MOR; truly the inside scoop.
Mountain Operations Reports
Mt Bachelor would like to bring you in the fold, letting you know what we are working on and what it takes to get there; delivered to you from the horse's mouth.
May 2, 2008
Skyliner Lift will now run as a weather-day backup to Summit! Enjoy all your favorite local runs on days when you weather hinders running the summit chair.
Frankie Labbe
Communications Manager
April 16, 2008
Tom Lomax brings you a map to the new rolling bowl acreage that was previously out of bounds prior to the connection of the east and west catchlines. Be Aware, this terrain is EXPERT category and it is strongly recommeded that you ski or ride with a buddy.
April 7, 2008
POWDR CORP. COMMITS $3.4 MILLION IN CAPITAL TOWARD OFF-SEASON IMPROVEMENTS AT MT. BACHELOR
Investment Focuses Largely on Lift Maintenance, Grooming & Transportation
Powdr Corp. today announced that it will invest $3.4 million toward off-season capital expenditures at Mt. Bachelor including maintenance, repair, upgrades and improvements leading up to the resort’s 50th anniversary season in 2008-2009.
At the core of the capital investment is more than $500,000 earmarked for lift maintenance and repair—everything from running wheels and chair grips to the potential hiring of additional maintenance staff—which will greatly improve lift performance while maximizing the skier/rider experience.
Mt. Bachelor will also contract with lift manufacturer Doppelmayr to make terminal adjustments on every lift, and will contract with an outside expert to test the drive motors and gearboxes on all lifts.
“Mt. Bachelor’s lift system has long been considered one of the country’s finest, but that comes at a price as the complexity of detachable chairs is exponentially more sophisticated than their fixed-grip predecessors,” said Matt Janney, general manager of Mt. Bachelor. “While we have been quick to repair lifts when they malfunction in the past, this investment will put us well down the path toward an on-going, proactive maintenance program.”
Among the other, significant off-season capital expenditures that Powdr Corp. will be investing in at Mt. Bachelor include:
• $654,000 for the purchase of three Bombardier BR350 snow cats. These snow cats feature Category 3 “green” low emission engines, making them among the most energy-efficient grooming machines on the market today. The new snow cats will replace existing, aging machines.
• $505,000 for the purchase of a new snow blower to improve snow removal operations in Mt. Bachelor’s parking lots and roadways.
• $905,000 for a new in-town Park-N-Ride facility.
• $200,000 for a new Mt. Bachelor Super Shuttle bus to transport guests from the Bend Park-N-Ride facility to the mountain.
• $110,000 for a new snow melting heated walkway system to improve guest safety at Sunrise Lodge.
• $32,000 for a new snowmaking gun to improve snowmaking capacity and early season conditions.
The remaining balance will be used for everything from new snowmobiles and tree trimming, to carpeting and terrain park improvements. All with the intent of improving the overall guest experience from the time they arrive, to the time they depart the mountain.
“Our first priority this off-season is to ensure that the lift system is operating at the level it should be, but beyond that we will make numerous enhancements to the overall guest experience,” said Janney. “Many of these improvements, such as a snow blower or a heated walkway, will go largely unnoticed by resort guests but I guarantee you they would notice if these items were not in place.”
Matt Janney
President/GM
April 1, 2008
Wow, It’s April 1st and the conditions are like February. Last week we enjoyed mid winter like dry snow which made it hard for the race crews trying to pull off a downhill but was definitely a bonus for the powder skiers. There were several epic Summit days with laid in powder top to bottom. The conditions off Cows Face down to the new east catch line have been unreal with an impressive amount of vertical now available on the SE side. The super low temps the last few night have kept the snow dry even in the heavy sun exposed areas. As we warm up this week we will be expanding out our grooming and should see Wanoga way off the Summit in the next few days. If you are after a few bumbs hit Tippy Toe off Pine Marten lift. We are leaving it ungroomed to grow some spring bumps. In the Northwest, Outback area look for the Chadalak connection off the Northwest crossover which will let you lap the Outback runs without going all the way down the crossover.
As we move later April Summit season operations will be run out of the Sunrise base with Sunrise and Summit running. This will keep the SE side of the Summit open to the east catch line which should offer up some great corn skiing if winter ever decides to move on.
Enjoy
Tom Lomax
Mt Manager
March 21, 2008
Launching this Saturday, for the first time Ski School will be offering a Direct to Snow experience for all guests who make advance reservations. Guests can simply book a lesson over the phone or online and the Snowsport School Staff takes care of the rest. This process will eliminate waiting in the lines at the mountain to pick up your lesson tickets because they will be waiting for you in the Snowsports School Meeting Area. For guests who need rentals or who are buying lift tickets at the mountain, you will still need to make a stop at the ticket office or rental shop to meet those needs.
Amy Ohran
Ski & Snowboard School Director
March 19, 2008
NW Express had a break pump control problem this afternoon causing a stoppage. The guests were offloaded using the backup system and the lift is being worked on this afternoon and evening with the goal of opening at normal operating hours tomorrow.
Tom Lomax
Mt Manager
March 11, 2008
Mt Bachelor hosted the Sunriver Chamber of Commerce and its members today for a social excursion of breakfast and riding. GM Matt Janney welcomed the Chamber and suggested the group and Bachelor staff meet throughout the seasons to maintain discussions about current projects and future plans. Mt Bachelor is widening its doors of communications in an effort to reach out to the community and bridge relations with it's neighbors. Dennis Smeage, President and CEO of the Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce wrote, "We definitely want to keep communications open and be your partner in bringing the best possible winter sports experiences to visitors and residents alike!"
Frankie Labbe
Mgr., Comm.
March 8, 2008
Hope you were able to get in on the recent spring powder we just had. 4” of new overnight and after a quick cleaning by the maintenance crew and control work by the patrol the Summit opened for more 360 degree fun. The new catch line is working out great and really opens up the options off the top. Please keep in mind that the South east and South side are wide open natural skiing areas and be sure you know where you are going before venturing out there. Also ride with a friend and keep each other in sight. If it’s groomers you like the crew has been putting in some great runs off summit with Wanoga way to the catch line and East Healy’s to Dutchman. These run offer some amazingly long and consistent fall line skiing or riding. If you have any questions on the Summit runs please feel free to check with the Summit patrol for more information. Have fun out there…
Tom Lomax
Mt Manager
Mt Bachelor Ski Resort
March 2, 2008
We hosted our first Bend Chamber Member Ski Day on February 12, and it was a huge success. Great conversation took place about the mountain and our relationship with the community. Overall, great ideas and camaraderie ensued, and we are looking forward to a Sunriver Chamber Day on March 11 and another Bend Chamber day to come following that. Below is the article for the March issue of the Bend Chamber Business Journal regarding the event. The entire journal is available for reading at http://www.bendchamber.org/BusinessJournal/2008/March.pdf.
