MOUNT ASHWABAY

THE SKI LIFT IN OPERATION AT MT. ASHWABAY...

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER YESTERDAY, BUT FEW DOWNHILL SKIERS

MORNING IN THE WINTER WOODS

Saturday, 8:15 AM. Wind SW, mostly calm with light gusts.  The sky is clear, the humidity 79%.  The barometer is rising, now at 29.62".  The forecast calls for mixed skies with temperatures in the 30's and 40's for the week ahead, then falling back into the twenties by next weekend.  Rain is still predicted for this coming Monday.

  Yesterday was Joan's birthday and we celebrated by going to dinner at our favorite restaurant, The Village Inn in Cornucopia. On the way there in the late afternoon we stopped to see what was going on at the Mount Ashwabay ski hill.

  We also saw deer in an open field just outside of Corny; a somewhat rare site these days, but the mild winter should increase the deer population this coming year. 

  There was not much downhill skiing going on, but lots of cars in the parking lot indicated that a lot of folks were out on the cross country ski trails.

   Mount Ashwabay was begun back in 1948 and has been a cornerstone of area youth winter ski recreation ever since.  It has also been the summer home of Big Top Chatauqua, a unique home grown  summer music venue featuring a mix of local and big name talent.  In 2002 it was reorganized as a non-profit community recreation organization, and expanded to over six hundred acres .  It offers summer and winter skiing opportunities, including skijoring (dogs pulling a skier), as well as snow shoeing and fat tire bike trails.  In summer it offers hiking and nature activities as well as Big Top musicals.  In early spring there is maple sugaring.  Its clubhouse is open for both seasons.  It has a web site listing activities, events and admission prices. 
  This is a fine facility, which with some tweaks and proper promotion  could be on a par with many a large state park.