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--> --> Karl Wullf, 18, of Medford straps on his snowboard outside the Mt. Ashland ski lodge today. Ashland Daily Tidings/AMY ALONZO Skiers, boarders lift off By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings After weathering last season's dry spell, skiers and snowboarders were met with soft, deep snow during today's opening of the Mt. Ashland Ski Area. "There's a lot of snow today, a lot more than last year. It's really powdery. It's nicer," said snowboarder Cordy Herring of Medford as he took his first trip down the hill from the ski area lodge. Fellow snowboarder Rodney Gillig of White City said the soft snow creates ideal conditions for fun on the mountain. "There are good jumps. There will be bigger air. People will try to go bigger because there will be a softer landing," Gillig said. While skiers and snowboarders greeted the snow with enthusiasm, the past week of heavy snowfall kept the Ariel chairlift at the summit closed as of mid-morning. "We've got all this snow - but that's what's keeping us from moving forward a little bit," said Jeff Hanson, general manager for the ski area. "We've been trying to get to the top of Ariel in the deep snow with our snow cats for two days, and have literally not been able to get there. We're there now and we're grooming that out. We hope to have that open this morning." Hanson said there are drifts 6 to 8-feet deep, with other areas 2 to 3-feet deep, high on the mountain. At the base, the ski area had 44 inches of snow this morning after receiving 2 new inches. The access road to the ski area was snow-packed, leading many drivers to stop and chain up, while others with four-wheel drive sped up the mountain, eager to hit the slopes. Ariel likely will be open Saturday, if not today, Hanson said. The mid-mountain Windsor chairlift also was closed as of this morning, not because of heavy snow, but because of a glitch that appeared Thursday in the electronic control system. That chairlift could be open today or Saturday, he said. With only the lower Sonnet and Comer chairlifts open this morning, skiers and snowboarders paid just $16 for a lift ticket. Tickets will return to regular prices of $29 for adults and $22 for youths and seniors if the Ariel chairlift is running Saturday. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing