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Of all the behind-the-scenes workings that go on at our favorite hill, this is by far the gnarliest. Mike Vase and his team of engineers brave the most extreme conditions day in and day out to ensure the aerial tram at Jackson Hole is running smoothly and safely for the tens of thousands of riders that use it to access the higher terrain on the mountain. Each member of the maintenance team has a unique loving relationship with their machine, and they all have developed a sort of sixth sense for detecting problems before they arise. From knocking the ever-regenerating rime off the wind instrumentation at the top of each tower to making millimeter adjustments to the miles of cable in this intricate system, the challenges that the maintenance team faces each day are numerous, and each involves different risks to resolve them. Despite the inherent risks that come along with the job, everyone on the maintenance finds immense gratification in seeing their tram run smoothly every day, and it seems like none of them would choose spend their time any other way.
