(BEND, Ore.) – The ski resort Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Oregon is now open and people are flocking to the mountain. It opened November 30 and skiers and snowboarders are excited this opening day came earlier than in past years.
Mt. Bachelor is a destination for people from all over the world. It is the 6th largest ski resort in North America and the largest in the Pacific Northwest. With 4,300 acres of skiable terrain, skiers and snowboarders are excited to kick off the season. “The conditions are great. The snow is firm, the lines are short, it’s just a great time to ski,” said Leo Beyer, a local skier. “I’m getting a bunch of runs and a lot of turns in early in December. That’s fabulous for me.”
The mountain, formerly known as Bachelor Butte, is a dormant stratovolcano and is known for its light, dry snow, diverse terrain, and long seasons. The mountain reaches 9,000 feet with a total of 121 trails and 15 lifts. It gets an average of 462 inches of snowfall per year. The resort shared its excitement about the new season on Facebook. “We are fired up to be back on our favorite volcanic mountain playground.”
Skiers and snowboarders are looking forward to more snow and 360-degree skiing from the summit. “I think it’s going to be an amazing year cause we’re just gonna have, like continuous snow for a long time into the spring,” said Emily Gordon, a frequent snowboarder. While only about 70 out of 121 trails are currently open, the resort is planning to have more lifts and trails operating in the next few weeks.