You don't have to climb the Alps to partake of an authentic Bavarian experience. On Saturday, Feb. 23, Mt. Ashland Ski Area will sport a bratwurst-and-beer spirit to raise money for the nonprofit Mount Ashland Ski Patrol.
The Bavarian Night bash starts with skiing and snowboard demonstrations at 10 a.m. (entrance is $5). The cafe will be open and there will be dancing and music by The Lincoln Project, an Ashland funk and rock band, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. At 9 p.m., a torchlight parade will gather everyone together to then watch the fireworks spectacle at 9:30 p.m.
"Bavarian Night is a celebration of all things on Mount Ashland," says Medford resident Robert Owens, who is a member of the Mount Ashland Ski Patrol and has volunteered to help organize Bavarian Night for nine years. "It is a family-oriented, social atmosphere, for kids of all ages who want to enjoy the outside environment in a way that is not fully focused on skiing, but also on community and enjoyment of the outdoors."
An Ashland Day is a series of photo-driven looks at Ashland outdoor activities. If you want to share your favorite place to go or thing to do, email ameliacovertzeve@gmail.com
Although the resort supplies the ski patrol's snowmobiles, sleds and other equipment, proceeds from the fundraiser will pay for a training park for avalanche beacons, which are radio transceivers used to find people or equipment buried under snow.
Amelia Covert Zeve, 14, is an Ashland-based writer and wilderness enthusiast who attends Ashland Middle School.