Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers - News - DailyTidings.com - Ashland, OR

Ashland Daily Tidings (Ashland, OR — Wayback)

2015-04-02

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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 Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Community actors balance day jobs, stage life Police Reports Ashland population jumps by up to 50,000 — bees Public works staff get close encounter of the ring-tailed kind Education Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers Business Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Blazers clinch playoff spot Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Documentary about Southern Oregon University football's national championship team to screen for free Fantasy Sports: Reds’ Chapman opens list of top closers High school Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Letters to the Editor, April 1 Landgren cartoon: European travel essentials Our View: One for the books Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Editorial Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Our View: One for the books Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Letters Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' Ticket availability Ticket Availability Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Woman in Gold’ doesn’t shine Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Community actors balance day jobs, stage life Page H. Onorato: What’s on the menu for Easter? Page H. Onorato: Leftover ham and eggs make for some yummy dishes after Easter Carol Link: It’s time to get into shape for spring yard work Prudence Hilburn: Bake something different — cracker bread Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW   Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant       ...       Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland       ...       Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza       ...       Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant       ...       Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland       ...       Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza       ...           MT. ASHLAND Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers Snow holding up for other ski runs Comment By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 7:20 PM By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 7:20 PM »  RELATED CONTENT • Mt. Ashland Ski Area to reopen some runs Friday »  Social News The Mt. Ashland Ski Area shut down its beginner hill chairlift Monday because of a lack of snow, but other chairlifts remain open serving intermediate and expert slopes. Most of the Sonnet beginner's run, which is served by the Sonnet chairlift, is closed. But beginning skiers and snowboarders can still use a smaller section of the run served by a rope tow, said Hiram Towle, general manager for the ski area. The Sonnet hill is frequently swept by winds and gets more afternoon sunshine than the north-facing intermediate and expert runs served by the Comer, Windsor and Ariel chairlifts. "We've had a snow deficit on the learning terrain and around the parking lot. Our team has been moving snow onto the beginner's slope, but we ran out of snow to bring there," Towle said. Along with other newbies, beginners from a large school group used the rope tow section of Sonnet Monday. Those who could demonstrate their ability to stop and turn graduated to the intermediate runs served by the Comer chairlift, Towle said. Since the closure of the Sonnet chairlift, beginner ski lessons are confined to the area served by the rope tow, he said. Snow that fell on the mountain more than a week ago has shown staying power on the intermediate and expert slopes despite the spring-like weather. The base snow depth was 21 inches and the upper snow depth was 56 inches Monday. The inch counts have shown little shrinkage since the last snowfall. "The upper mountain is holding up great. It's remarkable how well the snow holds because of the north-facing slopes," Towle said. Bare spots are beginning to show on routes leading to the bottoms of the Comer, Windsor and Ariel chairlifts, but they are still easily avoidable and can be covered with snow during grooming, he said. Towle said Mt. Ashland managers are fielding questions about whether the ski area is still open. "The plan is to stay open until we say otherwise. We're not only open, skiing is great on most parts of the mountain," he said. As part of an ongoing Saturday afternoon concert series to draw more visitors to the mountain, singer and guitarist Jeff Kloetzel will play from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the ski area lodge. On Saturday night, the ski area will hold its annual Bavarian Night fundraiser to benefit the Mt. Ashland Ski Patrol. The event features night skiing from 4 to 9 p.m., raffle prizes, beer, bratwurst, live music with Encore Five and fireworks. For more information about events and conditions, visit www.mtashland.com or call the snow phone at 541-482-2754. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous .       By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 7:20 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. 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