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37TH ANNUAL TRAM ROAD CHALLENGE RESULTS
PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 19, 2024) The winner of today’s 37th Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge was Conner Blalock, who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 29 minutes, 56 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was D’Arcy Hlavin in 39 minutes, 33 seconds. Demetrius Bribiesca finished first in the youngest category (19 and under) and Cherie Gruenfeld finished first in the oldest category (80-99).
This year’s Male and Female Challenge Division Winners are:
| Age Groups | Name | City | Time |
| 19 and under M | Demetrius Bribiesca | Joshua Tree, CA | 00:35:15 |
| 19 and under F | Iona Hutton | Palm Desert, CA | 00:52:28 |
| 20-24 M | Ricardo Franco | Cathedral City, CA | 00:50:06 |
| 20-24 F | Biannca Guintu | Rancho Mirage, CA | 00:42:11 |
| 25-29 M | Ethan Waters | Los Angeles, CA | 00:34:41 |
| 25-29 F | Chanel Dupont | Cathedral City, CA | 00:50:06 |
| 30-34 M | Dennis Roth | San Diego, CA | 00:35:30 |
| 30-34 F | Adriana Marquez | Rancho Mirage, CA | 00:45:00 |
| 35-39 M | Eric Ogle | Hemet, CA | 00:38:55 |
| 35-39 F | Lacey Orson | Palm Desert, CA | 00:48:31 |
| 40-44 M | Sean Long | South Pasadena, CA | 00:35:02 |
| 40-44 F | Janice Ng | Honolulu, HI | 00:42:12 |
| 45-49 M | Jose Soto | Palm Springs, CA | 00:40:41 |
| 45-49 F | Kimberly Mileti | Palm Desert, CA | 00:41:51 |
| 50-54 M | Troy Fritzel | Anchorage, AK | 00:37:49 |
| 50-54 F | Catalina Stevenson | Phoenix, AZ | 00:41:51 |
| 55-59 M | Ricardo Rodriguez | Palm Springs, CA | 00:37:28 |
| 55-59 F | Tania McCormick | Rancho Mirage, CA | 00:43:58 |
| 60-64 M | Rich Suddock | Anchorage, AK | 00:38:20 |
| 60-64 F | Ellen Trecha | Charlevoix, MI | 00:47:15 |
| 65-69 M | John Groeneveld | Canmore | 00:43:09 |
| 65-69 F | Cynthia Marriott | Torrance, CA | 00:47:54 |
| 70-74 M | James Maxwell | San Diego, CA | 00:48:45 |
| 70-74 F | Sandy Robbins-Sydner | Apple Valley, CA | 00:54:16 |
| 75-79 M | Paul Beer | Palm Springs, CA | 00:52:55 |
| 75-79 F | Jeanne Maxwell | San Diego, CA | 01:04:40 |
| 80-99 F | Cherie Gruenfeld | Cathedral City, CA | 01:06:45 |
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.
841 runners and walkers entered the 2024 Tram Road Challenge.
PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY REOPENS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
Annual Preventative Maintenance Concludes
PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 17, 2024) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will reopen on Friday, October 18, 2024, one day earlier than previously announced. The first tram up will be at 10:00 a.m., the last tram up will be at 8:00 p.m. and the last tram down will be at 9:30 p.m. Tram cars depart at least every 30 minutes.
Completed projects during the 2024 preventative maintenance closure include replacement of 4 tension ropes, maintenance and testing on the gearbox, and track rope repositioning, among other essential tasks.
“We are pleased to announce that our reopening date has been moved up by one day,” stated General Manager Nancy Nichols. “We extend our gratitude to our visitors for their patience as our Tramway Systems team diligently completed all necessary projects. We eagerly anticipate welcoming both new and returning visitors to the Tramway and the beautiful Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness.”
ANNUAL SNOW GUESSING CONTEST BEGINS OCTOBER 1
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Continues Annual Tradition
PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 30, 2024) 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 special Tram gift memento. 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-2024.
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.
