| Mt. Ashland Ski Area | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Mt. Ashland Ski Area Location in Oregon  Mt. Ashland Ski Area Mt. Ashland Ski Area (the United States) | |
| Location | Mount Ashland, Oregon |
| Nearest major city | Ashland, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 42°5′0″N 122°43′0″W / 42.08333°N 122.71667°W |
| Top elevation | 7,500 feet (2,286 m) |
| Base elevation | 6,350 feet (1,940 m) |
| Skiable area | 240 acres (97 ha) |
| Runs | 23 total 15% beginner 35% intermediate 50% advancedplus open bowl skiing |
| Longest run | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Lift system | 4 chairlifts |
| Terrain parks | 2 |
| Snowfall | 368 in (930 cm) |
| Snowmaking | none |
| Night skiing | Yes |
| Website | MtAshland.com |
Mount Ashland ski area is located on 7,532-foot (2,296 m) Mount Ashland and features 44 trails on 200 acres (0.81 km2) served by four lifts, including expert terrain in a glacial cirque called The Bowl. The mountain averages 235" of snow annually, with a season from early December until mid-April. 7% Of terrain is rated Beginner, 41% is Intermediate, 41% is Advanced, and 11% is Expert.
A Non-Profit Ski Area
Mt. Ashland is a community-focused ski area that is owned and operated by the non-profit Mt. Ashland Association. Mt. Ashland is dedicated to providing an outstanding alpine recreation experience for people of all ages and skill levels.[1] To help meet its mission, Mt. Ashland offers the popular After School Youth Program which offers low-cost and free instruction to local youth.[2]
History
During the 1950s, the mountain was a popular destination for local back country ski enthusiasts, some of whom built the lodge and one lift in 1963. Mt. Ashland opened to the public on January 11, 1964.
During 1961 to 1963, the Mount Ashland Corporation raised money to clear trees, grade terrain, build roads, and develop a ski area. It includes a ski lodge, the Ariel chairlift, a T-bar lift, and a rope tow on the north face of the mountain. Medford businessman Glenn Jackson provided more than half of the $120,000 that financed construction of the lodge.
In 1970, after three consecutive years of winter drought deprived the mountain of adequate snowfall to continue operations, the Mount Ashland Corporation folded. The Southern Oregon College Foundation took over management the ski area after the people of Jackson County financed the purchase of ski area resources in the first of two public bailouts in the operation's history.
In 1977, Dick Hicks purchased the ski area from Jackson County and incorporated it as Ski Ashland, Inc.
In 1978, Ski Ashland installed the Windsor chairlift.
In 1983, Harbor Properties of Seattle purchased Ski Ashland from Hicks. Over the next four years, Harbor developed on-slope lighting, a vehicle shop, and the Sonnet and Comer chair lifts.
Drought struck again in 1988–1991 and skier use declined. In 1991, a grassroots effort raised two million dollars to save Mount Ashland from bankruptcy. Money for the purchase came from donor restricted contributions and a grant from the Oregon Economic Development Fund channeled through the City of Ashland. The city accepted donated funds and purchased Ski Ashland from Harbor Properties. The city then engaged Mount Ashland Association (MAA), a newly formed non-profit corporation, to maintain and operate the ski area.
In 1992, the City of Ashland entered a lease agreement with MAA. The lease expired on June 30, 2017, with an option to be renewed or terminated. From 2005 through 2008, the City and MAA had a series of legal disputes, which were resolved with the City relinquishing the Special Use Permit to MAA with certain requirements to protect the Ashland Watershed.[3]
In 2007 and 2016, Mt. Ashland hosted the Oregon Interscholastic Racing Association high school state championships.[4]
In 2017, Mt. Ashland became the first STOKE certified ski area in the world[5], a certification program for sustainably operated tourism sites.
In 2023, Mt. Ashland broke its record for highest winter visitation with 128,625 visitors.
The Mt. Ashland Association continues to manage the ski area for the benefit for the entire community. Numerous programs benefiting the community include the deeply-discounted After School Youth Program, the ACCESS Ski & Ride for Hunger day, Pride Ride, and Bavarian Night.[6]
Expansion
The ski area attempted to expand its terrain and add lifts in the 1990s. A Record of Decision provided Mt. Ashland the authority to move forward on this expansion plan, is well documented in the Mount Ashland Ski Area Expansion article. In 2014 Mt. Ashland added several hundred spaces in its parking lot and began installing snow fencing on the mountain, as well as beginning several trail widening projects. In 2023, the ski area announced the construction of the Lithia Chairlift, part of the mountain's expansion plan. This chairlift was made possible by a $2.5 million gift from Sid & Karen DeBoer, the largest gift in the history of the Mt. Ashland Association. Future projects planned include a tubing facility, new lodge, and upgraded chairlifts.
