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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 Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police On landmarks, personal and geologic Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Speech and debate team claims Jean Ward title 10 things to know for Tuesday, Feb. 3 Education Speech and debate team claims Jean Ward title SOU board names officers, committees Parent files complaint against Ashland schools Learning on the job AHS speech and debate team headed north Environment Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs The top five conservation success of 2014 Protestors want Keystone pipeline plans stopped Business Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Ride & Drive: The 2015 BMW M4 Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect New Ashland eatery features Basque cuisine Learning on the job Politics and elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland Fiber Network wants to be able to keep trade secrets Volunteer award, State of City address presentations Tuesday City's policy, efforts aim for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address State News Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Two new wolves confirmed in Southern Oregon, state reviewing status of northeastern packs State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Geraldine "Gerry" Smith Death Notices Lily Hearn May Antonucci Shareable Sports Latest Stories New England Patriots' Brady, Belichick still have work to do Raiders, at last Hawks keep streak alive, top Trail Blazers Raiders pulverize Simpson, bag first shutout in six years Raiders seek weekend sweep High school Raiders, at last Ashland swimmers sweep three-way Grizzly spirit Ashland girls remain winless in MWL Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Southern Oregon University Raiders, at last Raiders pulverize Simpson, bag first shutout in six years Raiders seek weekend sweep Southern Oregon zeroes in on first men's soccer coach Howard named NAIA coach of the year Opinion Latest Stories Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions Other Views: Allow wilderness burns Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Editorial Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod Other Views: Allow wilderness burns Our View: Missing teen dilemma Our View: Making room for all Our View: Honor well deserved Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 26 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions Guest Column: A Koch and bull story Guest Opinion: A New Year’s resolution you can keep: starting “the conversation” Chris Honoré: Modern media: the unreliable narrator Guest Opinion: The relevance of socialism in the U.S. Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Share your love poems at Downtowne Coffee House Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory Community blog: Applegate Library offers self-publishing workshop Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Theater Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Insights into the gifts theater offers off the stage Music Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Jeff Kloetzel at Belle Fiore Visual Art Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Whiplash' pounds out a riveting beat Movie review: ‘Mortdecai’ majorly misses the mark Movie review: Aniston’s performance is the icing on ‘Cake’ Movie review: ‘Cake’ showcases Jennifer Aniston at her best Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories On landmarks, personal and geologic Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Shayne Looper: More wedding equals less marriage? Dr. Elaine Heffner: What’s in a name? Food for Thought: Sweet potatoes are a versatile vegetable Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police ... Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod ... Calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police ... Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod ... Calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... MT. ASHLAND Mt. Ashland Ski Area looks for ways to diversify Snowshoeing, mountain bike rentals could be part of resort's future Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News Mt. Ashland Ski Area officials are looking beyond downhill skiing and snowboarding to keep the resort financially viable in the long term. All options are on the table, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter and mountain bike rentals in the summer, according to a Monday night discussion among board members for the Mt. Ashland Association, which oversees the nonprofit ski area. "We run four to five months out of the year when we could run nine or 10 months," said Hiram Towle, ski area general manager. The resort could potentially rent out snowshoes and cross-country skis. Snowshoeing and cross country skiing are popular on roads on the back side of Mount Ashland, although people have to bring their own equipment. The ski area could also rent mountain bikes and sell supplies such as bike tire inner tubes to people attracted to the network of hiking and biking trails outside the ski area on Mount Ashland. Some Rogue Valley businesses already rent mountain bikes to tourists and run shuttle services to the top of the mountain for locals and visitors who are fans of downhill biking. The U.S. Forest Service is considering expanding the trail network. Use has boomed from 16,000 people annually 15 years ago to 50,000 per year currently, according to agency estimates. Audience members at the board meeting suggested other ways for the ski area to save money or generate revenue, including installing solar panels to cut electricity costs and selling food to spectators and participants in popular running races like the grueling Mt. Ashland Hillclimb. "This is the second year in a row that we've had a difficult stretch," Towle said. "We know weather is cyclical and we'll have good snow years as well, but we know we need to build our summer business." The ski area was unable to open last winter due to a lack of snow. It was open for only 13 days this season before dwindling snow pack caused it to close down again in early January. Ski area officials are holding out hope late winter storms could allow the resort to reopen. "We are operating in hibernation mode," Towle said. "But there are two-and-a-half months left in the season." The ski area had 139 permanent and seasonal workers ready to go for this season, but is now down to a skeleton crew of five people after deep layoffs forced by the closure, according to managers. Board members said they have looked into snow-making systems for the ski area, but the equipment is costly and the ski area lacks an adequate water source to create artificial snow. During the 13 days this winter the ski area was open, it attracted 6,669 skiers and snowboarders and took in $269,109 in revenue, Towle said. Those visitors made up 10 percent of the visitation the ski area would experience in a regular winter, he said. Lift ticket sales accounted for $80,316 of this winter's revenue and 3,503 tickets were sold. Other skiers and snowboarders who came used their season passes, he said. Board members excluded the press and audience members from a more detailed discussion of the ski area's finances, which took place behind closed doors. In spring 2014, the ski area took out a Small Business Administration disaster loan of $750,000 to stay afloat. Payments are now coming due, with a $3,100 payment due in February. Managers have said they have budgeted money to make the payments. 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 Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 27, 2015 @ 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. 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 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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