Mt. Ashland Ski Area has announced the resignation of General Manager Andrew Gast, marking a leadership transition as the 2025–2026 winter season continues to take shape. According to the organization, Gast’s final day with the ski area will be Saturday, January 24, 2026.
The announcement comes amid a slower-than-usual start to the winter season, largely driven by limited early snowfall. Despite those challenges, the Mt. Ashland Association Board of Directors has indicated it will not rush the process of selecting a new general manager. Instead, the ski area will continue operating under the guidance of its established Leadership Staff, who will oversee day-to-day operations throughout the remainder of the 2025–2026 season.
Snow conditions have shown signs of improvement in recent days. A winter storm over the past weekend added approximately eight inches to the mountain’s base, and additional snowfall is forecast. Leadership expressed cautious optimism that winter conditions are beginning to align, setting the stage for the season to gain momentum.
“Mt Ashland has a strong core of employees with decades of experience that are more than capable of running the mountain until a new General Manager is hired,” said Adam Reiss, president of the Mt. Ashland Association Board of Directors.
Gast joined Mt. Ashland Ski Area in 2021 and, during his tenure, oversaw several projects aimed at strengthening both operations and the guest experience. Among the most notable initiatives were the installation of the Lithia Chairlift, which expanded beginner and novice terrain, upgrades to mountain night lighting that broadened Twilight skiing options, and improvements to runs such as Aisle 2. Under Gast’s leadership, the ski area also expanded summer and fall operations as part of a broader effort to support long-term sustainability and transform Mt. Ashland into a year-round destination.
Beyond infrastructure improvements, Gast maintained a visible presence with the public through his “Andrew in the Alpine” social media updates, which provided guests with regular information about mountain conditions while reinforcing the ski area’s connection to the local community.
“I can’t speak highly enough about Andrew,” Reiss said. “He accomplished so much in a relatively short period of time. Everyday opening the mountain requires overcoming several obstacles, and not only did Andrew take this in stride, but he also prioritized maintaining and improving Mt Ashland’s connection to the local community and made great progress in evolving the mountain into a year round destination.”
The Board of Directors has stated that a search for the next general manager will begin immediately, with an emphasis on finding a candidate who can both manage a ski area and uphold the organization’s nonprofit mission. “We intend to take our time to ensure the best candidate for the position is hired,” Reiss said, adding that the Board is seeking leadership that will “continue to support Mt. Ashland’s non profit mission to provide and promote a healthy quality experience in an alpine environment while also ensuring this community asset thrives for decades to come.”
Operating without a general manager is not unprecedented for the organization. Mt. Ashland previously functioned successfully during an extended interim period in 2021 without disruption to daily operations. Board members say long-standing contingency planning and an experienced operations team position the ski area for stability during the transition.
“The Mt Ashland operations team, with decades of experience, is geared up and ready to go,” Reiss said. “Lack of snow is the only issue that is delaying the mountain opening.”
The Mt. Ashland Ski Area team and Board of Directors expressed appreciation for Gast’s leadership and wished him continued success in his newly accepted position as the organization moves forward into the remainder of the winter season.