Imagine being stuck alone in a ski gondola, high above the snow-covered slopes, for a chilling 15 hours. That’s exactly what happened to Monica Laso, a snowboarder enjoying a trip with friends at South Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain Resort.
Monica Laso embarked on a snowboarding adventure with her friends at the picturesque Heavenly Mountain Resort in Lake Tahoe. However, exhaustion eventually caught up with her, and she made the decision to take a gondola back down the mountain. Little did she know, this seemingly routine choice would soon turn into a terrifying ordeal.
Around 5 p.m. on Thursday, Monica boarded the gondola, not anticipating the chain of events that would follow. Mere moments into the ride, the gondola abruptly came to a halt, leaving her suspended in midair. Panic set in as she realized she had neither a phone nor a source of light to draw attention to her dire situation.
With no immediate means of rescue, Monica had no choice but to endure the freezing temperatures that dipped into the low 20s. Throughout the long night, she resorted to rubbing her hands and feet together, desperately trying to keep warm. Her cries for help went unanswered, leaving her feeling frustrated and isolated.
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“I felt very frustrated,” Monica recalled. The darkness and bone-chilling cold were constant reminders of her vulnerability.
While Monica grappled with the harsh conditions, her friends reported her missing to the resort. It wasn’t until the gondola resumed operations the following morning that her plight was discovered. Workers at Heavenly Mountain Resort were shocked to find Monica still inside the gondola, having spent a grueling night alone.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office swiftly responded to the distress call, requesting assistance from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue. When firefighters arrived at the resort, they assessed Monica’s condition and offered medical treatment. Remarkably, she refused to be transported to a hospital, signaling her physical resilience despite enduring such an ordeal.
“She was assessed and refused transport – we always recommend transport with every patient,” said Kim George, a representative for South Lake Tahoe Fire and Rescue.
In the wake of this unprecedented incident, Heavenly Mountain Resort launched a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the gondola malfunction. Tom Fortune, the resort’s vice president and chief operating officer, emphasized the resort’s commitment to guest safety and expressed the seriousness with which they regarded the situation.
“The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our top priority at Heavenly Mountain Resort. We are investigating this situation with the utmost seriousness,” said Tom Fortune.
The gondola nightmare experienced by Monica Laso was an unparalleled event in the history of South Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain Resort. Sallie Ross, spokesperson for the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, described the incident as a total anomaly, emphasizing that they had never responded to a similar situation before.
“I don’t know how something like that could have happened. It’s very weird,” Ross said. “She must have felt some kind of terror, really, knowing she’s there all alone and not knowing if someone was going to find her. That must have really been terrifying for her.”
Monica’s harrowing experience serves as a reminder of the importance of being adequately prepared for unexpected situations. When engaging in outdoor activities, especially in remote locations, it is crucial to carry essential safety equipment and communication devices. Additionally, resorts and organizations must continually review and enhance their safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
