This lift is located next to the gondola and rarely operates.View down from above the drive.Lift line and downtown Aspen.Upper lift line.Poma Z model return at the load.Lift overview.
The problem is that this lift isn’t ideally placed. Let’s say this lift becomes a primary lift. The only two primary lifts skiers can access from the top are the Gondola, which makes this lift pointless, or Shadow Mountain, which is a slow fixed grip that requires a third chairlift (Ruthie’s) to really get anywhere up the mountain. Operating this lift would therefore require them to operate Bell Mountain so skiers can avoid the other two lifts, but Bell is an extremely long fixed grip double. With the combined ride time, it makes no sense to avoid the gondola especially because it takes skiers all the way to the top. If Bell goes detachable (which I think it should), then it would make sense to operate this lift more frequently.
I’d be all for Bell Mountain getting a high speed quad upgrade, as that would shift maybe 50% of uphill traffic away from the Gondola and also make the terrain below Gent’s Ridge and Ajax more accessible.
The problem with that is that the plans for replacing Bell call for the bottom terminal to be raised to the bottom of the ridge. The only ways up from Little Nell in that case would be to either ski down to Shadow Mountain, or back to the gondola.
Never been to Aspen, so I would need a friend to vouch for me, but the run under it certainly does not look like a green to me. Plus, Aspen doesn’t want beginners here or at Highlands. They want them to be separated away at Buttermilk, or at Snowmass.
There are no beginner runs on Aspen Mountain. They could in theory probably sneak a green in the vicinity of this lift but like mentioned not needed or ideal.
The last time Ajax had a beginner trail was in the 80s when they classified one catwalk below Shadow Mountain and one catwalk below Little Nell as green trails. The mountain is just too steep and it makes more sense to put all of the beginner skiers together at Buttermilk and Snowmass, as everyone is happier and safer when advanced skiers are separated from the learners. Highlands also reclassified all of its beginner trails as intermediates in 2018 for this same reason.
Long ago this *was* the beginner area. There was a Riblet double here, and it was replaced either the same year as the gondola was built or perhaps a year before. As others have noted it isn’t really true beginner pitch and there is now Buttermilk. As far as I know from a few conversations with those guys, it’s now there as part of a long string of backup lifts just in case things go south on the gondola. I’ve never seen it run myself but I only ski there on weekdays every few years.
Although there very well coule be disortion, I tested it using google earth. I added a straight line going from the center of each bullwheel, and it definitley does bend a bit in the middle. I can’t find any evidence of canted sheaves, but I definitley believe theres a bend.
Probably pretty impractical but it would be cool if Bell Mountain and little Nell where both replaced by a single HSQ with a midstation where little Nell ends.
Lift Blog 
The return terminal was upgraded sometime. It used to have a portal tower at the bottom but no has the Z return with integrated sheaves. Here is the original return: http://www.skilifts.org/old/images/resort_images/co-aspenmountain/littlenell/lowerstation3.jpg
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I think this was around 2005 when there was redevelopment at the base area.
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They really should run this more too, as an alternate way out of the Base. How often does the gondola get lines?
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The problem is that this lift isn’t ideally placed. Let’s say this lift becomes a primary lift. The only two primary lifts skiers can access from the top are the Gondola, which makes this lift pointless, or Shadow Mountain, which is a slow fixed grip that requires a third chairlift (Ruthie’s) to really get anywhere up the mountain. Operating this lift would therefore require them to operate Bell Mountain so skiers can avoid the other two lifts, but Bell is an extremely long fixed grip double. With the combined ride time, it makes no sense to avoid the gondola especially because it takes skiers all the way to the top. If Bell goes detachable (which I think it should), then it would make sense to operate this lift more frequently.
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You can ski to Shadow Mountain/lift 1A from the top of this chair, not just bell mtn.
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I’d be all for Bell Mountain getting a high speed quad upgrade, as that would shift maybe 50% of uphill traffic away from the Gondola and also make the terrain below Gent’s Ridge and Ajax more accessible.
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The problem with that is that the plans for replacing Bell call for the bottom terminal to be raised to the bottom of the ridge. The only ways up from Little Nell in that case would be to either ski down to Shadow Mountain, or back to the gondola.
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Is often does this lift run now? I don’t think it runs that much. Same with Bell. I think they are primarily auxiliary lifts for the gondola.
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It absolutely had to do with development at the base:
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Oh, and I know they run it and bell early and late season as well before they get snow to the top.
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By running this lift more often, they could create a new beginner area near the gondola. This seems like a wasted opportunity to me.
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Never been to Aspen, so I would need a friend to vouch for me, but the run under it certainly does not look like a green to me. Plus, Aspen doesn’t want beginners here or at Highlands. They want them to be separated away at Buttermilk, or at Snowmass.
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There are no beginner runs on Aspen Mountain. They could in theory probably sneak a green in the vicinity of this lift but like mentioned not needed or ideal.
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The last time Ajax had a beginner trail was in the 80s when they classified one catwalk below Shadow Mountain and one catwalk below Little Nell as green trails. The mountain is just too steep and it makes more sense to put all of the beginner skiers together at Buttermilk and Snowmass, as everyone is happier and safer when advanced skiers are separated from the learners. Highlands also reclassified all of its beginner trails as intermediates in 2018 for this same reason.
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I am a local guide in aspen. The little nell trail is a pretty easy blue, but for beginners, the end is a little steep.
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Long ago this *was* the beginner area. There was a Riblet double here, and it was replaced either the same year as the gondola was built or perhaps a year before. As others have noted it isn’t really true beginner pitch and there is now Buttermilk. As far as I know from a few conversations with those guys, it’s now there as part of a long string of backup lifts just in case things go south on the gondola. I’ve never seen it run myself but I only ski there on weekdays every few years.
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This lift along with Bell Mountain will likely operate more often this year because of limited gondola capacity.
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Can anyone confirm this lift has a slight angle to it?
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I don’t think it has an angle it may be the camera perspective though.
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Came to ask the same question. I’ve definitely remember seeing other pics of this lift and thinking the same thing.
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Although there very well coule be disortion, I tested it using google earth. I added a straight line going from the center of each bullwheel, and it definitley does bend a bit in the middle. I can’t find any evidence of canted sheaves, but I definitley believe theres a bend.
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The bend definitely was there after the return station was rebuilt.
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I finally got to ride this lift, and I can confirm without a doubt that tower 6 has canted sheaves creating a slight angle.
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I think that the tower before the top terminal might have a slight angle.
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Probably pretty impractical but it would be cool if Bell Mountain and little Nell where both replaced by a single HSQ with a midstation where little Nell ends.
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Not very impractical, as it seems Aspen is proposing your idea!
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/projects/68277
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