I know of people who swear off going to the mountain during the holidays, let alone the last holiday weekend when every vacationer in the county goes up to get in runs before they go to work the next Monday.
It’s usually these same people who end up complaining about not having enough good days at the hill.
The New Year started out great for snow conditions. Even though temps rose above freezing and formed a thin ice layer, another cold front hit the area and dropped another foot or so of snow. High winds caused Bachelor to shut down Pine Martin, and Friday’s snow accumulation sat untouched.
When it all cleared Saturday, those of us brave enough to battle absurdly long lift lines had some of the best turns this year under a bluebird sky. When Bachelor finally opened up Northwest at noon the race was on for fresh tracks.
Sunday, the runs packed down to ice and most people drove home. Everyone that stayed when Summit opened up for a sneak peek got to tear up Cows Face.
Ski Patrol wouldn’t let anyone go off the backside for some reason. They claim avalanche danger, but for $70 a day and $1000 a season they should have blasted the previous day. I hiked up and over from Northwest Saturday afternoon and it was epic.
All in all the weekend was rad.
This article appears in Jan 1-7, 2009.
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For the sky high and discriminatory prices Mt. Bachelor charges for lift tickets and ski passes (think “young adult” ski pass baloney), the company has the gall to keep many of its lifts closed much of the time, even on beautiful days. Some winter days Mt. Bachelor isn’t open at all. So much for ski pass freedom.
Their shortcomings, and there are many, can ALWAYS be blamed on weather. At times they are right, it was the weather that prevented them from doing what they charge patrons for BUT come on….. alot of the time it is NOT the weather and they keep things closed anyways. They have not improved at all since they have seen so much anomosity in Bend against their management style, or lack there of it. They have challenges no doubt but I think their biggest challenge is that somehow they lack overall management effectiveness. Powdr Corp just can’t nail this one. Next President please step up as this one will be gone in 2 years and he will quit……. (please take your marketing freshman with you)
Open one month through the harshest weather start in years and you’ve already thrown in the towel? Some things turn around quick, some things take time. Or so says the “freshman” who has seen/done it at resorts nationwide. Let’s get some turns BJ..
“Some winter days Mt. Bachelor isn’t open at all” is inaccurate. The mountain’s been fully closed only two or three times in the last 20 years due to weather. You could always go ski the other mountain in your backyard…