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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 28, 2004 Skiers rejoice; motorists fume New snow closed Interstate 5 in California for a few hours Monday while Mount Ashland ski buffs celebrated the white stuff By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Skiers and snowboarders reveled in new snow on Mount Ashland Monday, but motorists in California had more of it than they knew what to do with. Heavy snow along Interstate 5 forced California officials to close the road to northbound traffic at Redding early Monday, but traffic was moving again by noon, and by 4:30 p.m. there were no chain requirements in either direction. The storm gave the Mount Ashland ski area reason to celebrate at the start of what can be the busiest week of the season — if there’s enough snow. There had been no new snow on Mount Ashland since the ski area opened Dec. 10. "People were feeling like we got our mojo back," said marketing director Rick Saul. Advertisement California state police had to escort motorists along Interstate 5 when runoff water covered parts of the highway. Debris blocked culverts, causing water to flow onto the pavement, said Denise Yergenson, of CalTrans, the state transportation department. "There’s so much water," she said. Yergenson said many motorists abandoned their cars along the freeway near Dunsmuir when they became mired in the snow. Saul said Monday was the Mount Ashland ski area’s biggest day of the young season. Both parking lots were full and some vehicles had to be parked along the road at the ski area entrance. He estimated some 1,500 skiers and snowboarders braved gusty winds, overcast skies and snow flurries to enjoy 18 inches of fresh snow. "The atmosphere was pretty festive," he said. Ski areas often draw large crowds during the Christmas holidays. Some earn as much as 20 percent of their annual income during the two-week period when schools are closed. Workers at the Mount Shasta ski area struggled to keep up with more than 40 inches of new snow that had fallen since Sunday. Grooming machines that prepare the snow surface had to work slowly in the soft, deep snow, and many runs were not groomed. Freeway closures also kept some skiers and snowboarders away from the Mount Shasta ski area. Road conditions were expected to improve steadily today, but forecasters said another storm could bring more snow as soon as Wednesday and cold wet weather could continue into the New Year’s weekend. Forecasters were expecting snow levels to drop as low as 2,500 feet Wednesday night in the Rogue Valley and Northern California. If the forecast snow levels hold true, Medford (elevation 1,335 feet) will be wet, and Yreka (2,625 feet) will be white. Reporter Meg Landers contributed to this story. Reach reporter Bill Kettlerat 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers