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Mount Ashland ski season closes There's time to get in a few runs today; it ends at 4 p.m. By MARK FREEMAN and BILL KETTLER ASHLAND -- The Mount Ashland ski area will close for the season at 4 p.m. today, but the winter of 1998-99 will be fondly remembered by skiers and snowboarders for years to come. Snow falling early and often allowed the publicly owned ski area to operate 153 days during the winter, just one day short of its longest season ever (1994-95). Ski Ashland managers expect final weekend crowds to boost total visitor days this season to 96,000 skiers and snowboarders, second only to the '94-'95 tally of 104,000 visitors. On average Ski Ashland's season lasts about 137 days, and visitor counts average about 60,000 skiers and snowboarders. Marketing director Gene Landsmann said starting the season before Thanksgiving provided a big boost. Ski Ashland opened Nov. 25 with a 58-inch base at the lodge and 73 inches at the summit. The average opening date is Dec. 10. Ample early-season snow and good weather during the Christmas holidays also helped push attendance toward record levels. Cold weather and ample snow made for excellent skiing conditions on many days, Landsmann said. "I would call it `Colorado in Oregon,"' he said. "We had powder snow all season long." Landsmann said stormy weather during the season probably kept some skiers at home and may have held attendance down slightly. He said some skiers choose to stay home when driving conditions deteriorate in stormy weather. By late in the season, snow depths had reached near-record levels, too. Landsmann said the maximum snow depth this season was 226 inches -- almost 19 feet -- on April 13. Veteran skiers said the big snows that made the big season transformed Mount Ashland into a different kind of playground this year. Medford skier John Burrill, who made about 80 trips to the mountain during the season, said an extra 10 feet of snow at times blocked out trees and transformed familiar runs. Weekends felt more crowded than ever before, Burrill said. The steady arrival of new storms made for plenty of soft powder, which slowed racers like Burrill, but put smiles on the faces of most downhillers. "For the sheer fun of the sport," Burrill said, "everyone enjoyed the powder." Income and earnings figures for the season won't be available until the fiscal year ends June 30. Landsmann said revenue projections for the season stood at about $2,019,000 late in the winter. The ski area could earn a surplus of $200,000 to $400,000 for the year, depending on late-season expenses. He said some unexpected expenses could surface when the ski area begins construction of its new sewage treatment plant during the summer. The new plant will replace an aging septic system under the ski area's parking lot. Plans to add new ski runs and a new chairlift are temporarily on hold while the Rogue River National Forest prepares an environmental impact statement on the expansion plan. Ashland District Ranger Linda Duffy said a draft of the document should be available for review in June. As a thank you to the skiers and snowboarders, the ski area will sell all lift tickets for $10 today and children 8 years and under can continue to ski for free. Skiers who can't stand to quit just yet can visit the Mount Shasta Board and Ski Park through May 2. Mount Bachelor near Bend will remain open into July. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA