National Geographic to Air Jackson Hole Tram Doc

Jackson Hole Tram on September 15, 2007

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Photo by: Tristan Greszko

There are few more iconic modes of skier conveyance than Jackson Hole's aerial tram. So when the tram, affectionately known as the Big Red Box, took its final voyage in April 2006, a small wave of sadness rolled over the ski community -- a wave that was tempered, of course, by a newer, faster, safer tram that opened in December 2008. Now you can watch the story of that tram being built on the National Geographic Channel tomorrow night, on an episode of the tough n' grimy series Man-Made. "Construction crews battled a record-breaking snowfall, zero visibility, high winds, and nearly impassable mud-slick mountain roads to build its five towers and two terminals, and string miles of heavy steel cable," the promo boasts, and we don't doubt it: Jackson Hole is known to take no prisoners. The episode was filmed over a two-year period by one of the adventure genre's big names, Peter Pilafian, whose credits include the skater history Dogtown and Z-Boys, the recently released Edge of Never, and quite possibly the best surfing documentary ever, Riding Giants. Set your DVR.

Jackson Hole Tram on September 15, 2007