Do ski lifts get struck by lightning?
Do ski lifts get struck by lightning? There are a few lightning fatalities on ski slopes every year. There are instances where lightning strikes the lift and no one gets hurt. But you aren't safe like birds on a wire are safe.
How common are ski lift accidents?
For every 100 million miles journeyed on ski lifts, the yearly death rate stands at 0.145. How safe are ski lifts? The vast majority of surface ski lifts, or those that merely push or pull you up the hill with your skis still on the ground, are safe.
What happens if lightning strikes a chairlift?
There are plenty of bonded paths (grounding) to allow the energy from a strike on a lift system to find ground without having to go through a person on a chair. You're probably in more danger standing next to a pole that got struck since you are standing on a surface with a huge potential gradient.
What is the cause of most ski deaths?
Collisions with other skiers and stationary objects are the leading cause of ski-related fatalities and injuries. Therefore, it's important to maintain control when skiing, and understand your responsibility to those around you while on the slopes.