Mount Bachelor ski area

Mount Bachelor
Pine Marten Express chairlift in 2009
Pine Marten Express chairlift in 2009
Mount Bachelor is located in Oregon
Mount Bachelor
Mount Bachelor
Location in Oregon
Mount Bachelor is located in the United States
Mount Bachelor
Mount Bachelor
Mount Bachelor (the United States)
LocationDeschutes County, Oregon, United States
MountainMount Bachelor
Nearest major cityBend: 22 mi (35 km) east
Coordinates44°00′11″N 121°40′37″W / 44.003°N 121.677°W / 44.003; -121.677
StatusOperating
OwnerPOWDR
Vertical3,365 ft (1,026 m)
lift-served
Top elevation9,065 ft (2,763 m)
Summit Express
Base elevation5,700 ft (1,737 m)
Northwest Express
6,350 ft (1,940 m)
Pine Marten Express
Skiable area4,323 acres (17.5 km2)
Trails101 total
- 15% novice
- 35% intermediate
- 30% advanced
- 20% expert
Longest run4 mi (6.4 km)
Lift system12 total (9 high speed quads, 3 fixed grip triples, 3 surface lifts)
Terrain parks15
Snowfall462 inches (1,170 cm)[1]
SnowmakingYes
Night skiingNo
WebsiteMt Bachelor.com

Mount Bachelor ski resort (stylized as Mt. Bachelor) is a ski resort located in Central Oregon, approximately 22 miles (35 km) west of Bend, along Century Drive Highway. The ski area is on the northern side of Mount Bachelor, a stratovolcano rising atop a volcanic shield in the Cascade Range.

Since 2001, the ski area has been owned by Powdr Corporation of Park City, Utah.[2] It is the largest ski resort (by area) by more than 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) in Oregon,[3] the second largest single-mountain ski resort in the U.S., behind Vail, and the sixth largest of all ski resorts in the nation.[clarification needed]

Mount Bachelor offers one of the nation's longest ski seasons, mid-November through the end of May (weather permitting).[4]

History

The Mount Bachelor Ski Area was founded by former 10th Mountain Division Elite Force ski trooper[5] Bill Healy on December 19, 1958, with $75,000 (equivalent to $792,000 today[6]) and a one-year lease from the U.S. Forest Service for the land.[7] The four other major stockholders were Felix Marcoulier, Dr. Bradford Pease, Oscar Murray, and Phil Gould. The founders raised $100,000 from local investors and made many important management decisions that would shape the path of Mount Bachelor and Central Oregon for decades to come.[2]

The ski area opened as Bachelor Butte in October 1958 with a rope tow and a 3,100-foot (940 m)-long platter lift rising 1,000 ft (305 m); a lift ticket was three dollars[2][8] (equivalent to $31.68 today[6]). The name of the volcano was changed to Mount Bachelor in 1983 after the Bend Chamber of Commerce persuaded state and federal officials to adopt the more descriptive term "mountain."[9][10] Well-known broadcaster and avid skier Lowell Thomas visited the young ski area in 1961, flying over from Sun Valley with agribusiness magnate J. R. Simplot.[11]

The first chairlift was "black chair" in 1961, shortly followed by "red chair" in 1964. In 1967 and 1970, the yellow and blue chair lifts were added,[12] and in 1973 the green and orange chair lifts were added. The "Outback chair" was added in 1976, "Rainbow" in 1980, and "Sunrise" in 1982. The first area of the mountain developed for skiing was the northeastern side.[13] The northwestern side was not lift-served in 1973, but those who ventured for the "Outback Trail Tour" paid a dollar in advance and got a return ride by a snowcat to the lodge.[14] A new trail was finished in 1975,[15] and the Outback double chairlift was installed at a cost of $700,000.[16][17] It was replaced by the $3 million high-speed quad (Outback Express) in the summer of 1987;[18] with a capacity of 2,800 passengers per hour.[19] The 8,377-foot (2,553 m)-long Northwest Express chairlift was added in 1996, a high-speed quad with 2,365-foot (721 m) vertical.[20] This lift further expanded the terrain to the west and increased the resort's overall vertical, lowering the minimum lift-served elevation to 5,700 feet (1,740 m). In 1976, Mount Bachelor had a severe drought and was only open January 2 through February 14, and February 26 through April 30. There was a loss of an estimated $4 million which took four years to recover. Following the drought, the Nordic initiative began and the main lodge expanded.[5]

Plans for the first summit chairlift were announced in autumn 1979;[21] the high-speed detachable triple was installed in the summer of 1983.[22] At the time, it was just the second detachable chairlift installed in the world. It was upgraded to a quad in 1997.[20] Original plans for a summit lodge and an accompanying service road[23][24] were abandoned in 1982 to attain approval from the U.S. Forest Service.[25]

Due to its challenging terrain parks and excellent snow conditions, Mount Bachelor is the official home training resort of many professional and Winter Olympic athletes, and hosts several professional USSA competitions each year.

