Recent snow, although still well below average, is expected to allow Mt. Ashland Ski Area to open on a limited basis Monday, Dec. 29. General manager Andrew Gast said plans to open the Sonnet chairlift were held back because of the lack of snow. As of Sunday, the mountain had only 16 inches.
Mt. Ashland Ski Area has postponed its opening due to a lack of snow, with officials saying at least 2½ feet is needed before slopes can be prepared. Other regional ski areas and even Crater Lake are also waiting for winter weather to arrive.
The inaugural Ashland Sarcasm Festival, organized by Storytown Ashland in partnership with Epic Ashland, was a big success, drawing more than 2,500 attendees and filling 12 downtown venues for more than 20 comedy shows.
Weekday ticket prices at Mt. Ashland Ski Area will drop by 23% in the coming season compared to 2024-25 as the nonprofit area looks to spread visitors away from peak-capacity days to improve the mountain experience. The Bumblebee Trail will be the first terrain added in four decades
A group of dedicated entrepreneurs have launched a “new and better” way for people to find out what’s going on in Ashland. They said at the official launch of the Storytown app Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the White Rabbit Clubhouse just off the Ashland Plaza that it’s something that has been sorely needed: something to provide access to cultural events and, in turn, create an economic boost to the town.
Ashland, long celebrated for its Shakespearean drama, is about to trade soliloquies for sarcasm. From Dec. 5 to 7, the city will host the inaugural Ashland Sarcasm Festival (ASF!), a comedy takeover designed to fill theaters, bars and restaurants with sharp wit, satire and laughter.
Time is getting short to see and experience Crater Lake up close. The Cleetwood Cove Trail, which provides the only access to the lake, is open but will be closing for up to three years for reconstruction.
This year’s Ashland Mystery Festival is scheduled to run Oct. 16 through 19, and will be headquartered at the Historic Ashland Armory.
A crowd of riders — some local and some from as far as the Bay Area and Northern Washington — came out to Mount Ashland on Saturday to celebrate the debut of Mt. A-Line, a 1-mile, machine-built jump trail boasting 50 jumps, a 40-foot gap and a beginner-friendly track. The project is being hailed as a potential game-changer for Ashland’s outdoor tourism.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association will host an opening party, barbecue, and ribbon cutting for “their most significant trail to date,” according to President Ryan Hawk. The association — funded by donors and fueled by volunteers — creates, maintains and supports hundreds of mountain bike trails from Grants Pass to Ashland.
Dennis Kendig: Give away tickets to Native individuals if you wish, but don’t make me sit through your self-serving announcements.
Herbert Rothschild: Those who wish to sanitize our history in the name of national pride tend to be the very ones who are perpetrating the present harms. For example, after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Republican legislators moved quickly to suppress once again Black participation in elections.
Ashland will open two severe weather shelters from Thursday, Jan. 15, through Sunday, Jan. 18, as cold temperatures are forecast. The facilities are located at 2200 and 2350 Ashland St., and open daily at 5 p.m.
About 25 Ashland Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers gathered for their monthly training session Wednesday at Fire Station 2 to learn the basics of fire extinguisher use. The training was held as part of CERT’s ongoing preparedness program, which focuses on giving volunteers practical tools to provide safe assistance during emergencies until better equipped responders arrive.
Ashland’s ice rink will remain closed this winter after a series of permitting and engineering setbacks forced the city to dismantle the rink. Parks officials told commissioners this week that most approvals are now complete, clearing the way for a reopening next winter.
Mt. Ashland Ski Area will pause operations indefinitely starting Thursday, Jan. 15, the nonprofit announced Wednesday, citing low snowpack, warm temperatures and no snowfall in the forecast. Officials say refunds will be issued for prepaid tickets, rentals and lessons, while uphill travel will remain open under seasonal rules.
(It’s free)
