The Mt. Ashland Ski Area lodge is open Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day.

It’s only early October, but a trio of regional downhill ski/snowboarding areas — Mt. Shasta, Willamette Pass and Mt. Ashland — are busily planning for the 2023-24 season and, as always, hoping for early snowfall.

Managers at the Mt. Ashland Ski Area are hoping an early snow will quick-start its 60th anniversary celebration “Elevate Mt. Ashland,” the theme for the upcoming season, which refers to major upgrades to help make the area more accessible, especially for beginning and intermediate downhill skiers and snowboarders.

“Our focus is really on catering to families and those who’ve never skied before, so this is huge,” says Andrew Gast, Mt. Ashland’s general manager, referring to ambitious plans, including the installation of a new chairlift that will open beginner and intermediate terrain that has been inaccessible since the original lift was removed in the 1980s.

“Our 60th anniversary is a time for us to celebrate the rich history of our mountain,” he says, noting a major goal of the anniversary is to “look forward to ensure that the next generation of mountain enthusiasts can have the same experiences as those who have been visiting Mt. Ashland for many, many years.”

Mt. Ashland opened in 1964 and, according to Gast, much of the original infrastructure is still in place, so the planned upgrades are wanted “to revitalize the facility as visitation continues to increase.”

Revitalization efforts include installing a new chairlift to replace what many years ago was a Poma surface lift. When installed, hopefully for the 2025 season, the chair will service five trails, including four for beginners and one for intermediates.

Other projects being launched as part of the 60th anniversary revitalization includes $1 million in upgrades. Mt. Ashland has purchased two demo-used snowcats that, along with being more fuel efficient and have a reduced carbon footprint, will provide expanded and improved slope grooming. “We’ll be able to groom a lot more terrain every night,” according to Gast.

Other planned improvements as part of the Elevate Mt. Ashland initiative will address night skiing, lodge and arrival services, and aging infrastructure around the ski area.

“This is a historic time for us, as we truly look to elevate Mt. Ashland in everything we do,” Gast says. “We will continue to make it easier and more accessible for everyone to learn mountain sports, while also making some improvements for our experienced visitors who come up to play year-round.”

For now, the focus is on celebrating — and building on — Mt. Ashland’s 60th anniversary. As Gast explains, “Our goal is to elevate every aspect of our operation so that we’re ready for the next 60 years.”

For more about the Mt. Ashland Ski Area visit www.mtashland.com.

Mt. Shasta Ski ParkThe biggest news at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park happened for the 2022-23 season when the area opened the new Gray Butte chairlift, which opened up 211 acres of terrain for intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders. “It provided people with a different experience,” says Grace Hornbeak, Mt. Shasta’s marketing director. “The folks who got up there had good times. It was definitely the hit for the season.”

She notes Gray Butte, which had been part of the area’s plans for several years, is different because the six runs include sections through areas with trees, creating a feeling of backcountry skiing and riding.

While hoping for another snowy winter, Hornbeak says ski hill managers are encouraging people to carpool because parking lots were often filled to capacity on weekends and holidays. She says efforts are being made for buses or shuttle services to ferry visitors to and from the mountain.

“Our goal is to provide parking for everyone who wants to come. We’d love to accommodate as many people as possible. It’s something we’ve been working to address.”

Once again, rental equipment will feature upgraded equipment for all levels of skiers and riders.

As with other ski-snowboard areas, Hornbeck says, this season’s opening is, “When the snow falls,” hopefully by or before mid-December.”

Happening sooner — on Nov. 11 — will be a day of celebration featuring giveaways, food and beverage services, and ski movies.

For more on Mt. Shasta Ski Park, visit www.skipark.com.

Willamette Pass Resort

A familiar face at the Willamette Pass Resort, Mindy Ingebtesson-Wolowicz, who has worked for more than 20 years as a volunteer and paid ski patrol member, has taken over duties as the ski area’s general manager. She’s off to a fast start with major changes and upgrades already accomplished or in the works.

“I really believe that we still are a locals’ mountain,” she says, noting day and season passes for skiers and snowboarders cost less than at many ski areas such as Mt. Bachelor. “We haven’t priced ourselves out of the market. I think it’s important for families to have an entry point.”

A series of steps have and are being taken to lure families along with dedicated skiers and riders. Ingebtesson-Wolowicz notes that a $1 million has been invested in such things as converting the Peak 2 chairlift to electric, which she says will provide increased efficiency, reduce the carbon footprint and reduce noise pollution.

Other improvements include reopening the Midway chairlift, which will reduce lift lines; adding another snowcat to improve and expand grooming; increasing snow-making capabilities to allow for an earlier opening and more consistent snow coverage, especially for the terrain park; repairing the parking lots — each of the two lots, one on the east side of Highway 58 and another on the west, can hold about a 1,000 vehicles; and making upgrades to the lodge and facilities, such as new lockers and toilets. As she notes of the lodge, “It truly is beautiful, but it was built 40 years ago.”

For cross-country skiers, trails will be groomed on a more consistent basis, she says.

“We want to make sure we’re a welcome destination to our cross-country as well.”

Unusually, Willamette remains family owned and operated through a merger with Mountain Capital Partnership, which also has arrangements with ski areas in New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Chile.

Although it won’t happen this winter, efforts are being made to resume bus service between Eugene and ski area.

When the area will open is, as always, weather dependent but, she says, “We always plan to open the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.”

For more on Willamette Pass, visit the website at www.willamettepass.ski.