On April 4, 1968, a single-engine light airplane crashed on the slopes of Mount Bachelor with three fatalities. Bound for Eugene from Boise and Billings, it was found three days later at the 8,100-foot (2,470 m) level by skiers after a multi-day regional air search in limited visibility.[26][27]

Terrain

The mountain is famous for its dry snow (for the Pacific Northwest), [citation needed] with typical snowfall of over 462 inches (1,170 cm) per year and a mid-winter base over 150 inches (380 cm). The resort boasts a lift-served vertical drop of 3,365 feet (1,026 m) with a lift running to 9,000 feet (2,743 m), just 65 feet (20 m) below the volcano's summit, which is accessible via a short hike. As one of the tallest mountains in the vicinity, Mount Bachelor often experiences high wind speeds causing the chairlift to the summit to be put on standby.

Trails and lifts

Ski area in the winter
Chairlift in the summer

Total lift accessible area is 4,323 acres (17.5 km2)[28][29] with approximately 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) groomed daily. The longest run is just over 4 miles (6.4 km). There are 12 chairlifts: Alpenglow, Early Riser, Northwest Express, Outback Express, Pine Marten Express, Rainbow Chair, Red Chair, Skyliner Express, Summit Express, Sunrise Express, Little Pine, and Cloudchaser. Northwest Express, Outback Express, Pine Marten Express, Skyliner Express, Summit Express, Sunrise Express, and Little Pine [30] are express quads.

Following the Summit triple in 1983, the Pine Marten was the first express quad, installed in the summer of 1986.[18][19] The accompanying lodge at the top of Pine Marten was built two years later.[31] The Pine Marten Express was the world's first height-adjustable detachable quad. It was overhauled in 2006 for $3.5 million, with new terminals, cable, and all new moving parts.[20] The Outback Express was installed in 1987 and the Skyliner Express in 1989.[32]

Mount Bachelor has outlined in its master plan that it intends to replace its Sunrise Express to a high-speed six-pack, along with replacing its Rainbow triple chairlift with a high-speed quad. In addition, the ski area plans to expand its downhill mountain bike terrain and install a zip-line.

In the early 1990s, Mount Bachelor had intentions of installing an 8 passenger high speed gondola which would run from the Sunriver access road. However, while marketed in ski magazines, this gondola was never built.[33]

In recent years, Mount Bachelor has made sweeping efforts to attract freestyle skiers and snowboarders. A 400-foot (122 m) super pipe is among the best on the continent, and hosted the 2006 USSA Olympic Qualifier.[citation needed] The resort's Bachelor Parks terrain park encompasses 3 parks, is nearly a mile (1.5 km) long, descending 850 vertical feet (260 m) and featuring a number of jumps, rails, boxes, and jibs for freestyle riders. Other parks include "Slopestyle Arena", and "Sunshine Park" for beginners.

In 2003, Transworld Snowboarding magazine (editors & readers) ranked Bachelor as the fourth best snowboarding resort in North America.

Mount Bachelor also has a cross country skiing area with 12 groomed trails covering 35 miles (56 km) and 850 feet (260 m) of vertical.

Activities

Skiing/ Snowboarding

Mount Bachelor offers lift accessed skiing and snowboarding seven days a week from late-November to the end of May. Hours are generally 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On nice weather days Mount Bachelor offers skiing 360 degrees off the summit of the mountain. Bachelor holds some of the driest snow[citation needed] relative to the Cascades. The mountain's wide variety of elevation and aspect allows skiers and snowboarders to find good snow nearly every day of the season. Many avid skiers and snowboarders can access a bulge on the north side of the mountain referred to as 'the cone' by hiking before, during and after the resorts typical hours of operation.

Nordic skiing

Mount Bachelor has the longest groomed Nordic season in North America, running from late-November through late-May. Snow conditions may extend into June.[34]

Mountain bike park

Starting in the summer of 2013, Mount bachelor was granted a special use permit from the Forest Service allowing chairlift for downhill mountain bike laps. Mountain bike trail continue to be developed, varying from a family-friendly single track trail to "bad to the bone" downhill bike park.

Other features at Mount Bachelor include snowshoeing, dog sledding, and on-mountain interpretive tours. Seven restaurants, three bars, and three coffeehouses on the premises are distributed in three day lodges. Additional accommodations and lodging are nearby at Sunriver and in the city of Bend.

U.S. Ski Team

Resort statistics

Skier visits

Number of guests per day.[35]

Season Peak Day Average
Top 10 Days		 Average
Top 20 Days		 Average
Entire
Season		 Operating
Days		 Total Seasonal
Skier Visits
2005-2006 12,207 8,364 7,462 2,747 194 532,997
2006-2007 11,431 8,340 6,936 2,557 185 472,969
2007-2008 10,098 7,020 6,187 2,447 179 437,954
2008-2009 9,430 6,694 5,881 2,530 157 397,211
2009-2010 8,074 6,642 5,983 2,428 180 436,995

Elevation

  • Summit: 9,065 ft (2,763 m)
  • Base: 6,350 ft (1,935 m)
  • Lift-served
    • Maximum: 8,975 ft (2,736 m) - top of Summit Express[36]
    • Minimum: 5,700 ft (1,737 m) - base of Northwest Express
    • Vertical drop: 3,365 ft (1,026 m)

Trails

  • Skiable area: 4,323 acres (17.49 km2) accessible by lift, with 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) groomed daily
  • Trails: 101 total 15% Novice 25% Intermediate 35% Advanced 25% Expert
  • Longest run: 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
  • Average annual snowfall: 462 inches (1,173 cm)
  • Terrain Parks: 15 (Woodward Mountain Parks, Slopestyle, and Sunshine)

Lifts

  • 14 Total
    • 1 High-Speed Six Pack
      • Skyliner Express - (2023, 1989) [37] [32]
    • 7 Express Quads
      • Pine Marten Express - (2006, 1986) [20]
      • Outback Express - (1987) [19]
      • Sunrise Express - (1993) [20]
      • Summit Express - (1997, 1983 (express triple)) [20]
      • Little Pine Express (formerly Sunshine Accelerator) - (1993) [38]
      • Northwest Express - (1996) [20]
      • Cloudchaser Express - (2016) [20] - Opened 12/16/2016
    • 1 quad chairlift
      • Early Riser
    • 3 triple chairlifts
      • Alpenglow (formerly Carrousel)
      • Rainbow
      • Red Chair
    • 3 magic carpets
      • Chipmunk
      • First Rays
      • Lava Tube

Lift specifications

Cloudchaser Rainbow
Chair		 Sunrise
Express		 Alpenglow Summit
Express		 Skyliner
Express		 Little
Pine
Lift Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Lift Type D4C 3C D4C 3C D4C D6C D4C
Year Installed 2016 1980 1993 1993 1997 2023 1993
Top Elevation ft. -- 7,605 7,270 6,606 8,950 7,631 6,628
Bottom Elevation ft. -- 6,390 6,470 6,440 7,240 6,325 6,385
Total Vertical ft. 1448 1,215 800 166 1,710 1,293 243
Horizontal Distance ft. 6576 3,700 3,643 1,175 4,460 5,722 1,871
Slope Distance ft. -- 5,515 3,732 1,194 4,783 5,878 1,888
Average Slope % -- 23% 22% 14% 38% 23% 13%
Hourly Capacity 2400 1,800 1,800 1,350 2,400 3,200 2,200
Rope Speed (fpm) 1000 500 886 300 1,024 985 886
Trip Time min. -- 11.03 4.21 3.98 4.67 5.97 2.13
Drive Output (hp) Unknown Unknown 244 60 800 520 128
Pine Marten
Express		 Red Chair Outback
Super Express		 Northwest
Express 		Early

Riser

TOTAL
Lift Number 8 9 10 11 12
Lift Type D4C 3C D4C D4C D4C
Year Installed 2007 (1986) 1980 (1964) 1987 1996 2020
Top Elevation ft. 7,732 7,495 7,755 8,065 6,415
Bottom Elevation ft. 6,365 6,337 5,975 5,712 6,345
Total Vertical ft. 1,367 1,158 1,780 2,253 70' 12,124
Horizontal Distance ft. 4,562 3,850 6,738 8,040 --
Slope Distance ft. 4,779 4,020 6,991 8,377 647' 47,428
Average Slope % 30% 30% 26% 29% -- 27%
Hourly Capacity 2,400 1,500 2,400 2,400 2,400 23,050
Rope Speed (fpm) 985 475 985 1,000 1,000
Trip Time min. 4.85 8.46 7.10 8.38 --
Drive Output (hp) 488 Unknown 646 931 Unknown 3,817

