Lodge to open for the first time in summer on Memorial Day weekend
By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news
The season for downhill skiing and snowboarding is over, but managers at Mt. Ashland Ski Area are preparing for snow-free summer months on the mountain.
“We’re going full speed ahead,” said Andrew Gast, Mt. Ashland’s general manager, of plans to begin new summer operations on Memorial Day weekend. That’s when the lodge will open to the public for meals and snacks on Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, Gast said plans include hosting Youth Adventure Days, guided hikes, group runs and rides, and other gatherings.
“We’ve never actually opened the lodge for the summer,” he said. “We love the winters on Mt. Ashland, but it’s an amazing place to be in the summer. I’m excited for Mt. Ashland to be a base camp for adventures and for people to enjoy some good food, beer, and activities at our lodge.”
Community meeting Thursday
A town hall meeting regarding the Mt. Ashland Ski Area will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the mountain lodge.
“It’s my pleasure to invite all employees, guests, passholders and local residents to join me and our board president Curt Burrill for a discussion to recap this past season and share our vision and projects for the future,” said Andrew Gast, Mt. Ashland’s general manager. “Our 60th anniversary will be the start of the next era of Mt. Ashland as a hub for mountain recreation and we’re excited to start the discussion about the future.”
Gast said a key factor in operating summer weekends is a desire to provide longer-term jobs for ski area staff. “For me, the main priority is to retain the good employees we have.”
While there are unknowns, Gast said he and ski area managers believe the lodge area can serve as a “base camp” for people involved in the hosted activities, along with others who drive to the 6,500-foot elevation lodge and nearby areas to hike, mountain bike or just to escape the Rogue Valley heat. “We’ll be a place for those folks to come inside to eat and drink.”
While mountain biking is popular on nearby roads and trails, they won’t be transported by chairlifts. “That’s probably one of those things we’ll never do,” he said, noting concerns with soil stability and that the existing chairlifts are not designed to transport bikes.
Although there is still upwards of 100 inches of snow near the base area, Gast said predicted warming temperatures are expected to accelerate snow melt. There’s been ample snow, with 343-inches as of Sunday, the fifth snowiest winter on record. Sunday, April 23, was also Mt. Ashland’s last day of skiing and snowboarding, ending a historic season for the mountain and closing weeks later than its usual closing date. The ski area finished with 128,625 guest visits this season, breaking the previous record of 106,003.
“We are incredibly thankful to the community that came up to play in the snow this winter,” Gast said. “This winter we had more learners in ski school, more youth in school programs, and more skiers than ever before. The increases in visitation and abundant snowfall made it possible for us to extend the season two additional weekends this season.”
Along with abundant snow, he attributes the increased visitation to the “Magic Carpet,” which is designed to help beginning skiers and snowboarders reach gentle, beginner slopes without riding a chairlift. “It was heavily used,” Gast said of the “carpet,” noting greatly increased visits from area schools. “I think we had a lot of people who came up to ski or board for the first time.”
Gast also notes the annual Spring Season Pass Sale, with season passes at a 30 percent discount, ends this week. Through Sunday, April 30, season pass prices are $424 for adults 20-69, $374 for teens 13-19, $214 for youth 7-12 and $50 for children up to age 6 and seniors age 70 and older.
Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at 337lee337@charter.net.
