
| My mum and dad were on a cable car in Switzerland a few months ago when it was struck by lightening. It took about 1/2 hour to get it going again. |
I guess the lifties had to look on the bright side.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
| Quote: |
| If however your riding a Poma Drag lift, bail |
Interesting advice. Seems to make sense, but has anyone on a Poma actually died in that situation? I've never heard of a fatality. |
Honest answer is I'm not sure, the chance of a hit on the lift is slim, and the chance of it coming down your poma is even slimmer! Such a hit though might not be fatal as it would likely be below the head and vital organs (unless your a guy in which case would you want to take that risk?) Think where that bar goes! 
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I know some of the lifts were some how damaged in Lightning when I was there. It meant they couldnt open the Funicular the Next day. I have no idea how long it took to fix either (Val Claret).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Not sure about the lifts, but slope 1 at Aldershot is closed if there's an electrical storm - as the top half is a ramp stuffed up 15 feet in the air on some huge RSJs - in the Army's own inimitable style .
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Chris Bish, Ah yes I remember that well....
There's some pictures around of Vesuvious with the chairlift on, looks awful. Just a few concrete bases left that remain of it to see if you go there now. By the way - its worth zooming in on the volcano in Google Earth, you can see how the area around the volcano is all lush and green - and deserted for some radious!
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You know it makes sense.
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After being out in the storm Edmundh009 mentions, not supprising that something got damaged. Worst storm I had been in for a long time!
Just very glad that it was hit in the afternoon, getting stuck in the middle with ski's, boots etc and having to walk down would not have been fun!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Some years back a four person chair at Alpe D'huez was hit by lightning and stopped for ages. People were winched down. HOWEVER, Skiing is a sport where a level of danger is all around us all of the time, and I think lightning hitting lifts is probably close to the bottom of the list. The lift is far more likely to be hit by a 100mph avalanche! Ot being pessimistic though, as Nike says, Just do it!
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Poster: A snowHead
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brian
How did you put the pictute in your post?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Winterhighland, I suspect that POMAs are safe because for you to earth the lightning strike there has to be good conduction between you and the ground and I suspect ski boots (being plastic) are not particularly conductors - so no needs for the boys to wince any more
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Don't forget though Nick L that lightning is looking for the easiest path to ground and a long metal cable coupled to a person will get it to within inches of the ground itself, it could still jump from body to the ground and bypass the boots. That said though I'd expect the metal posts holding the lift up to provide a better path to ground.
PS if w_tom tracks this down to here there'll be hell to pay.
PPS if you don't know who w_tom is then be thankful (or search google groups).
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