Jackson Hole | Bridger Gondola [Summer]

Описание: After Jackson Hole installed their first detachable lift, Teewinot, a high speed quad by Poma, they decided on another. Teewinot provided a great increase in out-of-base capacity over the original Hall double it replaced, but Jackson Hole knew they needed more, as the resort increased in popularity. They realized there was unused terrain between the Casper Bowl and Thunder lifts, as well as terrain below that didn't have any direct lift service. Killing two birds with one stone, Jackson Hole installed the Bridger Gondola, climbing a massive vertical and length, to a point a decent ways below The Headwall at the top of the ridge. According to older trail maps, a lodge existed at the top of Bridger only a year or two after it opened, but the current Rendezvous Lodge was opened in 2006. At this same time, a lift known as East Ridge, a Doppelmayr CTEC double, was installed, running up Rendezvous Bowl to the summit of Jackson Hole, on Rendezvous Mountain. This continued lift service to the summit while the tram was being replaced, and it stayed, even after the new tram opened in 2008. In 2010, it was removed, and in 2011, it was reinstalled as Marmot, running from the base of the Thunder quad to the top of Bridger, providing another way to the Rendezvous.

Bridger Gondola is a Poma 8 passenger gondola. It uses CWA X model 8-person cabins (the only Poma gondola to use them, likely in the world), double TB-41 grips, Omega style lifting frames/sheaves, and extra long Competition Gondola terminals, designed for 1200 fpm speeds. Vertical rise is impressive, at 2,730 feet, but still sits in the shadow of the Aerial Tram, which climbs 4,084 vertical feet. In 2006, 18 cabins were added to increase capacity, but in this recording, it is only operating with 66, the original number before more were added. Even though this lift is 24 years old, I can see Jackson Hole getting at least another 15 years out of it, seeing how good of shape they've kept it in.

Recorded on August 13th, 2021