Well, they’re finally here. After much waiting, some minor disasters, a record snowfall year, and a long spring runoff, the balconies for “new blue” and “new, new red” are in place and ready for you.
Typical of your correspondent, he used his faux investigative journalist credentials to gain a sneak peek to see if riding on top of the tram cars was worth all the hype on the morning before their grand opening. The answer in a word: yes.
Thankfully, the installation went without hitch on June 5th during scheduled tram maintenance. No crane required, merely a cable system to raise and lower and swing them into place. Then it’s a simple process of locking them down. The rest of the tram’s maintenance is also now complete and the trams are running.
So, to the details that matter to you. This year’s summer tram prices are $35 for in the cab (free if you have a Snowbird 23/24 season pass already) and it’s another $20 to ride on the balcony. Children are allowed up top so long as they reach the minimum safety height of 42” (107cm). There are no harnesses or tethers required as the railing is comfortably high. And should you drop your phone like the ski patroller next to Canyon Blog on this morning’s ride up, the plexiglass runs to the deck. The safety of your hat will be another matter…
Each tram can hold up to 11 passengers on the balcony but with the added weight of each balcony the in-cab summer limit is presently set at 60. There’s also this, when lightning or storm cells are approaching roof top riding will not be permitted. So expect a few procedural changes as the system works out its bugs because the balconies also catch more wind and that is going to change how the tram drivers manage passing the towers.
The weekend of June 17/18 is your last opportunity to ski the bird without using human power to get you up slope. The persistent rains of the past three weeks have diminished the record snowfall faster than anticipated so you won’t be on Bird boards for the 4th of July. But that’s alight, there’s plenty of trail and bike terrain this summer and a few more surprises in store from Snowbird. So watch this space, come for a visit, and take it all in because this year you’ll be riding the tram and viewing the grandeur of Little Cottonwood from your own convertible.