New name, shorter course, still grueling

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

By Sam Petri

Due to the out-of-commission aerial tram, what was the Rendezvous Mountain Hill Climb mountain bike race is now the Bridger Gondola Hill Climb mountain bike race. It will take place on Saturday at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Organized by the United Cyclists of Jackson Hole, the race is in its 14th year, according to JHMR records.

When the tram was operational, racers used to climb 4,139 vertical feet over a 6.2-mile course to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, then take the tram down. This year, without the tram, racers will travel a similar course on service roads, climbing 2,784 vertical feet over 5.25 miles to the top of the Bridger Gondola. For the descent, racers have the option of down loading on the gondola or riding down with race organizers.

“For this year and next year, it will be called the Bridger Gondola Hill Climb,” said race organizer Brian Schilling of UCJH. Although the vertical rise and distance are reduced this year, Schilling noted this would be a good year to try to set the Bridger Gondola record time, as this shortened course will only happen one more time, in August 2008.
 The tram should be reopened and available during the summer of 2009, whereupon the race will resume its original format.

Registration is $15 (free if you’re under 18) and will take place the day of the race beginning at 9 a.m. in the Cody lot near Pepi Stiegler Sports. The race starts at 10:30 a.m.

This is not the only race that has been affected by the decommissioned tram. Exum Mountain Guides typically holds a Rendezvous Mountain Hill Climb foot race the last weekend in August, but with no tram they have canceled the race. Keep the spirit alive until 2009 and climb to the gondola this Saturday.

Photo COURTESTY JACKSON HOLE MOUNTAIN RESORT
The Bridger Gondola Hill Climb starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Registration starts at 9 a.m.


PERMALINK:
New name, shorter course, still grueling | Planet JH News Article: Sports & Recreation

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