See:

http://unofficialnetworks.com/2014/07/slovakian-ski-resort-destroyed-by-flash-flood-and-rockslide#sthash.y003MEvH.gbpl

I cannot phatom how that lift and building are still standing. The building and lift were nearly buried. Once they remove all of the debris they will need to assess the structural integrity of the lift towers and building. Hopefully it all can be saved. It looked in remarkable condition given the forces that it endured.

Looks to me like they lost a little chunk of vert drop.

I visited this resort once in the summer. This was before the gondola was constructed. The resort featured one of the strangest chairlifts I have ever seen--a double with chairs that traveled up the mountain sideways. No joke. Vratna has very good vertical for a Slovak ski area (1109 meters), and some of the country's most unique and beautiful scenery, including rock formations similar to Seneca Rocks. There's some difficult hiking that involves climbing ladders attached to the rock face. Given how much this resort had to invest to build the gondola in 2006, I sincerely hope it can be rebuilt.

vratna piste map:

http://www.vratna.sk/___images/vratna_zima_mapa.jpg

Additional images of damage from Slovak newspaper Sme: 

http://www.sme.sk/galeria/3981/vratna-tyzden-po-vycinani-pocasia/?bu=art-7311993

So how does a sideways lift work? I picture it being very slow getting on and off?

Best to bring the rock skis to that place....

eggraid wrote:

So how does a sideways lift work? I picture it being very slow getting on and off?

I'm guessing it works kind of like one of those stair assist systems, like this:

scootertig wrote:

eggraid wrote:

So how does a sideways lift work? I picture it being very slow getting on and off?

I'm guessing it works kind of like one of those stair assist systems, like this:

North Korea would kill to get one of those for their new ski hill..

More like this but with the chairs spreadout:

http://www.chairlift.org/pics/squaw/sq3.jpg