Mt. Ashland Launches $650,000 Fundraiser

News Search

Push to The Latest: No

SAM Magazine—Mt. Ashland, Ore., June 24, 2015—Mt. Ashland has launched a $650,000 public fundraising campaign, primarily to help fund operation and maintenance costs until the end of November. The campaign, billed as the 2015 Local Mountain Fund, has already brought in $275,000, including $68,000 donated by Mt. Ashland Association board members and employees of the ski area.

"We're going to reach out to everyone in the Rogue Valley," said general manager Hiram Towle. "No amount is too small, even $5 or $10 can make a difference when you think of the number of people the mountain serves."

The move comes as a result of low-snow conditions the past two seasons. Mt. Ashland was open for just 38 days this season, and wasn't open at all in 2013-14. In 2014, the ski area reportedly took out a $742,000 disaster relief loan to maintain operations. Officials now say they want to be better prepared for low-snow years as well as the potential long-term impact of climate change.

About $300,000 would be allocated toward supporting operations until the start of the 2015-16 season, and another $25,000 would be used for trail maintenance. Officials said trees on some ski runs are now five feet tall because funds have not been available to trim them. Doing so will make it possible to open the trails in low-snow conditions. In addition, $10,000 would be used to repair the roof of the area's 51-year-old lodge. Other maintenance needs include $6,000 to build wooden ramps in the chairlift loading areas, to limit the use of natural snow, $3,000 to upgrade to the phone system and $6,000 to realign a chairlift tower.

Any remaining money would help the ski area build up a contingency fund.

The ski area has sought permission from the U.S. Forest Service to offer more summer activities, including a double zip line and portable rock-climbing wall. The board would launch a separate fundraising effort of about $150,000 to pay for those summer additions, Towle said.