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Snow edges ski season closer With 16 inches of snow on the ground at Mount Ashland and another 8 inches expected by the end of today, it's beginning to look a lot like ski season. "I'm not trying to spread rumors, but we are having our training days advance to next weekend," said marketing director Gene Landsmann. National Weather Service metereologist Dennis Gettman said Mother Nature appeared willing to cooperate with eager skiers and snowboarders on Monday night. "It's not going to be coming down in huge amounts, but it looks like it's going to begin right around midnight," he said. "It'll be pretty much steady through the day. Even if it's light, I think we'd pick up at least eight inches." Depending on moisture content, Mount Ashland can open with as little as 24 inches, and twice in the ski resort's 35-year history the season has begun on Nov. 14. That record opening won't be repeated this year, Landsmann said, because that's the day 130 employees turn out for training to learn the winter recreation ropes. But given enough snow and trained employees, Mount Ashland needs only 48-hour notice to get the lifts running. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA