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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 13, 2006 Click image for larger view Mount Ashland rises above the hills over Ashland during a break in the weather Tuesday. More snow is expected later this week. (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) Oh, say can you ski? Mount Ashland ski area will open Friday; catch a ride to the runs on a luxury coach By John Darling for the Mail Tribune With a 30- to 35-inch base and 10 inches of new snow, Mount Ashland will open its season Friday. And big storms lined up off the coast promise to add significant new snowfall over the weekend. "Mount-A" will operate Sonnet, Comer and Windsor lifts Friday and, if it can clean up a snow fence that was blown away in high winds, it may open Ariel, the area's highest lift, Friday or Saturday, said ski area marketing director Rick Saul. The National Weather Service forecast includes a strong chance of precipitation every day through early next week, with the heaviest falling by Friday and a blast of cold air arriving Saturday to lower snow levels possibly to the valley floor. Mount Ashland boasts a new Prinoth tracked snow vehicle that is able to claw up steeper terrain and a Bombardier model that can winch itself to trees and lower itself down steep areas, thus grooming previously inaccessible areas on Tempest, Pistol and Bottom, Saul said. "Those are the areas the public would love to have access to — and they haven't been in the grooming rotation in the past. They won't just be a lot of moguls this year." Advertisement A study of long-range weather patterns indicates this season may be characterized by "El Niño type weather" similar to the 2003-04 season, where it was wetter, with "big events" like the downpour in early November, said Saul. Such events can dump up to 25 inches on Mount Ashland, "which actually helps build snow base because it adheres to itself better than if it were dry snow." Projections indicate "a freezing level that goes up and down. Last year's was cold, peaking at 130 inches, probably more than we'll get this year." "It's going to be wetter than last year's awesome, dry days and we'll have plentiful snowfall," he said. The ski area's old-school ski buses have been replaced this year by modern, luxury coaches, offering round trips from Medford, Talent and Ashland for $10. They run daily through the holiday season. See www.mtashland.com for a schedule. The lodge's cafeteria and bar are in operation as is the rental and tune-up shop. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com