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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Carpe Noctem Stricker steps down from Talent council Last installment in Ashland vampire trilogy released Police reports 10 things to know for Thursday Education Earth colliding with dust field left by Comet Halley Event Tuesday to honor first computer programmer Pep band conductor, 3.98 student Wurfl earns Rotary kudos AHS rated 'below average' despite high test scores Building + cooking + eating = learning Environment Fires and forests evolved together, but now people are in the mix Marijuana growers are threat to salmon, biologists conclude Annual tour shows how to live green Business Carpe Noctem Cultivating, nourishing and honoring community resources Ashland repeats as a Google 'eCity' Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Silvio Calabi: Nissan’s Taxi of Tomorrow Politics and elections Stricker steps down from Talent council Merkley-Wehby to debate in Medford Ashland land use rule review continues Council backs bump in tax to support buses Travel expert touts pot legalization State News Nation - World Obituaries Marc Lee Sprang Margaret Jones Merlin Wayne Fjarli Marc Lee Sprang Death Notices Sports Latest Stories Ashland hopes soft shells can reduce head injuries SOU wrestler Gutches to compete in NWCA All-Star Classic Grizzlies can't hold lead in five-set loss to Challengers Raider forward Thompson voted CCC preseason POY Guthrie, Royals edge Orioles for 3-0 series lead High school Ashland hopes soft shells can reduce head injuries Grizzlies can't hold lead in five-set loss to Challengers Ashland volleyball team pushes Summit in three-set loss Grizzlies use trick play to stun Comets Undefeated Grizzlies host Crater today Southern Oregon University SOU wrestler Gutches to compete in NWCA All-Star Classic Raider forward Thompson voted CCC preseason POY SOU football team No. 4 in latest poll Oregon special teams excel in UCLA win Southern Oregon women ranked No. 1, SOU men No. 2 in CCC preseason polls Opinion Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Crist vs Scott fan debate Jim Brock: U.S. Ebola cases could have been prevented Our View: Fostering e-success Letters to the editor Granlund cartoon: Gas prices drop Editorial Our View: Fostering e-success Our View: Elect Talbert and Moro M. 90 lessens partisanship Our View: Seffinger for Position 4 Our View: Retain Marsh on council Letters Letters to the editor Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 13 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 11 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Guest opinions Religion and politics in America City should revise its rules for murals Into the heart of darkness Herb Rothschild: Peace begins at the table City still ignores Plaza suggestions Revels Latest Stories (No heading) Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Cast makes 'The Judge' worth watching Tutunov Piano Series begins at SOU New plays debut at ANPF Theater New plays debut at ANPF Camelot Theatre presents 'Spotlight on Johnny Mercer' Southern Oregon hosts its Lunacy Theatre Festival Music The Farr Side: Bryan Adams releases album of influential hits Tutunov Piano Series begins at SOU Q&A: Becky Alter Q&A: Band du Pays Swing The Farr Side: Bennett-Gaga collaboration is a cross-generational gem Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Cast makes 'The Judge' worth watching Movie review: ‘The Judge’ doesn’t know when to end Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Gone Girl' is a dark, twisting winner Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Community Blog: Predicting Peace - Part 5 of 7 Barry Lewis: The joys of autumn and corduroy Marketta Gregory: Teach kids love Lost in Suburbia: The guaranteed, surefire Halloween candy plan 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Oct. 17-19) Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW (No heading) ... Calendar: Wednesday, Oct. 15 ... Merkley-Wehby to debate in Medford ... (No heading) ... Calendar: Wednesday, Oct. 15 ... Merkley-Wehby to debate in Medford ... MT. ASHLAND ASSOCIATION Grooming the mountain's facilities to suit the public Nonprofit association asked for input, is shaping plans accordingly By Chris Cook DailyTidings.com By Chris Cook Posted Oct. 13, 2014 @ 5:47 pm By Chris Cook Posted Oct. 13, 2014 @ 5:47 pm » RELATED CONTENT • Mt. Ashland Ski Area names new general manager • Mt. A looks at year-round alternatives • Mt. Ashland Association seeks public input » Social News As Mt. Ashland moves forward from one of its most challenging periods we will focus on what you — the skiers, riders, and visitors — want at your local, nonprofit, community-owned area. We want to provide