VAIL, Colo. — Vail Resorts has released more information about the skier who ended up hanging upside-down and partially naked on Vail’s Skyline Express Lift in the Colorado resort's Blue Sky Basin area last week.

The 48-year-old man, who has not been identified, was attempting to load the chair Thursday when he got caught and was suspended for about seven minutes, Vail Resorts said in a press release.

Lift operators immediately stopped the lift, and mechanics reversed the lift about 10-12 feet, lowering the man to the ground, Vail Resort said.

Vail Resorts spokeswoman Liz Biebl declined to answer further questions about the incident.

Photos taken by bystanders show the man’s backside was bared in the incident. Another skier sits upright on the chair as the man hangs by one leg.

National media has taken notice of the photos of the incident, which were posted Tuesday on prominent websites thesmokinggun.com and drudgereport.com.

The photos appear to show that the chair's seat was in the upright position though Vail Resorts would not comment on the report.

The Forest Service, which owns the land on which the incident occurred, has not received notice of the incident, said Snow Ranger Don Dressler.

Dressler called chairlift incidents of this type “rare.”

“We do have incidents every year, whether it’s people loading or unloading,” he said.

Officials from the Colorado State Tram Board, which reviews lift incidents, could not be immediately reached Tuesday.

estoner@vaildaily