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historic lodge into a more spa-
cious, user-friendly facility. While
honoring its original design,
the often-crowded lodge was
enlarged by 1,000 square feet
Snowy weather or not, both by covering two outdoor decks,
Smith and Towle have reason to along with other upgrades such
look forward. as removing suspended ceilings
winter's long season resulted in a to reveal the original and higher
on weather forecasts envisioning record 80,000-plus visits. Along with what's happening wood beams and ceilings.
another cold, snowy winter, ski on Mt. Ashland's slopes—a new
hill managers are hoping those Michael Smith, Marketing "slightly used" snowcat will "It's not a pretty coat of paint on
predictions are spot on. Manager at Ski Shasta, echoes enhance grooming, especially the building," Towle says. He pre-
Towle. "That's out of our con- at the terrain park and after dicts the extra space "is going to
"Obviously Mother Nature will trol," he says about predicting storms—Towle is more excited be a real experience changer."
dictate when we open," says when or how much snow will about what's happening off the
Hiram Towle, Mt. Ashland's gen- fall, "but we hope Mother Nature slopes. A $1.7 million upgrade For many years, ski hill manag-
eral manager, adding that last helps out." is transforming the 53-year-old ers focused on expansion, partly

fall 2017 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 69