Up, up, and away! Tues, 2/24/26

 

In all the years I've lived in California (SoCal, 1963-1989 and NorCal, 2012-present), I've been in Palm Springs many times.  Since Jimmy and I married in 2001, he and I have spent a lot of time in the area.  We've talked about it and talked about it, but today was the first time we rode the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of Mt San Jacinto; i.e., to Mountain Station at 8516' -- a breath-taking ride up the rugged face of Chino Canyon.  The canyon is one of the steepest in North America, dropping from over 8,500' at the south rim to less than 2,700' on the valley floor in less than a mile. 

The Aerial Tramway was built in the canyon in 1963 to quickly transport people from the valley floor to the top of the mountain.  Quickly, yes.  Sure beats walking up!

Beep-beep!  We met this cutie on our way to the tramway.

On the road to Valley Station for tickets.

Steep!

The posted sign reads: Original Cabin #2, used from 1963 to 2000. It's inaugural trip was on September 12, 1963, and it was retired in June 2000 after over 175,000 round trips!  Yowza!

New rotating tramcars (above) were introduced in September 2000, providing 360° panoramic views of Chino Canyon and the Coachella Valley, completing the 2.5-mile journey from Valley Station to Mountain Station in ten minutes. Truly, a one-of-a-kind ride.  Worth every penny of the $33.95 senior rate ticket.  And it got better!

Looking up canyon.

And down canyon.

See the other tramcar?

And -- wow! -- what a view!

Desert Hot Springs is down there somewhere, backed up against the mountains, middle of the screen.

And then life gets more interesting, bringing to mind Humphrey Bogart's line in the movie, Casablanca, "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."  Why?  Who do we meet at Mountain Station?  Anne and Mark, two friends from last September's OAT Turkey trip!  Of all the days in a year, the two couples who don't live here or near each other independently picked today to ride the tramway, and of all the times a tram leaves the station, we four were assigned 10:36am. Bam!  Serendipity.

Anne, Mark, me and Jimmy at Mountain Station. 💖

They were with Anne's cousin, Kathy, and another couple, Francesca and David.  We visited outside on the terrace for a while, and they graciously extended a lunch invitation to us.  We accepted, still awed by the "coincidence."  At the top we went our separate ways, some planned to hike (proper snow footwear) and some not.  Jimmy and I were content to make our way to the ranger station.

Yup, this elevation received about a foot of snow in the last storm.  Most of the serpentine walkway from the station had been cleared, but further down, the path was snow-covered.  We didn't have proper snow gear, so we didn't go far on the snow.  Besides, if we wanted to play in snow, we could simply go home!

Hi Jimmy!

We were here!

Lunch was at Peaks with stellar views out floor-to-ceiling windows.  L-R, Francesca, David, Jimmy, Mark, Kathy, Anne, and look at the burger on my plate!  Best ever:  Coachella Date Burger with beef, bacon, feta cheese, arugula, date marmalade and grilled onions.  Delicious!  Box, please, to carry leftovers home for later!  What a wonderful lunch.  Thanks for inviting us!  What a wonderful day!

The temp was in the high 50's, hovering around 60°.  We'd brought jackets, but left them in the car, which was a good call, 'cause we were comfortable without them.  We milled around a bit after lunch and then everyone was ready to go down, down, down in the amazing rotating tramcar.  With hugs all around, we parted, still gaga over how random events ... really aren't.

After the tramway was redesigned in 2000,

it became the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world.

I love this place and the clouds it produces.

They are positively fascinating.

Which turn into beautiful sunsets (from the pool).

Count me overwhelmed.