Document text
MONDAY December 22, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 12, 2003 Let the snow fun begin By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings While rain puddles accumulated on the streets of Ashland this morning, something far more exciting for Mt. Ashland Ski Area officials accumulated on the mountaintop: snowboarders and Skiiers. Yusef Guient of Williams gets ready to go down the slopes at Mt. Ashland Ski Area today. Photos by Satsuki Doi | Ashland Daily Tidings A steady stream of vehicles packed with ski and snowboard fanatics quickly filled the ski area's parking lot this morning an hour before the official 9 a.m. opening. Along with the snow enthusiasts came the snow itself, as a steady snow fell throughout the morning. "It's snowing, man," an excited skier shouted to a passing vehicle. "We're so stoked." Mt. Ashland Ski Area officials said they had about 30 inches of snow base on the bottom of the mountain, and nearly 40 inches on the top, which made for good conditions for the first day of the season. Approximately 3 inches of snow had fallen in a 24-hour period ending this morning. "We've lucked out and got snow today," said Jeff Hanson, general manager. The forecast calls for more snow today and throughout the weekend. "Knock on wood it stays that way," Hanson said. Opening day Garren Beller of Ashland, who works in construction, was pleased when work was canceled this morning due to rain, and headed right up to Mount Ashland to ski. "I'll be here until they kick me off," he said. "I'll be there until the dying end." The extra falling of snow allowed the ski area to open all four ski lifts, said Rick Saul, director of marketing and snow sports. The ski area originally had planned to open only three ski lifts. The lodge was inundated with people buying season passes or day tickets, Saul said. "They're really busy," he said. "We have a lot people ready to ski or snowboard. It gets in your blood and you get so excited, you can't wait to get the season started." Exactly, said Clark Moore. "I started heating up about a month ago ... But this is earlier than last year, so it's not too bad." Moore and Ethan Mehr took the day off to hit the slopes early, Mehr said. "We usually ski Fridays," Mehr said." "And Thursdays and Wednesdays ..." Moore interjected. The excitement of opening day was evident along the mountain. The Mt. Shasta Board and Ski Park in Mount Shasta. Calif, also opened for the season today. The park has 24 inches of snow base at the lodge and 34 inchess on the top of the mountain, park officials said. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams