Windsor’s False Start

First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming up on our opening day! The parking lot filled on this Thursday early in the morning. It was really awesome to see the thousands of you that came up to celebrate our mountain. We are so grateful for you!

I wanted to take a few minutes and apologize for and explain the challenge we ran into with our Windsor lift upon opening today. Windsor is our “portal” lift, our workhorse that gets intermediate and advanced skiers high up on the mountain and to other chairs. First thing in the morning, it is the chairlift that gets the most guests lined up ready to go. And this morning you showed up! The line in the Windsor maze extended out of the maze and several yards up the hill. There was so much stoke and so much enthusiasm. And at 8:56am, 4 minutes prior to opening, we had some very frustrating news to convey–Windsor was on a mechanical hold until further notice.

Thankfully, Comer was ready to roll and Ariel was running and awaiting patrol clearance. With some creative quick thinking, our ski patrol made it possible for guests to ski from the top of Comer to Ariel. This way, at least, everyone interested could enjoy the top of the mountain and bulk of our terrain.

But, why was this communication so late to 9am opening and why wasn’t it fixed earlier.

Windsor ran without any issues the past few days for patrol set-up and nearly all day Wednesday for patrol work and ski school training. Early Wednesday evening, the issue in question first popped up. Our lift maintenance team stayed late- even though they had already worked a full day and would need to be back before dawn today. They did not leave Wednesday night until they believed the issue was resolved and we were ready for opening day.

This morning when Windsor was started, the same issue returned. Our team spent the early hours working to resolve it, and repeatedly seemed to have it corrected only to see it repeat. At about 8:45am, our lift maintenance manager determined that a replacement of the part was required and began work sourcing one locally. He consulted with me, and our Director of Mountain Operations, and we concurred that the chair should be closed until the issue was resolved completely. At this time we notified the guests waiting in the Windsor maze this unfortunate news, and directing them to the Comer chair.

Subsequently, many of you noticed that Ariel delayed in opening to the public, putting even further strain on the guest experience and lift lines. This is an unfortunate result of a cascade of things that happen if Windsor isn’t available. For those waiting in the Windsor line, you my have seen that we began ferrying ski patrol toward Ariel at about 8:20am. Normally, patrollers would board Windsor at 8am to begin clearing the mountain but without that chair to ride they were stranded in the base area like our guests. As minutes passed after 8am, they came up with an alternative plan to get onto the upper mountain. Using this snowmobile method, we could only take 2 patrollers at a time out of the base area, and every time they came back to Windsor base area they would need another ferry to Ariel. As a result, Ariel did not start loading guests until 9:20am. Windsor is not only an important part of our guest experience, it is essential to a swift opening of the mountain for ski patrol, park crew, and even lift crews to access Ariel and summit terrain. Without it, everything on that side of the ski area is impacted.

I sincerely apologize to all of you who waited patiently in the Windsor maze this morning. Changes in lift plans are frustrating and a single lift change can have sweeping impacts across a mountain (we saw in Heavenly last week when their gondola experienced a mechanical issue). I’ve experienced unexpected lift closures at resorts, and understand how it feels, and I am sorry you experienced this at Mt. Ashland. I’m really proud of our team for their exceptional hard work and resilience in solving this problem.

By 9am this morning we located a replacement part in the Rogue Valley. That part is currently on its way and our team is ready to install it today once it arrives. Once repairs are complete, our mountain operations team will debrief this morning to discuss those things we learned to continue serving you better. Thank you for being part of our 60th anniversary season!

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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