Snow going: Bachelor bike park opening delayed
Snow is a wonderful thing in the winter – at ski areas, anyway. But in July? Even at ski areas, it can cause problems.
Because of the winter’s heavy accumulation, Mt. Bachelor has rescheduled the opening of its downhill bike park, delayed from Friday to Sunday.
“The bike trails spent the winter beneath 10 to 20 feet of snow,” said Tom Lomax, Mt. Bachelor’s director of mountain operations. “Our trail crew started clearing snow on June 1 and made great progress. But we need an extra couple of days to let the hot July sun melt more snow before we feel comfortable opening the trails.”
Guests on opening day should expect one top-to-bottom route, designed for those who are comfortable riding more-difficult (blue square) terrain. Additional trails will open later this month as the snow continues to melt. Construction of new trail sections will continue during the summer as well.
Once it opens, Mt. Bachelor’s downhill bike park will operate daily through Monday, Sept. 1. Operations will continue on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through September and into early October if weather and conditions permit.
Bike Park tickets will range from $19 for Twilight sessions on Fridays and Saturdays to $34 for a full day ticket. A “4-Pack” pass, valid for any four days of riding, is $99. Bike Park tickets and 4-Pack passes are now available for sale online; a 15% discount is offered on single and multi-day tickets purchased online at least four days in advance.
Mt. Bachelor’s Gravity Sports has a brand new fleet of 100 Norco rental bikes in a variety of styles and sizes. Helmets, pads and body armor can be rented or purchased, and a full-service tune and repair shop will be open daily.
Gravity School instruction will be offered throughout the summer with Intro To Ride packages and private bike lessons available. Limited space remains in Mt. Bachelor’s youth bike camps, offered in weekly sessions starting July 21.
For the latest information about Mt. Bachelor’s downhill bike park and its operating schedule, visit www.mtbachelor.com or call 1-800-829-2442.