Mail Tribune News - History of skiing on Mount Ashland

Document text

History of skiing on Mount Ashland Winter recreation atop Mount Ashland began early in the 20th century with a few hardy souls hiking up from Ashland. Here is a rough timeline following the tracks of those individuals to the present expansion debate: 1950s -- Dan Bulkley, a Southern Oregon College professor, uses pickup trucks to take students up to Mount Ashland. Early 1960s -- Corporation forms to build ski area. 1963 -- Construction starts on the present Ski Ashland resort. Access via the Ashland Loop Road features one-way traffic up the mountain in the morning and one-way traffic down in the afternoon. 1965 -- Mount Ashland access road completed. Late 1960s -- First proposal made to expand ski area into current planned expansion site. 1974 -- College becomes majority stockholder and operates the ski area with a board of directors. 1977 -- Grants Pass resident Dick Hicks purchases the ski area. Hicks installs Windsor lift and begins operating seven days a week during the season. 1983 -- Stevens Pass purchases the ski area, adding night lighting and a new vehicle shop; begins laying groundwork for future expansion. 1984 -- Forest Service determines the 9,500-acre McDonald Peak roadless area between Ashland Creek and Wagner Creek does not merit wilderness designation under the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984. 1985-91 -- Expansion planning culminates in a 1991 decision by the Forest Service to allow expansion, albeit smaller than desired by Stevens Pass. 1991 -- Forest Service approves a proposal by the Mount Ashland Ski Association to expand a portion of the ski area. February 1991 -- Ski area is offered for sale following two consecutive poor snow seasons and frustration with planning process. Spring 1992 -- Community fund-raising campaign raises $1.7 million to buy and operate ski area. July 1992 -- Mount Ashland Association donates assets to city of Ashland, which becomes the permit holder. It agrees to a 25-year lease to association for $1 annually. March 1998 -- Ski association makes new expansion proposal to the Forest Service. December 1998 -- Association amends expansion proposal. Feb. 10, 2000 -- Forest Service releases draft environmental impact statement on proposed expansion. May 4, 2000 -- Deadline for public comment on Forest Service draft EIS. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA