Baby It's Cold Outside, But Caroling Keeps It Warm at the Top of the Tram

It was 23 degrees outside - 13 degrees with windchill - just after 6 p.m. Friday above the east end of the San Gorgonio Pass.

But it was 40 degrees warmer inside the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway mountain station, where the 30-member chamber choir from Chaparral High School in Temecula made the most of their chances, filling the multi-level, ridgetop venue with song.

Chaparral was one of six school choirs invited to sing Christmas carols this month at the top of the tram. Santa is scheduled to visit the mountain station from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday Dec. 17.

He won't miss the North Pole much, especially if he stays after dark.

The mountain station is at 8,516 feet elevation, more than 5,000 feet above the valley station, and on Friday evening it was well below freezing outside, according to weather instruments.

It was 64 degrees inside the mountain station, and the Chaparral chamber singers provided holiday warmth with carols including "Here We Come A-Caroling," "Here Mid the Ass and Oxen Mild," "Carol of the Bells" and "Silent Night."

They'll be singing again at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the lobby of the J.W. Marriott in Palm Desert, said Stan Nickel, choir director for Chaparral High.

"This is our top choir at our high school," Nickel said. "These students are our selected singers."

They sang their way back down the tram after their second performance, and found it at least 30 degrees warmer at the valley station.

Other schools invited to sing this year, according to Tram spokeswoman Lena Zimmerschied, included Cathedral City High on Dec. 9, Rubidoux High on Dec. 10, and Martin Luther King High of Riverside on Dec. 11.

Still to perform are West Valley High of Hemet on Saturday Dec. 17 and Raincross Chorale of Riverside on Sunday Dec. 18. Performances are scheduled at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day, Zimmerschied said.

Tram tickets are $23.25 for adults, $21.25 for seniors age 60 and above, and $16.25 for children ages 3 to 12. For more information, visit www.pstramway.com or call (888) 515-TRAM.