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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 Calendar: Wednesday, Oct. 1 Medford man pleads guilty to Ashland burglary, murder Ashland hosts a mosaic of artists and events Sept. 30 Calendar Fires and forests evolved together, but now people are in the mix Education Fighting back against hackers SOU wants its students to love Ashland AHS drops homecoming king, queen A busy homecoming week for AHS students Sportsology returns to ScienceWorks 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 Taking action here, now on global climate change Garden serves up a feast fit for monarchs Business Lashland Pizzeria hopes for Mystic rebound Ski survey gets heavy response John Kalb, Ashland chiropractor The Coffee Window Politics and elections Election officials fine Richardson for late reporting of rent-free home Sheriff a no-show at Ashland Chamber forum New script for film ordinance sent back to rewrite November elections right around the corner Matthew T. Mangino: Federal government complicit in militarization of police State News Nation - World Obituaries Charlotte Louise White (Crenshaw) Death Notices Death Notices Death Notices Dorothy Irene Brown Sports Latest Stories Grizzlies rough up Eagles for fourth win in a row Dodge rewrites NAIA record books Four Raiders pick up weekly honors Something old, something new and something at the last second Ashland pulls out homecoming thriller High school Grizzlies rough up Eagles for fourth win in a row Four Raiders pick up weekly honors Something old, something new and something at the last second Ashland pulls out homecoming thriller Elizabeth Institute donates pink socks to AHS soccer Southern Oregon University Dodge rewrites NAIA record books Four Raiders pick up weekly honors No. 14 Southern Oregon pulls out rollercoaster win over No. 11 Eastern Oregon Revamped Raider Stadium ready for test drive Oregon State's Mannion keeps adding new milestones Opinion Latest Stories SOU control shifts downstate Granlund cartoon: Rick Santorum is ready Our view: SOU reaches out to downtown Granlund cartoon: ISIS size and US intel Granlund cartoon: NFL offensive plays Editorial SOU control shifts downstate Our view: SOU reaches out to downtown Homecoming changes with the times Keep film ordinance simple Don’t ban smoking on the beach Letters Letters to the Editor, Sept. 29 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 26 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 25 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 22 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 20 Guest opinions Us versus them Remembering a very prominent local lady Remembering a simpler time in Ashland Fostering a culture of peace in Ashland Stuck on the sands of hesitation Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Local poets celebrate with a reading and a chapbook Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Camelot Theatre presents 'Spotlight on Johnny Mercer' John Reischman and the Jaybirds Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Theater Camelot Theatre presents 'Spotlight on Johnny Mercer' Southern Oregon hosts its Lunacy Theatre Festival Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon Freud v. Lewis: Intellectual heavyweights spar over life's big issues 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre Music Q&A: Nacosta Muscian's career spins back through Ashland Sean Hayes at the Armory Q&A: Rachael Miles John Reischman and the Jaybirds Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas New script for film ordinance sent back to rewrite Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' 'The Drop' hits all the marks Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Community Blog: Predicting Peace - Part 3 of 7 'SOU Loves Ashland' Unitarian Universalists welcome the Rev. Nan White Professional care a great help in dealing with dementia Kiwanis Club names new officers Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW SOU control shifts downstate ... Medford man pleads guilty to Ashland burglary, murder ... Sept. 30 Calendar ... SOU control shifts downstate ... Medford man pleads guilty to Ashland burglary, murder ... Sept. 30 Calendar ... MT. ASHLAND SKI AREA Ski survey gets heavy response Useage suggestions include improving the indoor explerience at the mountaintop complex By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 25, 2014 @ 4:52 pm Updated Sep 25, 2014 at 5:58 PM By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 25, 2014 @ 4:52 pm Updated Sep 25, 2014 at 5:58 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Mt. Ashland parking lot paving planned Wednesday • Recap of Mt. Ashland Ski Area survey • After a non-season, ski season passes back on sale • Mt. Ashland Ski Area names new general manager • Mt. Ashland Association seeks public input » Social News To no one’s surprise, 1,200 survey respondents said Mount Ashland Ski Area should have more runs, longer runs, more beginner-intermediate runs and faster lifts — but they lavished more attention on the indoors part of the mountain experience, calling for better food, a bigger bar, more gear storage and easier flow through the lodge. There was also considerable support for more after-school and youth programs as well as environmental education. For summertime, respondents liked the idea of mountain biking, organized hiking and concerts. These are the top desires in an unprecedented opinion poll of “Mount-A” fans, a poll taken to make sure the mountain is on track with what skiers and boarders want, after a disastrous non-season last year due to a lack of snow. The dry season led to a $750,000 loan from the Small Business Administration to make up for lost revenue. The mountain’s new general manager, Hiram Towle, said staff has taken the top four items in the survey as their “to do” list for the upcoming year — healthier and more varied food, more seating and storage in the lodge, a bigger bar with longer hours and an enhanced culture of guest services where every contact leaves people feeling it’s been “as memorable and fun as possible.” Many respondents implored Mt. Ashland to stay within budget when it does improvements so that, above all, the ski area survives as it gets back on its feet again. “Our belt is as tight as it can be,” said Chris Cook, community outreach coordinator and a Mt. Ashland board member, adding that her takeaway from the survey is that, “People really care about Mount Ashland. We had so many people write ‘we really love you’ and need you for the area’s recreation and economy.” In surveying people, Mt. Ashland gave open-ended, not multiple choice questions, resulting in scores of opinions and low percentages in most categories. It sampled both “internal” (those on the mountain’s email list) and “externals,” who did the survey by any other means. The internals were much more devoted to the mountain and bought many more season passes. Combining all groups, more, bigger and longer runs was favored by 12 percent, more beginner and intermediate runs by 11 percent and faster, upgraded lifts by 11 percent. With the lodge, 33 percent want an "upgrade-remodel," 16 percent called for more seating and tables, and 9 percent want the lodge bigger, with better crowd control. Healthier food got a 53 percent positive response, faster service clocked in at 12 percent and "more selection" tallied 8 percent. A bigger bar got backing from 25 percent of respondents, while 9 percent favored more staff and a heated, covered outdoor deck. Sampling “internal” respondents about why they bought season passes, the most postive responses fell into the categories of "love to ski," "support Mt. Ashland" and "value-convenience." Sampling non-purchasers of season passes, the reasons fell into the categories of: poor weather, not open, moved, don’t ski enough and angry that pass holders weren’t refunded after last year’s non-season (they were allowed to buy half-price passes for the upcoming season). Mt. Ashland’s pinched financial position means that any capital improvements or new runs or lifts are a long way in the future, said Towle. Staff is seeking to improve beginner-intermediate runs through grooming, he said, and has already re-graded Sonnet lift (the “bunny slope” beside the lodge) to make it more even and easy. “We’re not adding any new lifts at this time,” notes Cook. “We don’t have $3 million, so we’re looking at doing it with grooming.” Some lifts have “been around a long time” and will be placed in 5-, 10-, and 15-year capital plans for upgrade, said Towle. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 25, 2014 @ 4:52 pm Updated Sep 25, 2014 at 5:58 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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