Wallowa Lake Tramway
Encyclopedia
The Wallowa Lake Tramway is an aerial cable gondola lift
near Joseph, Oregon
, in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
of the United States
. The tram runs from the floor of the Wallowa Valley to the top of Mount Howard. It travels to an elevation of 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) above sea level and allows for views of the Eagle Cap Wilderness
area and the rest of the Wallowa Mountains
.
fighting a forest fire to the top of the mountain. In 1999, tram owners explored expanding the tramway to include a winter resort.
Tramway rises 3700 vertical feet, starting at the 4200 feet (1,280.2 m) level of the lake. At the top of the gondola ride, an elevation of 8150 feet (2,484.1 m), sits Oregon’s highest restaurant, the Alpine Grill. The Tramway runs May through September in summer and on the weekends in winter for skiing
and snowshoeing. The four-person gondolas take fifteen minutes to make a one-way trip. The tram is the steepest four-person gondola in North America, ending at the 8256 feet (2,516.4 m) peak of Mount Howard. The tram is operated on 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) of land leased from the Forest Service
through a special permit since it is on national forest
lands. At the top of the mountain are wildlife and wildflowers in an alpine meadow with views of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho along with two-miles (3 km) of hiking trails.
Gondola lift
A gondola lift is a type of aerial lift, normally called a cable car, which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal,...
near Joseph, Oregon
Joseph, Oregon
Joseph is a city in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States. Originally named Silver Lake and Lake City, in 1880 the city formally named itself for Nez Perce Chief Joseph. The population was 1,054 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
The Wallowa–Whitman National Forest is a United States National Forest in Oregon. Formed by a merger of the formerly separate Wallowa and Whitman national forests, it is located in the northeastern corner of the state, in Wallowa, Baker, Union, Grant, and Umatilla counties in Oregon, and includes...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The tram runs from the floor of the Wallowa Valley to the top of Mount Howard. It travels to an elevation of 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) above sea level and allows for views of the Eagle Cap Wilderness
Eagle Cap Wilderness
Eagle Cap Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon , within the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest. The Wilderness was established in 1940. In 1964, it was included in the National Wilderness Preservation System...
area and the rest of the Wallowa Mountains
Wallowa Mountains
The Wallowa Mountains are a mountain range located in the Columbia Plateau of northeastern Oregon in the United States. The range runs approximately 40 mi northwest to southeast in southwestern Wallowa County between the Blue Mountains to the west and the Snake River to the east. The range is...
.
History
The tramway was built in 1968, and then opened for service in 1970. In June 1992, a malfunction caused the evacuation of the lifts passengers who were then flown by helicopter down the mountain, with no injuries reported. This was the first safety incident for the tram. Later that year, the tramway was used to haul fire fightersWildland fire suppression
Wildfire suppression refers to the firefighting tactics used to suppress wildfires. Firefighting efforts in wildland areas requires different techniques, equipment, and training from the more familiar structure fire fighting found in populated areas...
fighting a forest fire to the top of the mountain. In 1999, tram owners explored expanding the tramway to include a winter resort.
Operations
Twenty-five towers are used along the route to support the cables of tramway. The Wallowa LakeWallowa Lake
Wallowa Lake is a ribbon lake one mile south of Joseph, Oregon, United States. Impounded by high moraines, it was formed by a series of Pleistocene glaciers. On the south end of the lake is a small community made up of vacation homes, lodging, restaurants, as well as other small businesses....
Tramway rises 3700 vertical feet, starting at the 4200 feet (1,280.2 m) level of the lake. At the top of the gondola ride, an elevation of 8150 feet (2,484.1 m), sits Oregon’s highest restaurant, the Alpine Grill. The Tramway runs May through September in summer and on the weekends in winter for skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and snowshoeing. The four-person gondolas take fifteen minutes to make a one-way trip. The tram is the steepest four-person gondola in North America, ending at the 8256 feet (2,516.4 m) peak of Mount Howard. The tram is operated on 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) of land leased from the Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
through a special permit since it is on national forest
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
lands. At the top of the mountain are wildlife and wildflowers in an alpine meadow with views of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho along with two-miles (3 km) of hiking trails.