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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW From the council: City's responsible budgeting yields benefits ... Two wheels to freedom: Phoenix camp helps kids with disabilities learn to ride ... Rocker's old house vaults Williams into the spotlight ... From the council: City's responsible budgeting yields benefits ... Two wheels to freedom: Phoenix camp helps kids with disabilities learn to ride ... Rocker's old house vaults Williams into the spotlight ... SKI SEASON Mt. Ashland taking it "day by day" Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 22, 2014 at 11:57 AM Updated Dec 22, 2014 at 12:01 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 22, 2014 at 11:57 AM Updated Dec 22, 2014 at 12:01 PM » Social News ASHLAND — A snow-melting downpour and warmer temperatures forced the Mt. Ashland Ski Area to temporarily close its lifts two days after it opened for the season and evaluate its reopening date day by day. The park was open Friday and Saturday but closed Sunday and Monday and likely will remain closed Tuesday. Mt. Ashland officials said the hillsides last week had a 22-inch depth, about 4 inches more than needed for a solid snowpack layer. But weekend rains melted 5 inches of it, leaving park employees hoping for a white Christmas weather officials say may be inbound Wednesday. "Until that time, we're going to just keep evaluating day by day," said General Manager Hiram Towle. "Hourly, if you're me. "We could really use some fresh snow on top of the surface that we have." Ski area officials also are waiting for rainwater to finish draining and absorbing into the ground so they can get grooming equipment back out on the snow. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service reported a system is expected to hit the Oregon Coast and push inland Wednesday afternoon. Between 3 and 7 inches of new snow is expected to fall on the hillsides by Christmas Day, with snow levels potentially dropping as low as 2,500 feet. Mt. Ashland opened for the season on a limited basis at 9 a.m. Friday. Towle said by the end of the day Saturday, 594 skiers and snowboarders had hit the slopes. "That's about a third of a really good midwinter weekend, but we figured with only having two lifts open and four runs, that was a really good turnout," Towle said. The ski area was unable to open during the 2013-14 season because of historically low snow levels on the mountain, the first time the park's slopes went untrod by skis and boards in 50 years. "They didn't even get an entire foot of snow up on the mountain before they made the decision to close in March," Towle said. With rain and river levels subsiding and snow in the forecast, park officials and employees waiting in the wings are just hoping the rest of this season isn't a repeat. "We'll remain cautiously optimistic," Towle said. "We're going to focus on the things we can control." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 22, 2014 at 11:57 AM Updated Dec 22, 2014 at 12:01 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501