Mt. Bachelor Opens Summit Chair Early: Record-Breaking Start to 2024-25 Season

Pacific Northwest's Largest Ski Resort Marks Historic Early-Season Opening

Mt. Bachelor has achieved a remarkable milestone this season, announcing the earliest opening of its Summit chairlift in over a decade. This news comes just weeks after the resort recorded its earliest overall opening since 1998, setting the stage for an outstanding 2024-25 season.

The resort currently boasts impressive statistics with 123 inches of total snowfall and a solid 51-inch base depth. Skiers and riders can access 106 open trails, including 77 groomed runs, served by 7 operating chairlifts. The Summit chairlift's opening expands the resort's operational terrain to 2,800 acres, offering top-to-bottom skiing across the mountain.

Looking ahead, the forecast promises even better conditions, with predictions of 14 to 22 inches of additional snow by Sunday evening. The West Village base currently maintains a 48-inch depth, positioning Mt. Bachelor as a premier destination for holiday season skiing in the Pacific Northwest.

The resort, spanning 4,323 acres with a 3,365-foot vertical drop, stands as North America's seventh-largest ski area. Known for its light, dry snow and diverse terrain, Mt. Bachelor dominates the skiing landscape across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Further expanding its offerings, the resort plans to open the Alpenglow and Rainbow lifts this Saturday, introducing additional beginner terrain and a new Woodward Mountain Park. Daily operations run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through April 20, 2025, weather permitting.

The 2024-25 season marks a significant transition period for Mt. Bachelor. In August 2024, POWDR Corporation announced plans to sell the resort, which it has owned since 2001. Mount Bachelor Community Inc. (MBCI), a local group, has emerged as a potential buyer, aiming to return the resort to community ownership with an expected offer exceeding $150 million. As the largest ski resort in the Pacific Northwest and a vital economic contributor generating $157 million for Central Oregon, Mt. Bachelor continues to serve as the region's second-largest employer.

For historical context, while Mt. Bachelor celebrates its early-season success, it's worth noting other remarkable snow records in the region. Mammoth Mountain in California set a recent record with 715 inches of snow two seasons ago, while Mt. Baker, Washington, holds the world record for seasonal snowfall at 1,140 inches during the 1998-99 season.