Gunstock's Panorama lift to reopen Saturday

GILFORD — Gunstock Mountain Resort's Panorama chairlift will be operational again starting Saturday, Feb. 22, according to a media release from the mountain on Tuesday afternoon. The lift has been down since Sunday due to a mechanical failure.

“We are planning to have access to Gunstock’s summit, and upper-mountain trails, and glades return for skiers and riders starting Saturday, Feb. 22,” Gunstock President and General Manager Robert Drake said.

The issue with the lift is due to a failed gearbox, according to the press release. A gearbox transmits power to the drive in the lower terminal of the chairlift. A new gearbox was sent overnight via air freight to the resort, and mechanics are already working to replace the part.

“With the expertise of Gunstock’s lift mechanics combined with an onsite consultation from the representative from the lift manufacturer, we were able to identify the cause of the problem and take immediate action,” Drake said.

The release also stated passengers riding the lift at the time the issue was identified were safely removed, with the chairlift operating normally prior to its closure.

Due to unforeseen malfunctions, despite daily inspections, Gunstock is committed to a lift infrastructure upgrade totaling more than $2 million over the next two years. Gunstock Area Commission Chair Doug Lambert provided context around the situation.

“The entire East Coast ski industry has been having [lift] issues all season,” Lambert said. “These lifts are fairly complex systems, and as with all things mechanical, things can go wrong. The No. 1 focus is, and always has been, guest safety.”