Top of the world...

As ranch employees, we were offered free rides on the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram until June 18th when the gondola starts making runs up the mountain. With one day to spare and my "letter of introduction" from the ranch, I bee lined it to Teton Village to check it out. I easily obtained my wrist band and boarded the tram, which leaves every 15 minutes. Savings: $37! ;)

It was a really windy day, so I was glad to see that the tram was not closed. Then again...

The tram climbs 4,139 vertical feet to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain in the Teton range. The car holds 100 people, mostly standing, and the summit is 10,450 feet. The current sleek red tram was constructed in 2007-2008 to replace an older smaller slower one. The Swiss company Doppelmayr created the five steel towers, terminals and mechanics. In March 2008 the company shipped everything to Houston, TX in 50 sea containers. From there, all the components traveled on train or road to Jackson Hole, WY. Construction was completed on time in December 2008. The original $20 million they thought it was going to take to make the new tram later became $31 million which was completely funded by the resort.

 

 

In the winter, skiers arrive early and clamor to catch the "first box" to the top to make fresh tracks in the overnight powder. The views of the valley below as it climbs are spectacular...

As we neared the top, the tram operator pointed out the famous Corbet's Couloir, an expert ski run named after Jackson Hole ski instructor and mountain guide Barry Corbet. He famously spotted the narrow crease of snow shaped like an upside down funnel and remarked, "Someday someone will ski that." It was first skied by local ski patroller Lonnie Ball in 1967. Currently rated #4 on the top fifty things for skiers to do before they die, it holds an international reputation among expert skiers, and has been described as "America's scariest ski slope... we were told that skiers frequently leap off the edge just as the tram is passing over.

At the top, it was a brisk 45 degrees, a 20 degree drop from the bottom we had left only 10 minutes earlier.  There were a few snowy patches and views of the Teton mountain range in the distance, with a map to help identify the peaks. I couldn't resist standing in snow in my flip flops for a photo.

Below is a "panorama" shot from my camera phone... I clicked the button and panned around 360 degrees. This was the result.

I got a few photos taken while I was up there.... brr.

The ride back down was no less spectacular. It's interesting to see the ski slopes covered in grass and ready for hikers. It's an ambitious plan, but I'd like to hike from Teton Village to the summit, 7.2 miles, by summer's end. We shall see.

 A few final images... Corbet's Cabin on the peak, famous for its waffles.

Below, looking into a ravine as the tram descends. I spotted some deer...

Finally, I saw this cool wrought iron cowboy logo at the base and took a shot of the mountain, looking up through it ;)