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Drifts and cheers on mountain Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Southern Oregon University students, from left, Garret Kouach, Graham Hafele and Ivan Piesh display their excitement at reaching the top of the ski lift on Mount Ashland's opening day Friday. With nearly 4 feet of snow on opening day, a few glitches can't dampen spirits on Mount Ashland By BILL KETTLER A chairlift took sick and some ski trails were hard to reach, but smiles flashed all over Mount Ashland Friday. Skiers and snowboarders found more snow on opening day - 44 inches - than they saw during most of the dry and rocky winter of 2000-01. The volume alone made everyone smile, but the snow was cold and dry to boot - ideal for skiing and boarding. "I don't ever remember having this kind of snow on opening day," said Randy Warren of Ashland, a Mount Ashland regular since the ski area opened in 1963. "It's fabulous." Warren's son, Stuart, an Ashland High School junior, didn't need to play hooky to join his dad on the mountain. High-school students were excused from school Friday for parent conference day. Students helped swell the opening-day crowd to about 700 people despite limited chairlift service, overcast skies and icy roads. While the snow couldn't have been better, skiers and boarders couldn't reach many of the mountain's 23 trails. An electric-motor problem forced closure of the Windsor chairlift, blocking access to many trails, and trails served by the Ariel chairlift were closed until late in the day while grooming crews worked to prepare a smooth, even ski surface. "There's 8- to 10-foot drifts up there," said ski patroller Eric Peterson. "It hit us hard and fast." Peterson said Ski Ashland employees were nearly stranded on the mountain Wednesday when a storm dumped 22 inches of snow and blew deep drifts across the Mount Ashland access road. Snowplows cleared a narrow path and employees drove down the mountain before fierce winds buried the road under new drifts. With the Windsor chairlift down, skiers had to use some ingenuity to reach the Ariel chairlift when it finally opened. Skiers had to pick their way diagonally across the face of the mountain to reach the Ariel chairlift. Normally, skiers ride the Windsor chair and then ski down one of several trails to reach Ariel. Mountain manager Jeff Hanson said an electronic speed regulator failed late Thursday in the motor that drives the Windsor chairlift. The motor had run perfectly for a week of preseason tests. At dusk, marketing director Gene Landsmann said it was unclear whether the Windsor chairlift would run today. The Ski Ashland snow phone (482-2754) will have information about the Windsor chairlift's status. Ski Ashland managers reduced lift ticket prices to $16 Friday to compensate for the diminished chairlift service. Landsmann said lift-ticket prices will return to the regular $29 daily fee today. Minor problems surfaced around the ski area during the morning as dozens of new staff members started their first day on the job. Cooks and cashiers in the kitchen were especially busy as Mount Ashland started cooking its own food after years of hiring outside companies to prepare meals and snacks. "We're still trying to figure out where everything's situated," said cashier Asylan Valko. The early-morning problems didn't surprise Randy Warren, who has worked several seasons on the mountain. "Opening day is always a nightmare," he said. "Everything gets checked and double-checked before opening day, but the real test is when the crowd shows up. It's like any business, but you have thousands of anxious people." The deep, early-season snow gives the community-owned ski area a strong start for a profitable year, said Ron Roth, a member of the ski area's board of directors. "To have this kind of snow in November is incredible," Roth said. "To not have winter two years in a row would cause some problems." Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.