Surface Grooming This Season

Dear Mt. Ashland Community:

I wanted to give you a quick update on our mountain operations–specifically our grooming. We acknowledge that snow surface grooming has not been to our usual high standard so far this season. We promise you that we remain committed to the finest grooming possible. Excellent grooming is what makes our mountain more accessible and enjoyable for all of our guests. In keeping with our open and honest communication with the entire Mt. Ashland community, I would like to explain to you all the factors that are affecting the grooming out on the mountain and let you know what we are doing to make it better.

Weather– Early in the season, snow depth and quality of snowpack combined with some challenging weather kept us away from many areas we would normally groom. Due to more serious wind scouring than usual, anyone who has been on the upper mountain has seen or experienced below normal snow levels. The flats of Dream still have vegetation poking through in several areas. Thankfully, despite the below-average snowfall year, we are seeing good depth across the majority of our terrain.

Equipment Issues– We have more than $1 million dollars of grooming equipment in our fleet. Even with that in mind, our machines are outdated by industry standards. We have one of the top mechanics in our industry, who works diligently towards keeping all of the machinery operational. On certain occasions, we are down to one operational cat for the night which makes grooming the entire mountain difficult.

Staffing– As with any team, sometimes there are rebuilding years. Key players leave for other opportunities and new players are developed. Replacing highly skilled equipment operators who use an incredibly unique piece of equipment takes time. Our terrain takes a lot of skill and experience. Groomers need to not only master the controls specific to all the functions of the cat, but learn the patterns of grooming passes and where to go and not to go on our steep and unforgiving mountain. Since we live in an incredible Valley with less ski areas we must create our own groomers.

Two of our star players moved on last year. Leaving us with one seasoned operator. He is a highly trained and competent groomer who is capable of doing all the things necessary to keep the mountain looking beautiful. We are training two new operators to take the place of our former all-stars. Under normal circumstances, we are able to do one on one training, but our ability with COVID-19 safety protocols and restrictions makes training a bit more challenging.

What we are doing about it– Our operations team is catching up on maintenance and most of the fleet is back in action. The crew has been working extra hours, and last year’s grooming team has helped out when available. And we are actively seeking experienced operators to join the team.

Improvements are made every day. The mountain is starting to ski and ride better as the weather continues to support us and our team works diligently to provide great grooming.

We hope you will be patient with us as we rebuild our stellar team of snowcat operators and please know they are working incredibly hard to keep your mountain skiing and riding superbly. We look forward to surprising you with rarely groomed trails like Bottom, and Pistol when we are able. We are close to once again having wide-open cruisers groomed wall to wall, and excellently maintained terrain parks and jump lines. The good news is the team is catching up going a little wider every night. The cats are being repaired quickly to ensure full and productive nights of grooming.

It has been a fantastic year despite all the challenges and we promise to do better every day to make YOUR Mt. Ashland the absolute best it can be. Thanks for all of your support, and we’ll see you on the mountain

Sincerely,

Hiram Towle
General Manager

P.S. If you would like to contact us about this, or anything else, please feel free to do so any time!

Please read carefully! This is a release of liability and a waiver of certain legal rights.
The purchaser, holder and/or user of this pass or any person named on this pass application (“participant”) understands that skiing, snowboarding and other winter activities (“skiing”) can be hazardous and that injuries are common when participating in such activities. Participant accepts and assumes the risks associated with skiing, including, but not limited to, changing weather conditions, variations or steepness in terrain, terrain features and parks, snow or ice conditions, surface or subsurface conditions, bare spots, creeks and gullies, forest growth, rocks, stumps, the use of lifts, collisions with natural or manmade objects or other persons, avalanches, snow immersion, equipment failure, no or delayed first aid rescue, grooming and snowmobile equipment, lift towers and other structures and their components, falling, loss of control, and exceeding one’s ability. Participant hereby freely and expressly assumes any and all risk of property damage, injury and death associated with skiing.
In consideration for lift access and the use of any other area facilities and premises, participant hereby agrees to release, hold harmless, and indemnify Mt. Ashland association, dba Mt. Ashland and its owners, partners, members, employees, directors, officers, agents, affiliates, and related entities (“Mt. Ashland”) from any and all claims by or on behalf of participant against Mt. Ashland arising directly or indirectly out of participant’s use of this pass and/or the area facilities and premises. This release includes claims and liabilities arising from negligence on the part of Mt. Ashland, but does not include claims based upon gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Participant also agrees to indemnify (including costs and attorney fees) Mt. Ashland for any claim brought on behalf of any minor named on this season pass application.
Participant understands that, instead of entering into this agreement, participant may purchase a day ticket. Participant is free to participate in skiing at Mt. Ashland without using any ski area lifts or uphill conveyances, subject to any applicable rules of use.
1. A Season Pass is a weather-dependent product and is non-refundable, non-transferable and may not be rolled over from one season to the next. Use by any other person will result in forfeiture of the Season Pass. However we understand that unexpected circumstances can occur and exceptions will be made under limited circumstances. Pro-rated Season Pass refunds are given for: 1.) documented relocation out of the area or 2.) documented illness, injury, or pregnancy. All refund requests must be received by February 15th of the year the season pass in question is valid. All refunds are at the discretion of Mt. Ashland. A $50 processing fee will be charged for all refund requests.
2. The undersigned agree(s) to abide by all federal, state, and ski area statutes, rules, regulations and closures including, but not limited to ORS 30.970 - 30.990 and “Your Responsibility Code”
3. There is a $25.00 charge for the replacement of any lost Season Pass. The undersigned agree(s) to notify the ski area immediately if a Season Pass is lost. The ski area will issue one complimentary lift ticket, per season, per pass holder, if a Season Pass is forgotten. After that, a lift ticket must be purchased.
4. The Season Pass must be displayed in a manner that allows for easy checking or scanning by ski area employees.
5. Eligibility for an Adaptive Season Pass is within the sole discretion of the ski area and medical proof may be required.
6. Violation of any of these terms and conditions may result in suspension and/or revocation of a Season Pass. A Season Pass may be revoked without refund at any time for misconduct or nuisance caused by the Participant.

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