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37 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 12, 2005 Since You Asked Slopes close when skiers move on to fun in the sun Every year the Mount Ashland ski area seems to close when the conditions seem good for staying open. This is especially obvious this year, when other areas are closed for lack of snow and we have an abundance. What gives? Insurance premiums? Seems like they could be making a lot more money by staying open as long as the snow allows. —A.W., Gold Hill What seems simple on the surface is often more complex, A.W. Insurance has nothing to do with Mount Ashland’s decision to close. It’s all about money. The folks who run the ski area have learned over the years that interest in skiing drops off after mid-April, especially among the folks who ski just a few times a year. When the casual skiers give up for the season, the sale of daily lift tickets slows to a trickle. Diehard skiers (and season-pass holders) would probably ski until June (or July!) if there were enough snow, but most of us would have long since been gardening, playing tennis, riding bikes and hiking. Serving those last few skiers costs more than it brings in. Years ago, Mount Ashland managers decided the logical solution was to schedule the season to end after the second weekend in April. There are logistical considerations, too. A ski area organizes its operating calendar months in advance. Even if Mount Ashland wanted to stay open for a few more weeks, it would be difficult. Many employees are hired to work a season of a specific length, and have already made other commitments. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Fasa Advertisement s