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Mount Ashland opens today Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Sno-Cats were prowling the slopes of Mount Ashland on Saturday in preparation for today�s opening of the lower runs. The snow depth at the lodge was 26 inches, with 30 inches on top of the mountain as of Saturday afternoon; another 10 inches will be needed to open the upper trails. By Paul Fattig ASHLAND � The 2000-2001 ski and snowboard season opens atop Mount Ashland this morning with a bit of a rocky start. "You can see a couple of rocks � they are pretty obvious," said Jeff Hanson, assistant general manager for city-owned Ski Ashland, as he looked at the Comer run near the lodge. "But most of the run is nicely covered and in great shape," he added. "There is a good variety of terrain for people to ski on." What�s more, Hanson was making the observations on Saturday as the sky was darkening. The snow depth at the lodge was 26 inches, with 30 inches on top of the mountain. The plan is to begin operating the Comer and Sonnet chairlifts this morning with the higher runs to begin operating as soon as the weather warranted. That could even be later today, providing enough snow fell overnight, Hanson said. "We�ll open more runs as quickly as we can," Hanson said, adding, "One good storm can open everything." The average opening day for the ski area for the past 35 years is Dec. 10. "We are opening at about our normal time," he said. "But we�re opening with a little less snow than we�d like." As of Saturday, another 10 inches of snow was needed to open the upper runs, he said. "We�re pretty close now, but not enough to invite people out there (upper slopes) to safely enjoy it," he said. "We�d love to have four feet of snow and open the whole hill. "But we�re pretty similar to a lot of ski resorts in Oregon now," he added. "A few have been partially open, but the resorts up north are just now getting fully opened." The two lower lifts will be operating from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Night skiing has yet to start. A lower lift ticket is $20; a regular lift ticket will be $27. Saturday found the Ski Ashland employees grooming the ski area for opening day. Skiers and snowboarders will find several changes in Ski Ashland this season, Hanson said. The beginner lift � Sonnet � will be operating for free this season, he said. "The idea is that it will make it easier for people to afford to come up and get a lesson," he said. "We know it takes a little bit to get going. We want to make it more affordable to get into the sport. "For someone just learning the sports of skiing or snowboard, this is a good opportunity to come up and learn and get started," he added. The retail shop that had occupied a small building adjacent to the parking lot has been moved into the main lodge. The technical shop has been expanded. There will also be full food service in the lodge bar on weekends and holidays this season. Once there is about five feet of snow on the ground a "half pipe grinder" for snowboarders will be available. "Snowboarders have been clamoring for that," Hanson said, adding that use at Ski Ashland is evenly split between skiers and snowboarders. There are 28 race events at Ski Ashland this season, both skiing and snowboarding. "Our community calendar is more packed than ever," Hanson said. "We�ve got more groups coming up here than ever before." That activity starts in January and continues until April. The state high school alpine ski championship will be held on the mountain in March. Hanson, who has been working atop Mount Ashland for more than 20 winters, expects a good snow year. "Those high clouds indicate a high wind aloft," Hanson said Saturday. "The clouds are starting to come in now. The storm is on its way. All we can do is prepare and let Mother Nature do her job." Ashland resident Joel Hodge, one of a handful of skiers and snowboarders checking out the ski area Saturday, isn�t worried. He has been skiing each winter on Mount Ashland for 27 years. "There are more storms coming," said Hodge, an orthodontist when he isn�t on the slopes. "I�m optimistic." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.