JH Tram is Dead - photos

[Steepdeepnlong]

Truly the end of an era. I'll always remember my first ride up (198?) and the feeling of anticipation watching the mountain pass beneath us. A different experience than any other tram or lift I've ridden. Had the good fortune to ride the "next to last" tram of the season a few years back. What a party (what was that funky smell?!) After unloading, everyone waited around for the last tram and pelted the riders with snowballs. I just don't think the new one will be the same (but I'll still go check it out, just in case!)

[fonixmunkee]

I never rode the tram at Jackson, but that tribute in "Anomaly" basically sums up how iconic it is in the industry.

But things are going to get bigger and better, it's the American way!

[Sirshredalot]

I was there on the last tram day and gave the final (public) tram a hefty snowball pelting from the base as it left to go up.

I also have some amazing memories from some totally ridiculous pow days on the tram. I'm sure the new one will be good, too, but I miss the old one.

The tram is dead. Long live the new tram.

[CUBUCK]

A year old but still a good one. RIP

http://www.thesnaz.com/2006/04/11/the-last-tram/

[stupendous man]

"Conditions at the top today are...Fair."

cue chorus of laughter to the whiteout wind tunnel we are about to happily enter...

[warthog]

Here is a picture how the tram was used during construction of the new tower foundations. I got it from a friend a while back.

That is cruel-

Kinda like when Elmer Fudd makes Bugs Bunny build the fire that will be used to cook him.


JH was the first place I ever skied out west, 1990 I think. Came back to CT with tall tales of Tram rides, cliff drops, windburn goggle marks, and about 50 new core shots to my new Rossi 7ms. Great memories of the old tram. Looking forward to what the new one will look like.

[fonixmunkee]

A year old but still a good one. RIP

http://www.thesnaz.com/2006/04/11/the-last-tram/

That video fucking ruled. I kinda got a little misty seeing everyone showing their love and support for the tram.

[matanuskaski]

Tis a Sad day indeed... Can't wait for the new one and the epic days and years to follow..

[FREESKIER_FIVE-0]

I know it was falling apart. But the clock? I pray they drop the same clock on top of the new glass building. I mean, its the clock. THE fucking clock. On a scale of 1 to 10 its the shit.

[HotCarl]

Damn,didn't know they were gettin rid of the clocktower too. Sucks.

I was lucky enough to ride her many times. Each time was better than the last. I think i had second tram on Jan 1 this year. You'll be missed ol girl. Let her RIP.

[StoneCold]

My dear winter enthusiast friends, do not weep for the tram or clock, they are but symbols.

Other mechanized devices will grant you access to the gnar, for shredding, so fret not.

[Sluff]

Sad to see it go. I had many good days on that box. Hopefully they ban the ski school from cutting the tram line with the new one...wishfull thoughs.

[cjump]

it's sad to see the tram gone. when i was 12-13 i took my first big "out west" trip to JH. i remember being freaked out getting on it because there is nothing like it here in NC. i have tons of great memories from that trip and now it feels like a piece of it's missing.

[Icecream]

Just ask the TGR guys, that building was becoming...shall we say...marginal at best.

It was/is time for a change, IMO.

(My ex Co. had an office on the ground floor...place was getting pretty ragged)

The memories persist, though!

That's what was so sweet about it. I appriciated it's shittyness.

[birdboatboy]

That is cruel-

Kinda like when Elmer Fudd makes Bugs Bunny build the fire that will be used to cook him.

the engineer in me thinks that this is kind of cool actually. using the old to bring in the new, good idea. certainly a lot more cost effective than a helicopter.

i've never been to JH, but my sympathies go out to those who have many memories there.

[WReX]

Might as well add some shots from the tram's last season.

The tram over Laramie Bowl:


Corbet's and tram:


View from the summit station:


These are from last week of February, 2006, my first and so far only trip to JHMR, paying tribute to the red tram. That first day, arriving before noon, we were planning to go to Snow King. But then at the airport, they told us we could get free passes at Jackson Hole for the afternoon by showing our airline tickets. Well, free worked for us, and off we were. Got right into line for the tram, no warmup. It was a pretty mild day at the base, but at the summit we stepped out of the cab directly into a full gale and a whiteout. Pretty much got that OMG we're all gonna die feeling someone mentioned. The first few hundred feet were skiing by braille. Then we were out of the fog, and the five days of fun began.

The lift ops always knew the right tunes to get you in the mood. Everything from Foo Fighters ("It's a shame we have to die my dear, no one's getting out of here alive!") to Hendrix ("I'm standing next to a mountain, I'll chop it down with the edge of my hand!").

Crammed in as many runs as we could, taking off in every direction. Nearly got cliffed out dropping out of Cody Bowl. Next time I guess we'll know where we're going. Climbed the Headwall, traversed the ridge, and dropped into Granite Canyon. I know, that's not the tram, but what a memory. Having no real idea what to expect, skied a bit through the trees, thinking, this is pretty nice, and then whoa!, it suddenly opened up into the biggest couloir I'd ever seen, steep, knee-deep, untracked powder under towering spires. Best run of my young life. What a place!

[macdadmorgan]

JH was my first out west vacation, and on that trip i got to ride the tram with Scot Schmidt. that was cool. then later in that trip i lost a heel peice on a pair of first gerneration Seth's. After i gathered my self, i relized that ski took off down the mountain. after a long time searching for it i found it stuck through a slidding glass window on one of the trail side condos. sorry to who's ever condo that was.

the tram was great, the few times i have been on it, i got to ride it with one pro or another.


R.I.P.
rest in public... hopefully somewhere cool.

[NashBoarder]

I loved getting in the Tram at the base with it being 30 degrees or so and after getting out at the top with the wind blowing and it nuking. It's amazing what a difference 4,000 feet can make. It was like a whole other world.

RIP

[baseWeldr]

I know its not the jh tram which I also had the pleasure of riding not nearly enough...
cool image though, from a site someone linked to awhile back...

[Tippster]

On a scale of 1 to 10 its the shit.

On a scale of 1 to 10 that's pretty funny.

I hope they give the new Tram some soul, and they better paint it red.

[snowsprite]

Ive never even been to JH but for some reason i feel sad.

Me too! I feel like I missed out on something pretty cool...

Sprite

[comish]

After spending the year in JH during the biggest snow year in history, every time I have returned I always get a little teery eyed/sad/stoked/reminiscint (is that a word) on my first ride up the tram. Staring out at the Hobacks and lower faces remember the numerous runs full of face shots, pow, and more pow. I will always have a soft spot for JH and the old tram.

[Core Shot]

I loved getting in the Tram at the base with it being 30 degrees or so and after getting out at the top with the wind blowing and it nuking. It's amazing what a difference 4,000 feet can make. It was like a whole other world.

RIP

I also loved getting in thTram at the base with it being 5 degrees or so and after getting out at the top the sun was out and it was 35 degrees of sweet soft snow skiing.

Ditto on any day you had an inversion and punched up through the cloud layer.

Those days will all be back soon, but the main thing I will miss is that sweet little Tyrolean clock tower building.
Compared to colorado and other places, I always liked the human scale of JH. There were no huge buildings or anything that towered over you or dominated the landscape.
The last 8 years has been the abomination of "Parkitecture" and monstrous buildings that block out the sky and the view. Money adn more money.

oh well, at least the Tram itself will return bigger and badder than ever.
And the lines will be much better

[Jim]

when does the new tram open, next year?

[grubbers]

i'm really disappointed that i never got the chance to ride the tram at jh. makes me really wish i had made it out there last season with my dad like we originally were planning to.

nonetheless, i'm still really looking forward to heading out there in january.