Source: Mount Bachelor Master Development Plan: 2010[35]

References

  1. ^ "Mount Bachelor Trail Map". Mount Bachelor Ski Resort. Mount Bachelor. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  2. ^ a b c BendBulletin.com - Mount Bachelor at 50 - 2008-11-30 - accessed 2012-03-24
  3. ^ "www.go-oregon.net/Skiing/". Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  4. ^ Mountain Stats from mtbachelor.com Archived 2013-01-03 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b "History". www.mtbachelor.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  6. ^ a b 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ "Bill Healy; Built Mount Bachelor Ski Resort". Seattle Times. Associated Press. October 29, 1993. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  8. ^ Cornacchia, Pete (November 27, 1958). "New Bachelor ski area set for seven month operation". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 4D.
  9. ^ "Bachelor Butte name change months away". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). August 9, 1983. p. B1.
  10. ^ Swee, Stephanie (May 25, 1987). "'Media' pioneer helped put Bachelor on map". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Horizons Monthly. p. 7.
  11. ^ Mahoney, Michael (March 22, 1961). "Lowell Thomas, Gov. Hatfield among celebrities at Bachelor". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). p. 1.
  12. ^ Brogan, Phil F. (August 19, 1967). "Summer finds crews at work on new lift at ski area". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). p. 6.
  13. ^ "The History of Mount Bachelor, Oregon". SnowBrains.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  14. ^ McCord, Mike (March 12, 1973). "Skiing Bachelor's 'outback' is a ball". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). p. 7.
  15. ^ "Ski season begins Saturday". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). October 28, 1975. p. 1.
  16. ^ Smith, Jeffrey (June 28, 1976). "Bachelor to get lift, bigger lodge". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). p. 2.
  17. ^ "Oregon ski area may move into the big leagues". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). UPI. June 29, 1976. p. 5.
  18. ^ a b Monson, Stephanie (March 18, 1987). "Mount Bachelor expansion set". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). p. A-1.
  19. ^ a b c Fears, Shannon (November 15, 1987). "Mount Bachelor adding another ski lift". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 2C.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h Sowa, Anna (July 31, 2006). "Ski lift mechanics a hardy crew". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  21. ^ "Mt. Bachelor plans expansion". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 2, 1979. p. 7B.
  22. ^ Tri-City Herald - New summit chair makes Mount Bachelor skiing even better - 1983-10-07 - p.C1
  23. ^ Francis, Mike (February 5, 1982). "Bachelor wins road to summit". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). p. A1.
  24. ^ Francis, Mike (March 31, 1982). "Mount Bachelor road okay appealed". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). p. A1.
  25. ^ Francis, Mike (September 2, 1982). "Bachelor abandons road plan". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). p. A1.
  26. ^ Perry, Dan (April 8, 1968). "Search ends when airplane found on Bachelor Butte". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). p. 1.
  27. ^ "3 found dead in crash". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. April 8, 1968. p. 6.
  28. ^ trail map ew Archived 2005-10-30 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ trail map nw Archived 2005-10-30 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ "Mountain Stats". www.mtbachelor.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  31. ^ Prese, Tim (November 20, 1988). "Bachelor more than sports center". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Winter Recreation. p. 3.
  32. ^ a b (Bend) Bulletin - Catch your breath - 1989-12-21 p.E1
  33. ^ SKIING Magazine (February, 1987) https://ibb.co/pPpfn6j
  34. ^ "Nordic Trail Map". www.mtbachelor.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  35. ^ a b http://www.mtbachelor.com/site/about_us/company_info/forest_service/MDP_Text.pdf[permanent dead link]
  36. ^ Mount Bachelor trail map shows the base of Summit Express at 7,250 feet (2,210 m) and its rise at 1,725 feet (526 m)
  37. ^ Bulletin, SUKHJOT SAL The (2023-09-07). "New Skyliner lift at Mt. Bachelor on track to open in December". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  38. ^ (Bend) Bulletin - Bachelor's high-tech lifts move more skiers faster -1993-12-03 - p.5, winter-rec

External links

  • Official website
  • Ski Lifts.org - photos of lifts at Mount Bachelor
  • Oregon History.org - history of Bachelor Butte ski area
  • Historic Photo Archive - Bachelor Butte parking lot in 1963 on November 10
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