Washington Ski Resort Helps Boy Overcome Fear Of Chairlifts In Heartwarming Video
Stevens Pass, Washington, in a recent heartwarming social media post, shared the story of how Reid—a boy who had become afraid of riding chairlifts—overcame his phobia with the help of the resort's mountain operations team.
Reid and his mother, Heather, arrived early at Stevens the morning of March 6th so he could learn how the resort safely operates its chairlifts.
He received a tour of a lift's components alongside the lift maintenance team before attending a morning mountain operations meeting, where he became an "honorary lift operator."
Then, it was time to start the lifts, which Reid seemed stoked about.
To assuage Reid's anxiety further, a ski patroller showed him how the lift evacuation system works, followed by a surprise snowcat ride. Good deal!
As someone who developed a fear of flying in their mid-20s, I get it. Situations where you aren't in control, like flying or riding a chairlift, can tickle a uniquely unpleasant part of the brain's stress center.
In these cases, knowledge is often an effective antidote. Knowing that a dialed team of operators runs any given chairlift takes some of the unknowns out of an anxiety-inducing situation.
Plus, to Stevens Pass, giving Reid a tour of the lift was the right thing to do—plain and simple.
"We believe in fostering a community where everyone feels supported, and we hope that after his experience, Reid feels empowered and eager to hit the slopes with his family!" the resort wrote on Instagram.
Related: Wisconsin Resort Closes For The Season
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