The winter seasons takes off with the new eight-post gondola from the Valley Station in Champoluc (1587 m) to the mountain station at Crest (1980 m). Crest is in turn a junction, for reaching the entire Monterosa ski, with the three resorts Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna.

The new lift has a maximum carrying capacity of 2400 people per hour further increasing the effectiveness of the lift system.

The gondola, apart from being a ski lift, is an important link with the high-altitude villages of the municipality of Ayas, it is in fact classified as a part of the Local Public Transport system, operating eleven months a year from 7.30 to 23.00, making it easy for both permanently residents and visitors to reach their homes and lodging up on the mountain.

It is not only about rebuilding the actual lift. An important part of the 16 million euro project is the development of both the valley- and the mountain station. The project contains the construction of a multifunctional area in the valley station, where the ticket offices is located and the administrative offices, in addition to the departure of the plant itself; the entrance is located at street level, integrating in a better way with the village. And the position of the Mountain station, and the slightly longer lift itself, has alleviate the access to the next two lifts allowing space to develop the mid-mountain nursery area.

The Monterosa ski lifts are open from the beginning of December to mid April and the lift pass covers all of the lifts across three valleys, including several small resorts not lift-connected to the main domain. In the summer the same lifts are used by mountaineers, bikers and trekkers.

Read more about the project (in Italian) and see pictures from the work.