Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild Jr.: Respecting limits ... A Q & A with Schneider interim director Scott Malbaurn ... Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery takes flight to new roost ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Respecting limits ... A Q & A with Schneider interim director Scott Malbaurn ... Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery takes flight to new roost ... OUR VIEW Our View: Ski area slips by Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Apr. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Skiers — and others who understand the value a functioning ski area brings to a community — are undoubtedly relieved to learn the Mt. Ashland Ski area made it through a low-snow season in good enough shape to continue operating, and with a plan to generate income in the off-season, too. Under the leadership of General Manager Hiram Towle, the ski area carved 33 percent out of its expenses this winter, allowing it to limp into next season without taking on new debt. The ski area still is paying off a $750,000 disaster loan it took out from the Small Business Administration after the non-season of 2013-2014. More important, Towle is moving ahead with plans to offer summer activities on the mountain to generate income in the off-season. A zipline, rock climbing, disc golf, geocaching and extreme jumping are among the possibilities. The U.S. Forest Service must sign off on those proposals because the ski area operates with a long-term lease on national forest land. Mt. Ashland is actually little late to the party with its plans for summer operations. Towle notes that more than two-thirds of ski areas in the country offer recreation opportunities during non-snow months. Season passes are another important source of operating cash, and the spring pre-season pass sale, when prices are lowest, ends Thursday. The Rogue Valley is fortunate to have a publicly owned, nonprofit ski area close by. It not only benefits local residents, it adds to the tourism economy and provides jobs, too.   DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Apr. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501