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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Camelot names Rains interim artistic director ... Accused of buying meth, Shane Hagey no longer is Community Justice chief ... Successful Mt. Ashland season could be extended ... Camelot names Rains interim artistic director ... Accused of buying meth, Shane Hagey no longer is Community Justice chief ... Successful Mt. Ashland season could be extended ... Successful Mt. Ashland season could be extended By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 30, 2016 @ 3:46 pm Updated at 4:57 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 30, 2016 @ 3:46 pm Updated at 4:57 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Mt. Ashland Ski Area could extend its 2015-16 season by one more weekend — depending on turnout. Ski area officials said they planned to end the season April 9-10, but if at least 2,000 skiers hit the slopes that weekend, Mt. Ashland will stay open through April 16-17. "And there's a pretty good chance," said Mt. Ashland Manager Hiram Towle. "We're feeling pretty confident." Activity on the slopes this winter was far busier than the past two seasons. As of Saturday, about 63,000 skiers and snowboarders had hit the mountain since opening day in mid-December. That's still a bit below the seasonal average of 70,000, though that average extends back 35 years and included seasons in which the slopes were open seven days a week, Towle said. "There were 100,000-skier visits ... in the past," he said. "We're rebuilding at this point. After two difficult years, coming close to your three-year average is pretty darn good." The uptick was good news for a facility that costs about $8,600 a day to operate. The ski area didn't open at all in 2013-14 because of lack of snow, which necessitated a $750,000 Small Business Administration disaster loan to stay afloat. That was followed by just 38 open days during another dry winter in 2014-15, including a monthlong closure in January that resulted in layoffs. This year brought more than 22 feet of snow on the mountain, according to Mt. Ashland's website. "That's definitely above average," Towle said. "We've had great powder days and great weather. No complaints all the way around." The mountain lost four or five days this year from severe weather, such as high winds that pushed lift chairs so far they almost made contact with lift towers, along with a facilitywide power outage. Other than that, the mountain was open for business. "We don't close for convenience. We close for hazards," Towle said. "That's just par for the course for the ski industry. Sometimes Mother Nature just takes over." Mountain officials said the season also was bolstered by after-school youth skiing programs. Towle said the programs drew more than 1,000 students, which was the nonprofit's goal on opening day. Whether the skiing stops April 10 or April 17, mountain officials are already looking ahead to new projects they hope to start over the summer, including updates to the lodge and work on some runs. Details about those projects, as well as information about how the ski area fared financially, are forthcoming. "Everybody's sad to see the end of the season," Towle said. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 30, 2016 @ 3:46 pm Updated at 4:57 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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