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Mt. Ashland to end 2017-18 season this weekend By Ryan Pfeil Posted Apr 20, 2018 at 4:01 PM Updated Apr 20, 2018 at 4:55 PM Skiers ride the Sonnet chair lift the morning of Mt. Ashland’s reopening in February. ▲ Skiers ride the Sonnet chair lift the morning of Mt. Ashland’s reopening in February. ▲ --> Skiers and snowboarders can make their final runs of the 2017-18 season at the Mt. Ashland Ski Area this weekend. The ski park will be open through Sunday, April 22, concluding as spring temperatures arrive. High temperatures on the mountain are expected to reach the mid- to high-40s Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The mercury is then supposed to make a leap next week, with highs in the mid to upper 50s and mostly sunny skies. Down in valleys west of the Cascades, including Medford, temperatures are expected to hit the low to mid 80s — about 15 to 20 degrees above normal — by the end of next week. And the chances of another Oregon Spring Fakeout are looking pretty slim. "It does appear we're taking a definitive turn toward warmer spring weather," meteorologist Brett Lutz said. This upcoming pattern of shirt-sleeve weather is expected to endure through at least the middle of May. Which is why Mt. Ashland officials believe this weekend is a perfect time to drop the curtain on the 2017-18 ski show. "The snow is great right now, and with the sunny skies and fresh snow received this week, we expect an amazing ... stretch to finish the season strong," Mt. Ashland General Manager Hiram Towle said in a prepared statement. "We need to go out in style, and this weekend looks to be much better than the next." On Sunday, the park will have been open 46 days during the season. The 2016-17 banner season, by comparison, saw the mountain open 90 days because of an abundance of snow. That said, the 23,457 visits recorded in March 2018 was nearly twice the 13,471 in March 2017. "That's larger than any single month last year, when we had a record year," Towle said. Ski area officials will celebrate the season's end with special $25 lift tickets. On Sunday, riders can hit the slopes for free if they bring at least five cans of food, which will be donated to ACCESS. "We hope to fill the place Saturday and Sunday," Towle said. "Our final hurrah." Reach web editor Ryan Pfeil at [email protected] or at 541-776-4468. Most Popular Overdose antidote to be given away Wednesday Apr 16 at 2:01 AM Makerspace coming to Central Point Apr 18 at 11:27 AM Update: Teen's name released in fatal crash Apr 16 at 10:16 AM Police: Cat killed during fight between couple Apr 19 at 6:36 PM Democrats in turmoil Apr 17 at 8:17 AM A long view of home Apr 19 at 6:56 PM Ashland magician Harry Anderson went on to TV success Apr 18 at 5:42 PM Medford School District proposes 33 new positions Apr 19 at 7:18 AM Johnson boogies to fast time in women's Pear win Apr 14 at 6:37 PM Grants Pass man to appear on 'American Murder Mystery' Apr 16 at 9:56 AM Airwaves auction means headaches for local TV Apr 17 at 8:16 AM Earl Winfield "Bud" Lininger Apr 15 at 2:00 AM © Copyright 2006-2018 Rosebud Media LLC. All rights reserved. Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com ~ P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501