There was apparently a mechanical problem on the Rushmore Tramway in Keystone that shut the whole system down for more than two hours Thursday. The folks who were on their way up to the top of the ridge for the scenic view of Mount Rushmore were stuck when the cable and pulley system stopped. Staffers say it took about a half hour to get the passengers off the hanging chairs, which are similar to a ski-lift.

Josh Peterson says, "What we do is we swing a rope over the top, and then kind of pull a little chair up to the chairlift, and then have them hop on the chair and hop off the lift and repel them down."

Staffers at Rushmore Tramway say all the passengers who were stuck were given refunds and free passes for other attractions. They say the tramway will be up and running again tomorrow.

Al Van Zee