Top of the Mount'

In February 2005, a couple of guests and I took the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway tour. The tramway features revolving cars that give a great panoramic view of the valley and mountains on the way to the top.

The temperature differential between the valley floor and the top of the Tram is usually about 30 degrees. We left the desert and ended our trip in an Alpine forest, with an elevation at the upper terminal (Mountain Station) of 8,516 ft.

The desert below was warm, but the top of the tram, at the top of Mt. San Jacinto, was cold and there was snow on the ground. I wore an undershirt (unheard of in the desert) and an L.L. Bean thermal-lined winter shirt. Still, it was nippy, and at that altitude, I found myself getting short-winded when I climbed stairs.

The view was gorgeous, the air was clear, and the attractive restaurant at the top provided the excellent food and drink that we required.

Anyone visiting the Palm Springs area should take this very enjoyable tour.

Click on a picture to enlarge it.