Chair at 49 Degrees North falls from chairlift; two riders sustain minor injuries

A chair on a chairlift at 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort fell from the line Saturday leaving two people with minor injuries.

At about 11 a.m., a chair detached from the line on the Chair 1 lift. Ski patrol attended to the two people on the chair when it fell . The individuals had only minor injuries, according to a news release from the Chewelah resort.

The lift was stopped for about 20 minutes to assess the situation before the rest of the guests were able to be safely unloaded, the resort said.

Chair 1 is a 1972 SLI double with Riblet insert clips, according to an article on Lift Blog. Some have speculated recently that the lift, which spans more than 6,600 feet, will be replaced due to length and age, according to Lift Blog.

Chair 1 will be closed until further notice as the mechanical issue is investigated, the resort said.