TL;DR
Mt. Bachelor plans improvements to its Northwest lift and introduces new community initiatives for the 2025-26 season, but questions remain about the true impact for skiers and riders.
Mt. Bachelor Targets Northwest Lift for Upgrades
Mt. Bachelor has announced plans to modernise its Northwest lift for the 2025-26 season, aiming to improve access to expert terrain on the mountain's west side. While the resort touts enhanced efficiency and reliability, the actual impact on skier experience remains to be seen. Construction is slated to begin in April 2026, raising questions about potential disruptions to late-season skiing in 2026 and early-season operations for 2026-27.
The upgrades include replacing top and bottom operator shacks, updating electric drive components, expanding chair storage, and installing a night drive system. Mt. Bachelor claims this will allow for more consistent operations in challenging weather, but seasoned skiers know that high winds and ice buildup will continue to plague any lift in an exposed location.
Beyond the lift improvements, Mt. Bachelor is rolling out a series of new initiatives that seem designed more for marketing appeal than substantive enhancements to the skiing experience. These include a wood-fuel energy facility to reduce propane use, new Woodward Mountain Park layouts, and expanded rental operations in Bend and Sunriver.The resort is heavily promoting its 'Kids Ski Free' offer, providing children 12 and under with a free Unlimited Season Pass when an adult purchases an Unlimited or Outplay 365 Pass. While potentially attractive for families, savvy skiers will want to crunch the numbers to ensure this truly represents good value compared to multi-day tickets or other regional resort offerings.Mt. Bachelor's event calendar sees the addition of a 'cornice competition' off the Summit lift, which sounds intriguing but also raises safety concerns given the challenging nature of that terrain. The resort is also introducing 'Moonlight Dinners' at Pine Marten Lodge, though the price point for these events has not been disclosed.