Other activities
Mount Ashland is a popular destination in summer for hiking, mountain biking, and sightseeing. The southernmost stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon skirts the south and east sides of the mountain. The Mt. Ashland Hillclimb Run starts in Lithia Park near downtown Ashland and runners run up a series of Forest Service roads and trails to the summit of Mt. Ashland: 13+ miles long, 1 mile up.[7] The Siskiyou Out Back is a set of three ultramarathon trail runs at distances of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), 50 kilometers (31 miles), and 80.5 kilometers (50.0 miles) that start and end in the Mount Ashland ski area parking lot.[8] Finally, the Mt. Ashland Trail Run, begins in the ski area parking lot, with runners ascending to the summit and returning to the parking lot via a series of roads leading down from the summit.[9]
The Mt. Ashland lodge is open in the summers, offering food and beverage services as well as special events.
The peak is also the site of the transmitter and antenna for KTVL Channel 10 television, based in Medford, Oregon, approximately 15 miles (24 km) to the north.
Climate
Mount Ashland Ski Area has an oceanic subalpine climate (Köppen climate classification Dsc). The record high temperature at the Mount Ashland Ski Area is 97 °F (36 °C), while the record low is −18 °F (−28 °C). Yearly rainfall averages over 60 inches (1,524 mm), while snowfall averages over 300 inches (762 cm). The high elevation results in heavy precipitation, despite being located at the end of the Rogue Valley, which is located in a rain shadow.
| Climate data for Mt. Ashland Ski Area Lodge (6,400 ft.) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 61 (16) |
63 (17) |
68 (20) |
79 (26) |
86 (30) |
97 (36) |
94 (34) |
95 (35) |
91 (33) |
82 (28) |
65 (18) |
58 (14) |
97 (36) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31 (−1) |
37 (3) |
41 (5) |
47 (8) |
58 (14) |
65 (18) |
75 (24) |
74 (23) |
67 (19) |
55 (13) |
39 (4) |
31 (−1) |
52 (11) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11 (−12) |
15 (−9) |
18 (−8) |
19 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
33 (1) |
38 (3) |
37 (3) |
31 (−1) |
23 (−5) |
18 (−8) |
13 (−11) |
24 (−4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) |
−12 (−24) |
−3 (−19) |
2 (−17) |
12 (−11) |
14 (−10) |
18 (−8) |
17 (−8) |
12 (−11) |
0 (−18) |
−6 (−21) |
−18 (−28) |
−18 (−28) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 9.52 (242) |
7.66 (195) |
7.02 (178) |
4.80 (122) |
2.67 (68) |
1.19 (30) |
0.78 (20) |
0.95 (24) |
1.34 (34) |
5.14 (131) |
10.73 (273) |
11.88 (302) |
63.68 (1,619) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 66 (170) |
59 (150) |
52 (130) |
16 (41) |
2.6 (6.6) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.8 (2.0) |
8 (20) |
79 (200) |
84 (210) |
368.7 (932.87) |
| Source: Weather.com:[10] | |||||||||||||
References
- ↑ "Local Mountain Fund". 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "After School Youth Program". 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "City, Mt. Ashland to Continue Negotiations". 3 August 2016.
- ↑ "Mount Ashland hosts championships". 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "Environment – Mt. Ashland Ski Area". Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ↑ "Mt. Ashland Ski Area".
- ↑ "Mt. Ashland Hillclimb Run". 3 August 2016.
- ↑ "Siskiyou OutBack Trail Runs". 3 August 2016.
- ↑ "Mt. Ashland 5K". 3 August 2016.
- ↑ http://wwworigin.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/264:11
External links
- "Mount Ashland". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- Mount Ashland Ski Area, official website
- Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest
- Spring Thaw mountain bike festival
- Callahan's Challenge Hill Climb Time Trial Series
- Jean Chinn Memorial Mount Ashland Hill Climb Race
- Siskiyou Out Back