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HAZE Temp: 54 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Friday, January 31, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 6, 2003 Mount Shasta looms behind a group of snowboarders taking a food break above the Mount Ashland ski area parking lot on Sunday. Sunny skies brought large numbers of skiers and snowboarders to the resort on Sunday. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Clear day draws skiers, snowboarders Even an icy crust formed during a Saturday warm front fails to dampen the Mount Ashland faithful By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Sunday was the kind of day that always draws a crowd to Mount Ashland — plenty of snow, blue skies, abundant sunshine, gentle breezes and not a cloud in sight. Skiers and snowboarders flocked to the mountain to take advantage of one of the few "bluebird" days since the ski area opened Dec. 19. Parking lots filled early as eager snow riders hurried to enjoy a day of sunshine instead of the blizzards and rain that have pounded the ski area almost nonstop for three weeks. "People do come out when the sky is blue," said Heidi Jacobson of Medford, who came to the mountain to teach her children to ski. Late-comers had to park their cars along the access road and hike half a mile to the lodge on the final day of the two-week school holiday that often accounts for as much as one-quarter of the ski area’s income for the season. "I’m surprised the lines aren’t longer," said first-time skier Matt Arce of Central Point as he waited for a ride on the Sonnet chairlift. "On a beautiful day like this I figured there’d be even more people." Few snow riders seemed to mind a crust of ice atop the snow, formed Saturday after a warm front dropped rain atop the mountain’s early-season bounty. "It’s crispy," said Jennifer Beathe of Ashland as she rode the Comer chairlift. "It’s really crispy, but it’s a beautiful day." Marketing director Gene Landsmann, as pleased as anyone to see the sunshine, said he did not have attendance figures for the season to date, but he noted that adverse weather around the holidays is nothing new on Mount Ashland. "That’s what happens when you put a ski area on the edge of a mountain range on the margin of a continent," he said. "The winds come in after 5,000 miles on the ocean." At 7,533 feet, Mount Ashland is the highest point in the Siskiyou Mountains, the east-west range that connects the Coast Range with the Cascades. Storms often strike the mountain full force at the lodge and parking lot. Landsmann said one of the first big storms of the season blew a door off a shed that houses snow-grooming equipment, then blasted out a wall. Workers had to frame in a new wall and sheathe it with plywood while the wind howled. "Imagine trying to hold a piece of plywood in 70 mph winds," he said. "We had some real heroes out there working to keep the ski area open." A storm on New Year’s Eve dumped 30 inches of snow on the mountain, bringing down trees, cutting power lines and forcing managers to close the ski area on New Year’s Day. "There may have been bigger storms," he said, "but I don’t remember them." Road crews spent all day Jan. 1 clearing snow and fallen trees, and power crews worked to restore electricity to enable the ski area to reopen Jan. 2. Landsmann said the closure marked the third time in five years that severe weather and storm-related power outages have forced the ski area to close around Jan. 1. Winds also forced closure of the popular Ariel chairlift several times during the holidays, and blizzard conditions forced cancellation of night skiing during the first week of Christmas break. Many skiers and snowboarders came to the mountain anyway, knowing that some of the best snow can be found during the worst weather. "I was up last Sunday and it was really stormy but the snow was so good," said Tess Golling, a freshman at Ashland High School. "This is the most snow we’ve had in so long. It’s exciting." "I got in four good days," said Mort Gossett of Eagle Point, as he waited for another ride up the Windsor chairlift. He and others had to wait longer than usual Sunday when a power problem briefly stopped the chair, then caused it to run much slower than usual. "It’s better than no skiing at all. It’ll be much better tomorrow," he said, with a tone that suggested he’ll still be skiing when kids return to school and working stiffs go back to their jobs. As winter settles in, the ski area will start two programs this week to encourage people to visit in midweek. Lift tickets cost just $17 on Tuesdays, starting this week and continuing for the duration of the season. Free ski and snowboard lessons will be offered for adults age 18 and over at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. Saturday’s rain condensed the snowpack a bit, but Mount Ashland still had more snow than most Oregon ski areas, with more than 8 feet around the lodge and more than 11 feet near the summit. Landsmann said the deep base bodes well for the balance of the season, which continues through the second Sunday in April — snow permitting. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S