The lodge’s restaurant and shop is open Fridays through Sundays, and a new Alpine Adventure program for kids will offer camp activities
By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news
It’s the summer season at the Mt. Ashland Ski Area.
Summer activities begin Friday, June 14, when the mountain lodge will open its restaurant and retail shop to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day. The restaurant will serve hot entrees, ice cream and adult beverages from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
The things to do include movie nights, tie-dye events, a disc golf tournament and other activities for all ages, at the lodge. The disc golf course is described as “family friendly” for the first nine and more advanced for the back nine.
“Mt. Ashland is a hub of summer recreation in Southern Oregon, with access to many great trails and epic views of the Rogue and Shasta valleys,” said Andrew Gast, Mt. Ashland’s general manager. “Our goal is to be a base camp for mountain visitors. Our mountain is a special place in the summertime, and we hope that those who have never visited will take a few hours to explore the unique alpine landscape or enjoy one of our activities and a meal or drinks.”
Mt. Ashland is launching an Alpine Adventure program for kids, Gast said. Children ages 8-13 can enroll in camps and mini-camps, which focus on hiking, nature, arts and crafts, and mountain sports. In addition, field trips for mountain programs will be offered during the week for youth groups.
“These youth summer programs are a testament to our nonprofit mission,” Gast said. “At our core, we are dedicated to introducing people of all ages to the joys of mountain recreation. Mt. Ashland offers an unparalleled setting to enjoy the mountains. It’s a place where you can bask in the cool breeze, soak in the beautiful views, and feel inspired by the power and beauty of nature.”
To help people get ideas on ways to experience and view nature, he said, copies of a summer trail map will be available at the lodge. Gast noted the easy access from the lodge to the Pacific Crest Trail, one of his favorite areas to hike.
“Every year it gets stronger and stronger. Our focus is on families,” Gast said of the summer offerings,” Whether you’re adventurous or not, there’s something for you.”
The summer season for Mt. Ashland comes on the heels of a successful winter season that saw more than 95,000 visitors for skiing and snowboarding. “It was much better than we could have expected,” Gast said, noting the ski area had the most successful spring season pass sale in its history, surpassing the previous record by 10.5%.
Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at 337lee337@charter.net.
