In less than two months, on Nov. 30, Bend’s favorite alpine sports venue will be returning for the much anticipated 2023-2024 ski season, and Mt. Bachelor’s chairs will be spinning again. After another successful season of lift-access mountain biking, Bachelor has officially closed its lifts for the summer. So it’s time to get excited for the now fast approaching ski season at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort.
Some changes will be coming to Mt. Bachelor this year, including the much awaited reopening of the new and improved Skyliner lift. The Skyliner chair went under construction at the end of the 2022-2023 ski season in order to add the first high-speed, six-person lift to the ski resort. The goal of this project is to make Skyliner a hub for the resort that allows quicker and easier access between lifts.
Many skiers are talking about this new lift change, including Kenji Hoshi, junior at Summit High School and competitive skier who offered to share his thoughts. “I like the change they are making to Skyliner,” Hoshi claims. “It should make it a lot faster to get around the mountain and it hopefully will make lift lines smaller.”
While on the topic of the mountain, it is always important to remind all skiers and snowboarders about the important safety rules and regulations that keep everyone on the slopes safe. Mt. Bachelor ski instructor program’s Greg Dixon was interviewed regarding some of the key safety precautions that mountain-goers should always keep in mind. Dixon spoke on how important it is to always ski with another person when possible, especially during powder season so skiers can keep track of one another. With three different skiers dying at Mt. Bachelor in tree wells since 2019, extra emphasis should be put on the dangers of skiing alone when the snow gets deep. Dixon also strongly encourages all skiers to wear a helmet no matter what and added that “head injuries aren’t something to mess with.”
These are just some of the exciting and important topics regarding the upcoming season at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. Other new additions are coming as well, such as the new adult progression clinics hosted by Mt. Bachelor. Called “Winter Outplay Sessions,” these new clinics that span over three Friday afternoons are for skiers 18+ who are proficient at all mountain skiing but want to take their alpine skills to the next level.
On another note, starting in January, Mt. Bachelor will have discounted $99 lift tickets. Along with a discount for every ticket bought on these discounted Thursdays, Mt. Bachelor will donate $5 to local nonprofits. These donations stem from their “Play Forever Initiative” that was started with the goal of improving the environment and community of Bend, Oregon and its surrounding areas.
Snow is already starting to fall and winter will soon be in full swing. With all these big changes, Mt. Bachelor is primed for another great year. It can’t be stressed enough that anyone who intends to ski this winter has the proper knowledge and gear to ensure the safety of themselves and others while on the slopes. That’s all the updates from Mt. Bachelor for now, and Bend’s skiers and snowboarders alike are looking forward to this winter season.
