JOSEPH — A rare snowstorm dropped more than two feet of snow over two days that forced the closure of the Wallowa Lake Tramway on Sunday and Monday.

Tramway president Mike Lockhart said about 18 inches fell during the day Sunday with another foot falling over the evening, prompting the closure for the first time because of snow.

“In my 45 years, I have not had a Memorial weekend like this,” he said. “We have had snow before, but nothing like that.”

The tramway, which will reopen May 31, opened for the season two weeks ago and will run every day until Oct. 2. The tramway goes from the bottom terminal at 4,450 feet to the top of Mount Howard at 8,150 feet in less than 15 minutes.