Page 74 - SOM FALL 2017 BOOK

the good life | adventure

Towle believes that improving us," Smith says, noting Mt. Shasta
“...we’ve Mt. Ashland's infrastructure will has launched programs with
help the ski area's long-term via- Medford's REI store to entice
got bluebird bility and benefit the region. "We Rogue Valley skiers and riders,
are an economic driver," he says,
especially in the spring "when
noting the eight to twelve year- we've got bluebird conditions day
conditions day round employees, along with 130 after day" and relatively empty
to 160 winter staff. Mt. Ashland slopes.
also generates business for Rogue
after day.” Valley restaurants, outdoor "We've got a lot of demand going
stores, and shops during months into the season," he says, not-
when the Oregon Shakespeare ing what he believes is a pent-up
Festival is between seasons. In demand for skiers and riders who
turn, he believes the fund-raising had been frustrated by several
effort for the lodge and other years of low-snow. Although
upgrades reflects Mt. Ashland's figures weren't made available,
importance to the community. Smith says 2016-17 was a record
"It's pretty neat to have a little ski year and notes season passes for
area that runs the gamut," Towle the upcoming 2017-18 season
says, referring to ski schools for sold at record levels for the sec-
youth to serving as a venue for ond straight year. "We've got
high school ski races to special a lot of demand going into the
nights and activities. "Ashland season."
and the Rogue Valley are very
supportive communities. They've While no major changes were
kept us alive." made, Shasta added a new snow-
cat that, like at Mt. Ashland,
At Mt. Shasta Ski Park, located "is really going to improve our
on the slopes of Mount Shasta grooming."
outside Mount Shasta City, Smith
says a focus is on expanding its Mt. Shasta and Mt. Ashland are
operations and its audience. He again continuing a yearlong pro-
says the first year of summer gram that allows season pass
offerings, featuring chairlift rides holders at one of the areas to
for mountain bikers and oth- receive discounts when skiing or
ers, was hugely successful. "We riding at the other.
had people from every walk of
life," he reports, from a three-
week old baby with his parents
to a 99-year-old woman who had
never been on a chairlift. "A lot Mt. Shasta Ski Park
of people who don't ski got to see www.skipark.com
what we do."
Mt. Ashland
While Mt. Shasta gets most of www.mtashland.com
their skiers and riders from
Redding and other far north-
ern California cities, efforts are
planned to lure more regional
visitors, especially families, and
beginners and intermediates.

"We don't get enough people
from other areas. We're putting a
bigger push on Southern Oregon.
This is a big expansion year for

72 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | fall 2017