TRAM TRIALS: Jackson Hole seeks funding; Valley in shock
7/1 - It’s been one week since Jackson Hole Mountain Resort announced that the world-famous tram would be decommissioned after summer 2006. Shock is still settling in across the ski community.
“Everyone in this town is fired up,” says Jackson resident and JHMR sponsored athlete Shroder Baker. “People moved here because of that tram. Everyone feels let down.”
According to the resort, safety concerns were the driving force behind the decision to shut down the 39-year old tram. Initial estimates priced a replacement tram at $20 million. JHMR announced last Friday the resort would require outside funding for a replacement.
“People would be super upset if they painted it blue,” says 11-year resident Mark Kozak. “That represents what kind of icon it is.”
Though the resort says they are working toward an alternate lift system to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain, according to Wednesday’s update from JHMR president Jerry Blann. “There will likely be at least five years when lift access to the top will not be in place.”
“Talk about an emotional tie,” says JHMR sponsored skier Jessica Baker. “It’s what we all use and love. Everyone is connected to the tram more than anything at that place.”
And so it goes in Jackson. Heads shake in disbelief and skiers go about their days in a catatonic state, like a life-long friend has just been ripped away. Reactions have varied. Some are launching letter and email campaigns. One concerned valley resident recently created an online forum specifically dedicated to the tram. Locals, as well as skiers around the world, have made their opinions clear to JHMR.
Though resort officials say the tram is currently operating to code and project it will do so for years to come, they say the lift has approached the end of its useful life. Replacing certain components of the tram was deemed too costly by the resort and, according to an outside engineering firm, would not guarantee its longevity. Jim Fletcher of the Parametrix firm concluded replacing the track ropes would cost several million dollars and would create unknown impacts to other parts of the tram.
"Effectively, they were saying if you go this route, we can't guarantee you the long-term future of the tram," said resort spokesperson Anna Olson. "We had to wait until all the information was in to analyze our options, but that information has been coming in piecemeal over the past 12 months."
About 18 months ago, the resort commissioned the tram engineering firm Doppelmayer-CTEC to conduct a study of the tram, which included an analysis of the track cables. In 1998 the haul cables, which pull the tram uphill, were replaced. The original studies were followed up with an analysis of Doppelmayer's data, conducted by Parametrix.
All parties agree the ultimate solution is to replace the tram, but without outside funding, that isn’t an option right now.
It’s been no secret that JHMR has operated in the red for a majority of the years the Kemmerer Family has owned the resort. After investing $55 million since 1992, the company says they cannot afford the $20 million price tag for a replacement.
“We simply don't have specific answers for down the road,” says resort spokeswoman Anna Olson. “We went public [with the information] as soon as we knew it.”
And some say that was a mistake.
“For me, I knew the tram was getting old many many, years ago,” says Kozak. “The big shock was that they didn’t have a contingency plan for this.”
Twelve-year resident Jack Shaw agrees.
“When you tell people you’re taking something away, you want to have a back-up plan,” he says. “Five years ago a mechanic told me the tram would need to be replaced within five years. To say this snuck up on them and then to not have a plan is unacceptable.”
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