Wishful thinking is a powerful force! In the case of the proposed Mt. Ogden tram, it has led otherwise intelligent people to believe all sorts of far-fetched myths, including the following...
Myth: A tram would be a unique attraction that would put Ogden on the map.
Reality: Snowbird already has a tram. So does Jackson Hole. Moab has two. Snowbasin resort, right on the other side of Mt. Ogden, has two gondolas that reach the ridge tops. An Ogden tram would have plenty of local and regional competition. One of the conclusions of the tram feasibility study conducted in 1998 was that a tram would not attract tourists to Ogden--its riders would be local residents and tourists who are already in town for other reasons.
Myth: A tram would pay for itself.
Reality: This was the conclusion of the 1998 feasibility study, but the consultants who wrote the study were being paid ($100,000) by people who wanted this answer. They reached the conclusion by finding trams elsewhere (Albuquerque and Palm Springs) that do break even, and assuming that Ogden could do just as well as either of these. But the Albuquerque tram is much closer than we are to a major metropolitan center and airport; Palm Springs attracts hordes of wealthy vacationers who are already there for other reasons; both of these trams operate in drier climates than ours; and neither of them has any significant local competition. Change the numbers in the consultants' spreadsheets only slightly, and you find that an Ogden tram could easily lose millions of dollars.
Myth: The tram could be based in downtown Ogden with a transit link through the city, to help revitalize downtown and avoid the need for a large parking lot on the east bench.
Reality: Forcing every tram rider to pass through downtown Ogden would seriously undermine the tram's already marginal economic feasibility, driving away many potential riders who could instead opt to ride Snowbird's tram or Snowbasin's gondolas without the hassle of downtown parking and a 20-minute transit ride through the city. With the new tram losing a million dollars a year, it won't be long before downtown Ogden is bypassed and that parking lot gets built after all.
Myth: A tram would attract businesses to Ogden.
Reality: It's naive to think that an obvious gimmick like a tram could play a significant role in the decision of move a business into or out of a city. Ogden already offers a great variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, and these certainly help to attract an educated and diverse workforce. Many people, though, are attracted not by resorts and ski areas but by opportunities for quiet, undeveloped recreation. In this department, Salt Lake City and Logan have a huge advantage over Ogden: both are immediately adjacent to designated Wilderness areas where quiet and solitude are assured. Commercializing our de facto wilderness on the west side of Mt. Ogden could easily drive away more businesses and employees than are attracted.
Myth: A tram would be good for the environment because Snowbasin visitors could ride it instead of driving.
Reality: The latest versions of the tram proposal don't even connect to Snowbasin--the tram would stop halfway up at a new resort in Malan's Basin. The environmental damage of this resort, including its access roads and utility lines, would be tremendous. But even if a tram to Snowbasin is eventually built, it would carry only a small fraction of Snowbasin's visitors. If we want to reduce traffic through Ogden and Weber Canyons, we should establish bus service to all three Ogden Valley ski resorts as well as the towns of Eden and Huntsville.
Myth: A tram would not harm the aesthetic beauty of Mt. Ogden because it would be virtually invisible from most of the city.
Reality: The tram's towers would be clearly visible from most of Ogden and the surrounding communities. Low-resolution "simulation" photos can try to hide this fact, but there's just no way to hide a half dozen 100-foot towers on a mountainside.
Myth: A tram would make our mountains accessible to those who are not in top physical condition.
Reality: Hiking on Mt. Ogden does not require top physical condition: the summit has been reached, self-propelled, by children under four years old. But even for those who cannot hike at all, the mountain peaks above Ogden are unusually accessible already. You can drive a car to the summits of Willard Mountain and Francis Peak, ride a motorcycle to the summits of Lewis Peak and Ben Lomond, and ride two different ski lifts to the Mt. Ogden ridge tops. What Ogden lacks, compared to other western cities, is nearby mountain peaks where a hiker can enjoy some peace and quiet.
Last modified on 19 August 2005.