Aspen Sells 'The Couch' Chairlift to Montana Ski Area

Aspen Skiing Company announced its plans to part ways with Aspen Mountain’s Gent’s Ridge lift, aka  “The Couch”, before the beginning of this season's ski season. Gent’s Ridge was deemed "The Couch” due to its cushiony seats and long, 13-minute ride up the top third of the mountain.

After almost four decades spinning its wheels at Aspen, SkiCo has sold the fixed-grip quad lift to Maverick Mountain in Montana. According to the Aspen Times , the chair removal is part of a larger plan of evolution at Aspen Mountain, which includes streamlining operations and expanding snowmaking to increase coverage at the start of each winter season.

Maverick Mountain, where "The Couch" is headed, has 24 runs and is family owned. The mountain is only open on weekends. Besides the foundation, no part of the lift (chairs, towers, etc) will stay in Aspen and none of the chairs will go up for sale, despite auctions occurring with other lifts SkiCo has sold in the past. SkiCo explained that skier traffic patterns and ridership numbers were part of the decision to sell the lift.

The proposal to remove this lift has not yet been given the green light from White River National Forest, as some of the lift sits on U.S. Forest Service property. This is an important part of the process. However, the proposal will be submitted to the USFS soon, and generally, it is in everyone's best interest to remove as much infrastructure as possible from the land.

According to the Aspen Daily News , Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Kevin Warner said that his office "has not yet received a formal proposal from SkiCo to remove the lift, but that the Forest Service is amenable to proposals like this."

In a press release from SkiCo, CEO Geoff Buchheister said, “Gent’s has served us well for decades, and I’m glad that it will get a second life at Maverick Mountain. I know firsthand how important these community-based resorts are to creating passionate lifelong enthusiasts for the sport, and it’s exciting to see that what no longer works for us can benefit another ski area.”

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