Document text
51 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, April 5, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend March 15, 2004 Since you asked Ski area grew from rope-tow beginning I’m a relatively new arrival here in Southern Oregon and I love to ski, so I’m delighted to have Mount Ashland so close to home. But I don’t understand why the lodge and the parking lot were built in what must be the most exposed site on the whole mountain. How was that site chosen? — Mark T., Central Point Some would call that decision a good example of the power of inertia, Mark. Skiers are celebrating 40 years of fun on the mountain this winter. (Snowboarders came to the party only during the last 10 years or so.) Back in the 1950s and ’60s, when downhill skiing was catching on all over North America, a few hardy skiers in Southern Oregon hauled a portable rope tow to places where they could ski. One year they set up their equipment in a natural clearing on the east flank of Mount Ashland, the highest peak in the Siskiyous. Skiers loved the view — they could look south and see Mount Shasta, and look east and north to see the whole snowy Cascade range — Mount McLoughlin, Mount Scott, Mount Thielsen, Mount Bailey. When a critical mass of people and money coalesced around building a ski area, Mount Ashland got the nod. Maybe somebody should have wondered why that site had so little vegetation, but people did things differently back then. Advertisement With 40 years of hindsight, maybe we would do things differently today, but you’ve got to admit that on those blue-sky days, it’s still a fabulous place to ski. Stormy days aren’t so bad, either, if you can just survive the parking lot. Winter storms usually blow in from the southwest, and the mass of the mountain often provides some shelter against the storms once you get over on the Tempest and Winter ski trails. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times