Oregon Public Broadcasting

Heavy rain over most of the lower elevations in Oregon last week meant there was lots of snow falling in the mountains.

As Pete Springer reports, it was enough for skiers and snowboarders to get their hopes up for an early opening of the winter ski season.

Last week's storms dumped fourteen inches of snow on Mt. Ashland Ski Area in southern Oregon.

Much of that snow had melted by the weekend, but it was enough to get skiers and snowboarders excited about the season.

Rick Saul works at Mt. Ashland.  He went to a recent meeting of weather forecasters and climatologists in Portland, and says it left him feeling optimistic about this winter.

Rick Saul: “They were saying that there’s increased, above average moisture that’s expected for the state of Oregon this year, with the coldest periods being in mid-November and mid-January, for the winter, which would be great.”

Saul said if they get a few more storms like last week, Mt. Ashland could open by Thanksgiving.

Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood Meadows ski areas are hoping for an even earlier opening -- perhaps the weekend before Thanksgiving.