Officials said that the “unwanted hitchhiker” was a two-foot-long Ornate Cat-Eyed snake, a mildly venomous snake species native to Ecuador.

CNN reported that stranded skiers and snowboarders were left dangling in the freezing air for nearly 90 minutes while waiting for rescue teams. No injuries were reported. In a statement, the state's fire marshal’s office commended the collaborative efforts for the way the situation was handled to save all the passengers.