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40 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 28, 2004 Randy Shepard of Talent moves piles of snow on the slopes of Mount Ashland between the lodge and ski rental shack. With more than a foot of snow in places, it�s a good start but no promise of an early opening. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Snowy Mount Ashland But don’t grab your boards just yet By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune There’s snow on Mount Ashland, but that’s no reason for skiers and snowboarders to drag their gear out of the garage. It’s only October, after all, and old hands on the mountain know that October snow rarely translates into November skiing. Southern Oregon often gets a taste of winter in late October, but more often than not the snow melts in early November — and sometimes it doesn’t return until after Thanksgiving. "This (early snow) is nothing new," said Rick Saul, Mount Ashland’s marketing director. Saul said there was as much as 18 inches of snow on the mountain Wednesday in some spots — and no more than a skiff in other places, especially those exposed to wind. Advertisement "It all depends on where you are," he said. Every year ski area managers optimistically plan their season to open on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but everything depends on whether there’s 3 feet of snow to cover the rocky obstacles that dot the mountain’s ski trails. More often than not, they have to adjust their plans. In the ski area’s 40-year history, only 15 seasons have started in November. The last time that happened was in 1994. The average opening day is Dec. 10 — still six weeks away. Saul recalled that early snow two years ago raised hopes for a Thanksgiving opening, but the weather turned mild and the ski area had to wait until Dec. 15 to open. Last year, opening day came on Dec. 12. Abundant rain and cool temperatures in October have raised hopes for an early opening again this year. Through Wednesday, the Medford airport had 2.8 inches of rain for the month, more than twice the average monthly total of 1.31 inches. Medford has not seen such a wet October since 1979, when 3.98 inches of rain fell during the month. October’s abundant rainfall fits right into state climatologist George Taylor’s forecast for the winter. In August, Taylor predicted the first half of the season (October through December) would be somewhat wetter and cooler than average. Taylor’s prediction for the second half of winter calls for warmer- and wetter-than-normal weather in January, February and March. Taylor bases his forecast on patterns that have occurred in other years, and so far 1994 best matches what he’s been seeing this year. That could be a good omen for skiers, snowboarders and sledders. Southern Oregon had meager rain in October that year, but nearly 5 inches of rain fell in November and the ski season opened on Nov. 16, its earliest start ever. (Nov. 16 was also opening day in 1984.) In Northern California, conditions also look promising on Mount Shasta. The Mount Shasta Board & Ski Park had 18 inches of snow at the lodge Wednesday and 2 feet or more at higher elevations, marketing director Gene Landsmann said. Landsmann, who retired as Mount Ashland’s marketing director in 2003, stepped in to run the marketing program at Mount Shasta this year. He said the Mount Shasta ski area has opened for Thanksgiving only once in its 19-year history. Landsmann said the weather pattern so far is encouraging, but there’s nothing to do but watch and wait for what comes. "It’s all very irregular," he said. "There’s no pattern." Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers