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Storms should bring ski area openings By Tony Boom Updated: Nov 30, 2022 02:17 PM A A Chelsea Boeggeman, of Medford, cheers for Theodore Mecham, 5, as he makes his way down slopes at Mt. Ashland. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune file photo] A winter storm predicted to hit the region Wednesday and Thursday — along with more snowy weather over the next week — should bring enough of the white stuff for the region’s ski areas to soon begin operations for the 2022-23 season. Predicted snowfall should lead to the opening of Mt. Ashland Saturday, Dec. 10, its first scheduled day, said Curt Burrill, president of the Mt. Ashland Association board of directors. “I’m being told I think we can look at opening on Dec. 10. I don’t foresee us opening any sooner than that,” said Burrill. “It looks like there is going to enough snow over the next 10 days so we have enough to open.” Mt. Ashland has employee orientations scheduled for this weekend. For the most part the area has all the hires it needs, said Burrill. A weather forecast on the Mt. Ashland website predicts 14 to 24 inches falling between Wednesday and Friday morning. Another 6 to 10 inches is predicted for Friday night. The area’s webcams showed snow coverage on most of the terrain Wednesday morning. Mt. Shasta Ski Park appears headed for even higher totals with 28 to 38 inches predicted on the ski area’s website weather page for Wednesday and Thursday. Snow is also predicted for Saturday through Monday. “We do not have a current opening date set. It will depend on how these next few storms work out. We hope to have a date to announce soon,” Mt. Shasta Marketing Director Grace Hornbeak wrote in an email. “Overall, we are really excited for this season and cannot wait to get everyone back up here — fingers crossed for a good snow year.” The biggest improvement for the coming ski season at Mt. Ashland is the addition of an enclosed magic carpet on the area’s beginner’s slope. A fundraising campaign led to installation of the device, which is 150 feet long and allows novice skiers to ride in comfort up the slopes while standing on a moving belt, a more convenient mode compared with the previous rope tow. There will be other improvements for guests beside the magic carpet, said Burrill. Among them are more options to sign up and pay for services before arriving at the mountain. That will include reserving rental skis, snowboards and associated equipment, much of which has been updated. “That will hopefully allow us to process rentals quicker,” said Burrill. “All that can be done at the website. You can also prepurchase tickets.” Preseason spring and fall pass sales hit budgeted targets, he said. “A new food service manager will be turning out some different food options than we have had in the past,” said Burrill. “We are also working with an online ordering app to allow people to place a food order on the mountain and have it ready so they can pick it up in the lodge.” On the mountain, more snow fences have been installed at the top of the Ariel chair to help retain snow on the area’s higher runs. “Our infrastructure work behind the scene continued off season,” said Burrill. “We are constantly trying to improve and maintain what we have.” Another major change will be in leadership, when Andrew Gast becomes general manager Dec. 21. He succeeds Hiram Towle, who left this fall to become general manager at the Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Montana. Gast has been administration and finance director for Southern Oregon University Advancement and the SOU Foundation since 2017. He had previously worked in the ski industry in several positions. Guest Services Manager Emily Parish and Mountain Operations Manager Doug Volk have led the Mt. Ashland team during the interim period. Burrill praised the great work done by the current employees who stepped up to have the area ready for the season. Missing this year will be the free shuttle bus operation from Ashland. The board decided to drop the option due to maintenance issues, but its return in the future is a possibility, said Burrill. A new lift at Mt. Shasta will increase the area’s vertical drop to 2,036 feet and provide 211 acres of new skiing with six intermediate or advanced trails. There are now 635 acres of skiable terrain. The new Gray Butte lift also will open access to 250 acres of backcountry skiing outside the ski area boundary. The resort constructed the lift over the summer after gaining approval from Siskiyou County. The lift will feature quad seating with 119 chairs that rise from a base elevation of 6,400 feet to 7,500 feet at the top in 10 minutes. Coyote Butte, at 6,880 feet, was the former high point for the area. The base area is located at 5,500 feet. A 3-mile-long run, the mountains’s longest, will be created with skiers able to go from the top of Gray Butte to the base area. Besides the new lift, Mt. Shasta also has replaced 70% of its rental gear fleet of ski and snowboard equipment. More details can be found for the resorts at mtashland.com and skipark.com. Reach Ashland freelance reporter Tony Boom at [email protected].