the best alpine experience possible on the 7,500-foot peak many cherish. To this end Mt. Ashland Association recently completed a survey of community members to determine who they are, how they use and what they like about the area. The survey also asked what the community would like to see. Mountain management has already taken steps to address items raised by the feedback. The survey was done at a critical juncture for our nonprofit association. Besides facing repercussions from not opening for the 2013-14 season, a new manager has taken the helm, and the board is in a year-long strategic study with support from a Ford Family Foundation leadership grant. We were gratified that more than 1,200 people responded to the survey. More than 1,000 of those responses came from an internal audience contacted via the association’s email list, so this survey reflects the opinions of many mountain users and supporters. Survey responses from outside audiences, promoted via chambers of commerce, Rotary clubs and the media, were very similar to the first group. Among our findings: Season pass purchasers in the last three years had been made by 57 percent of the internal and 21 percent of the external respondents. The male/female ratio was 65 to 35 percent in the internal group and 53 to 47 percent in the external group. External respondents with children 18 or younger were 48 percent, while they were 34 percent with the internal group. Skier and rider visits by the internal audience were about 22 percent each in of four categories: 1 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 20 and more than 20 on the slopes. Half of the external respondents did not use the slopes, while 26 percent used them 1 to 5 days. Mt. Bachelor emerged as a popular attraction for the internal respondents, 51 percent of whom visited there 1 to 5 days, compared to 41 percent who went to Mt. Shasta for a similar period. One-third of the internal group contributed financially to the nonprofit Mt. Ashland, compared to 13 percent of the external audience. Mt. Ashland was viewed as important for its benefit to the local economy by both groups. While open-ended questions led to many different responses, areas that emerged as top concerns focused strongly on indoor amenities, such a healthier and more varied food selections, more lodge seating and storage, a larger bar area and enhanced customer service. On-slopes improvements including longer runs, more beginner and intermediate terrain and better lifts also gained top mentions. Other high-ranking suggestions included more on-mountain educational opportunities, including after-school and youth activities, and summer activities such a mountain biking, concerts and hikes. New manager Hiram Towle has appointed task forces to address four concerns cited most frequently for this winter: food service, lodge accommodations, bar expansion, and creating a customer-service based culture. He wants each employee to see the area through customer’s eyes. While these key items will be addressed immediately, the findings will be used to guide us as we create plans for the near and more distant future. We are looking forward to the upcoming season. When visitors arrive this winter they will a find the first on-ground physical improvements in several decades, including a 20 percent larger parking area, a recontoured “bunny” slope that is more beginner friendly, and widened runs and junctions points. There are also new initiatives to ensure user access. These include a $299 pass for college students and “$99 Carload Mondays” for up to seven skiers in a single vehicle. A Mt. Ashland DNA statement has been developed over the last few months. It better defines the mountain and its goals. Among these are being a community-focused area, remaining a cherished community resource, and having customer service as the top priority. The DNA statement recognizes the variety of terrain available, proximity to the valley, a commitment to introduce new people to alpine sports, care for the environment, and engagement in the community. Mt. Ashland has survived challenges is the past, including severe financial problems in the 1970s and a threat of closure in 1992 that led to community ownership. We know we will survive the challenge of last winter and we’ll strive to enhance our offerings while enjoying continued community support. Chris Cook is a skier and member of the Mt. Ashland Association Board of Directors. She is chairman of the Association’s Community Outreach Committee. By Chris Cook DailyTidings.com By Chris Cook Posted Oct. 13, 2014 @ 5:47 pm » 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. 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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