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36TH ANNUAL TRAM ROAD CHALLENGE RESULTS
PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 21, 2023) The winner of today’s 36th Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge was Nic Beechan, who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 30 minutes, 7 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was Jeanne Collonge in 35 minutes, 51 seconds. Maverick Gentry finished first in the youngest category (12 and under) and Andrew Suozzo finished first in the oldest category (75-79).
This year’s Male and Female Challenge Division Winners are:
| Age Groups | Name | City | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 and under M | Maverick Gentry | Cathedral City, CA | 00:52:07 |
| 12 and under F | Leilani Lua | La Quinta, CA | 01:25:33 |
| 13-19 M | Travis Nuñez | Unknown | 00:37:44 |
| 13-19 F | Yoselin Canseco | California | 00:45:56 |
| 20-24 M | Jayson Fernbacher | Orinda, CA | 00:50:47 |
| 20-24 F | None | – | – |
| 25-29 M | Deryhan Harris | Unknown | 00:41:43 |
| 25-29 F | Oralia Ortega | Unknown | 00:51:06 |
| 30-34 M | Ryan Mills | Unknown | 00:42:16 |
| 30-34 F | Hail Wiggins | Unknown | 00:43:46 |
| 35-39 M | Kyle Stovel | San Diego, CA | 00:38:42 |
| 35-39 F | Liz Mills | Bellevue, WA | 00:46:14 |
| 40-44 M | Steffen Hoehne | Newbury Park, CA | 00:38:37 |
| 40-44 F | Carey Paholek | Edmonton, Canada | 00:42:51 |
| 45-49 M | Eric Jannon | Santa Monica, CA | 00:43:52 |
| 45-49 F | Arcy Selk | Brawley, CA | 00:44:50 |
| 50-54 M | Troy Williams | Palm Cove, Australia | 00:37:52 |
| 50-54 F | Kristen Trubee | Palm Desert, CA | 00:47:52 |
| 55-59 M | Anthony Tanner | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 00:38:09 |
| 55-59 F | Nancy Hickey | Los Angeles, CA | 00:44:45 |
| 60-64 M | Jeff Soares | Aptos, CA | 00:37:02 |
| 60-64 F | Pamela Smyth | Indio, CA | 00:56:52 |
| 65-69 M | James Maxwell | San Diego, CA | 00:48:16 |
| 65-69 F | Debra Montgomery | Unknown | 00:52:24 |
| 70-74 M | Paul Beer | Palm Springs, CA | 00:51:56 |
| 70-74 F | Linda Peterson | Playa Del Rey, CA | 00:51:36 |
| 75-79 M | Andrew Suozzo | Cathedral City, CA | 00:56:04 |
| 75-79 F | Debbie Patterson | Woodland, CA | 01:12:23 |
The first Tram Road Challenge was held in 1983, and was won by Rob Slick in 27 minutes, 35 seconds and Nancy Baird in 35 minutes, 25 seconds. The fastest men’s time was set by Rubin Garcia of Mexico—26 minutes, 5 seconds—in 1987. Lubov Kremleva of Russia set the fastest women’s time—28 minutes, 56 seconds in 1998.
732 runners and walkers entered this year’s Tram Road Challenge.
ANNUAL SNOW GUESSING CONTEST BEGINS OCTOBER 1
Posted: Sept. 29, 2023
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Continues Annual Tradition
PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 29, 2023) The San Jacinto Mountains will soon be covered in snow, which means it’s time for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest to begin! This event runs from October 1 until the first measurable inch of snow falls at the Tramway’s Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet.
The first ten entries received with the correct date of snowfall will win four regular Tram admission tickets, plus a commemorative Tramway 60th Anniversary gift bag. In the event there are more than ten correct entries, winners will be chosen by the earliest postmark date.
To submit an entry, write down your best-guess date on a postcard and mail it to: Snow Guessing Contest, 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Only one date per postcard will be accepted. For more information and rules, please visit https://pstramway.com/snow-guessing-2023/ .
The top of the Tramway will soon be covered in snow, making a snow day a short 10-minute tramcar ride away from the desert floor. There’s never been a year when someone didn’t win the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest.
PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY CELEBRATES 60 YEARS
Posted: Sept. 5, 2023
$13-Million Mountain Station Renovation Commemorates Occasion
PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 5, 2023) Throughout the month of September, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is celebrating its 60th anniversary. During its six decades of operations, this engineering marvel has transported nearly 22 million people to the Tramway’s recently-renovated Mountain Station and the 14,000-acre Mt. San Jacinto State Park & Wilderness.
A signature attraction for Greater Palm Springs, the Tram attracts adventure-seekers from around the globe to dine, hike, take-in the spectacular views and enjoy the thrill of ascending nearly 6,000 feet along the rugged cliffs of Chino Canyon. But all this took nearly three decades of planning and construction before welcoming the Tram’s first visitor.
The idea for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway began in 1935 when a young electrical engineer named Francis Crocker dreamt of a way to escape the summer heat of the desert floor for the cool Alpine forests of Mt. San Jacinto.
After years of setbacks and delays, $8.15 million in private revenue bonds was raised and a land donation was secured from local businessman Culver Nichols for the Tram’s Valley Station. Construction finally commenced in July of 1961. On September 12, 1963, (then) Governor Edmund “Pat” Brown ‘cut the ribbon’ and the Tramway officially opened.
In 2000, the Tramway completed a $15 million modernization program, which included the installation of its new rotating tramcars. These became the first of their kind in North America and remain the largest rotating tramcars in the world.
In 2019, the Tramway’s Mountain Station began its first-ever renovation, which was completed in early 2023. Budgeted at $13 million, this effort was intended to not only bring electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems up to date, but to restore the original architectural vision of its noted Mid-Century architect, E. Stewart Williams.
According to Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols, “We are very happy that the completion of our Mountain Station renovation has coincided with our 60th anniversary. Members of the Mt. San Jacinto Winter Park Authority, our governing body, have worked for over a decade to make this a reality and what a wonderful way to welcome our 60th anniversary visitors.”
In celebration of the anniversary, a series of events and promotions are planned for September including giveaways for every 60th visitor, a 60th anniversary celebration quiz on the Tramway’s mobile app, a free 60th anniversary sticker for every visitor on September 12, continuous showings of the newly-restored original 1960s Tramway film “The Miracle at Palm Springs” in the Santa Rosa Theater, and other special displays and exhibits.
