Mount Bachelor ski resort in Oregon got drowned in snow this past week. Their 7 day storm total is 99 inches of snow. Bachelor’s season snow total is 194 inches…so, they got half of this season’s snow so far in one week.
“More than 8 feet of snow fell during a six day period between Monday, January 16th, and Saturday, January 21st. During the 24-hour period between 6:00am Wednesday, January 18th and 6:00am Thursday, January 19th, 35 inches of new snow fell – a record 24-hour snowfall total for Mt. Bachelor. The heavy, dense snow has also been accompanied by strong wind gusts in excess of 80 mph every day.” – Mount Bachelor ski resort
Normal ski resort operations have been difficult during this unique storm with winds exceeding 100 mph during business hours at a few of the ski lifts.
“Wind gusts today, Sunday January 22nd, have exceeded 100 mph at the top of Pine Marten lift. That’s why it was on Wind Hold. The day prior, Saturday, wind gusts were nearly as extreme – but from a slightly different direction. A better direction for Pine Marten, but a worse direction for Skyliner (which was why it was closed Saturday).” – Mount Bachelor ski resort
Bachelor is working to get operations back to normal and to get people up on the Northwest chair, but they don’t think they’ll have it open for today. Skiers and riders are anxious to get up and ride before the snow settles.
“We are continuing with our Storm Recovery efforts. But issues keep popping up (such as the power outages) that prevent us from directing our full attention to Storm Recovery. We were able to make a little progress on the west (Outback/Northwest) side of the mountain Sunday. But we’ll need some additional weather cooperation in order to finish the necessary Storm Recovery and avalanche control work, and it looks like we’ll get that opportunity Monday. So while a Monday opening of Northwest or Outback lift is possible, it seems unlikely at this point. Summit will be closed until we get a prolonged break from the stormy weather.” – Mount Bachelor ski resort
Temperatures are forecasted to stay in the 20s and 30s this week with snow forecasted everyday. Should be a good week at Bachelor.
In a season with so much drought in the Western USA, people living in Bend, OR must be smilin’ big right now.
If you were at Bachelor recently, tell us how it was.