A shocking video of hundreds of skiers waiting for a lift in frigid temperatures has sparked heaps of online fury and confusion.
The clip, seen by millions of people, shows a seemingly endless line of bundled-up skiers waiting along California‘s Mammoth Mountain to hitch a ride on a ski lift – which can only hold three people at a time.
While many viewers pointed to the slope being overcrowded to explain what caused the build up of skiers, a ski site spokesperson explained the true cause of the chaos.
Mammoth Mountain official Emily van Greuning told SFGate that the video was shot during 100 mile per hour winds on the summit that forced most of the lifts to stop running.
She told the outlet that everyone ‘funneled into this line,’ located at the resort’s Canyon Lodge base, after most of the other lifts closed.
But the ski lift featured in the video actually shut down just about an hour after it was filmed.
‘It’s just somebody was there at the perfect time to capture something that is now exploding on the internet,’ van Greuning said to SFGate.
She added that the resort has not seen any other abnormally long wait times throughout December.
Hundreds of skiers lined up to get on the ski lift, which closed down just about an hour later due to intense winds
A resort representative said that everyone ‘funneled into this line,’ located at the resort’s Canyon Lodge base, after most of the others closed
The video, originally posted on Instagram by Jake Baisley, was shot on December 14 and stirred up strong initial reactions.
‘OMG! Transplants have also ruined CA skiing,’ one user wrote, claiming that too many non-Californians are causing congestion at ski locations.
‘Boycotting resorts since 2008,’ another user chimed in.
One man was surprised by the viral video and said the ‘weekend before was perfect, nobody [was there]!’
A commenter who allegedly used to work at the ski resort said that particular Canyon base lift is always quite busy.
He wrote: ‘I used to work up there. The funny thing is, that lift is always crowded. There is a lesser known lift really close with barely any people.’
The footage had some onlookers baffled.
One wrote: ‘WTH? So you get to ski for 5 minutes and wait for the lift for an hour, and repeat’
The video sparked online outrage, with many users saying they would never wait on such a line
The Mammoth Mountain resort has 24 lifts that typically operate, but winds on December 14 reached 100 miles per hour, causing them to stop running
But one commenter clarified the situation, explaining ‘that was the only lift open on a Saturday, then the whole mountain shut down, it’s misleading.’
When the video recirculated on X, other people were floored by the footage and could not believe anyone would wait in that line.
A user wrote: ‘You couldn’t pay me enough…’
‘WHY?? Omg! What am I missing here???’ another questioned.
‘I have skied all over the USA and in Canada and never saw a line like that before. I would be in the chalet, drinking hot chocolate and eating french fries if I showed up and the line was that long,’ one woman asserted.
The resort has 24 ski lifts, according to the Mammoth Mountain website. As of Saturday evening, 23 of them were up and running once again.
Mammoth Mountain is one of the most popular skiing locations in California.
