New tram approved at Jackson Hole

JACKSON, Wyo. – Bridger-Teton National Forest has approved construction of a new tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort despite environmental concerns.

The resort closed its iconic red tram last fall after 40 years of service, fearing it would become too costly to maintain. In August, resort owner Jay Kemmerer announced plans to privately finance a new lift at a cost of $25 million.

In approving the new tram, forest officials dismissed concerns it could hurt bighorn sheep habitat in Grand Teton National Park by increasing backcountry traffic. Most skiers use other means of reaching backcountry areas, they said.

A Grand Teton spokeswoman said the National Park Service wants some kind of system in place to monitor how the tram affects the sheep habitat.

Construction is expected to begin this spring and wrap up in time for the 2008-09 ski season. In the meantime, a temporary lift is being used to get skiers to the top of Rendezvous Mountain.

The new tram will have a maximum capacity of 100 passengers, compared to 55 passengers on the old lift. It will be able to carry 650 skiers per hour to the mountaintop, more than twice the capacity of the old tram.