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Ski Ashland�s revenue, visits down by 20 percent By JOHN DARLING ASHLAND � When it closes three weeks early tomorrow because of low snowfall, Ski Ashland will have chalked up about 70,000 skier visits � some 20 percent below normal. Revenues are also expected to be off by about 20 percent, said area manager Jeff Hanson. No final revenue-expenditure figures will be available until the end of the fiscal year June 30. Ski Ashland will remain on sound financial footing, Hanson said. "All ski areas build it into their business plans that some years, maybe two in 10, won�t be as good as the others. The reserves go up and down (with the weather). It shouldn�t have any long-term effect. If you had two or more years like this in a row, that might be another story." This season�s revenue dip will not affect Ski Ashland�s planned expansion, which is still under study by the U.S. Forest Service. "That�s a long-term effort and will be done prudently, with development and fund-raising campaigns," he said. The 99-day 2000-2001 season compares with the shortest season of 70 days in 1992 and the longest of 154 days in 1995. This weekend closes Mount Ashland�s 37th season. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both today and Sunday. There are only 35 inches of snow on the ground for the last weekend, compared with 98 inches last year. Still, skiers should enjoy good spring skiing, he said. "There are good, wide lanes open, but you have to look a few turns ahead. You�ll have fun as long as you keep your eyes open." John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.