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Photo by Andy Atkinson A pair of snowboarders unload from the Sonnet chairlift Sunday afternoon at Mount Ashland, where the sun has brought springtime skiing conditions in January. A plentiful snowpack deposited in December has meant ideal conditions for snow sports. Sun cheers snow visitors Ski Ashland hopes for a bit of freshening By DAVID PRESZLER Don't let the fog fool you, the sun is shining at Mount Ashland. And thanks to big snow deposits from early winter storms, the ski season is thriving despite the fact that it's been weeks since any significant new snow fell. While the sunshine -- and snow -- last, skiers and snowboarders are soaking it up in temperatures that are often higher than those on the valley floor because of inversion layers and fog. "We want more snow but we'll take these days anytime," said Medford's Phil Alger, who's already made 10-15 trips to Mt. Ashland this year. "We don't usually get this kind of sunshine in the winter," said Dr. Peter Bogard of Grants Pass. "I'd rate this a much-better-than-average year. We've been here five years and this has been the best. There really hasn't been a bad day." The lack of new snow can make for icy conditions, a problem ski officials try to counter by grooming many runs nightly. Bogard said he's been sure to keep his ski edges sharpened so he can dig into the icy spots but that officials have done a good job grooming most runs. "If it's not groomed it's icy, but anything they've groomed is nice," he said Sunday afternoon as he and his wife Wendy packed up to head home after their 10th trip to the mountain this year. Skiers and snowboarders said there's plenty of snow almost everywhere but some are ready for a burst of new stuff to freshen things up. "It's pretty icy and slushy," said snowboarder Kellie Jones of Ashland as she finished up around 2 p.m. "It's OK until about now. "It started off being a really good year -- we just need more snow." "We need new snow but the groomed snow will last another month," said Ashland snowboarder Mike Zane, who said he's at the ski area daily. Though showers are forecast late today, National Weather Service officials said the mountain probably won't see any snowfall until later in the week. There were 56 inches of snow at the base on Sunday morning and 88 on top. Despite the dry spell and last year's El Nino-induced wet winter, those figures are actually up from Jan. 10 a year ago when 55 inches were reported at the base and 73 on top. Though any long stretch without new snow can make officials edgy, the strong base has kept Ski Ashland chugging right along -- so far. "The snow is holding up pretty good," said Glenn Menzie, the ski area's general manager. "We're like farmers and when the snow comes early it helps us out." The November and early December snowfalls were wet enough to provide a good base, and another batch fell a week before Christmas. But the last day any new snow was reported was Dec. 31, when two inches fell. The recent clear skies may not have added much to it, but the freezing overnight temperatures that come with them have helped preserve the snow pack. "It freezes overnight, so you aren't losing as much as you think," said Gene Landsmann, Ski Ashland's marketing director. "What's up there isn't going anywhere," agrees Bob Mathews of Medford Rogue Ski Shop. "It's freezing solid every night." The northern exposure of the ski area is in the shade by early afternoon, another factor that keeps the runs covered. Landsmann said the early snow help push season ticket sales into record territory and the recent batch of good weather helped make for a busy holiday season. "We were really able to put a good foot forward," said Landsmann, noting that other ski areas haven't fared as well in the snow department. "You want just enough snow and good accessibility. It's not a record year, but it's been an excellent year." Though the minor snow drought could become more pressing if nothing falls for a few more weeks, ski officials point out that this time of year is often drier than you'd expect. "You always have to have enough snow to get through late December and early January," said Menzie. As Landsmann put it: "It's normal that we have winter in March and spring in January." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA