Mt. Bachelor expanding downhill bike park
Mt. Bachelor announced Monday season pass pricing for the upcoming 2015 summer bike season, and also outlined an expansion of bike activities to include new trails and a second operating chairlift.
Bike park season passes are now on sale through the resort’s website. Passes purchased by June 15 are priced at $149 for adults and teens and $99 for youth 12 and under. Pass prices will increase by $100 and $50, respectively, on June 16.
New this summer: the Sunshine Accelerator lift will be added to the operating schedule.
An expanded skills park in the base area will serve as an ideal place for kids, adults and families to learn the fundamentals of downhill bike riding, the resort said in a news release.
From there, riders can load the Sunshine Accelerator lift and descend a new easier trail named FTL (short for First Timer Line). A new connector trail from the top of Sunshine Accelerator lift to the easier section of lower Lava Flow trail will give riders a second downhill option.
The new beginner trails and the expanded skills park will be ready to ride when the resort opens for the summer season on Friday, July 3.
Mt. Bachelor also said it will expand the downhill trail network off the Pine Marten lift this summer for intermediate, advanced and expert riders.
Final sector construction of Cone Run, Way Out and Last Chance trails is expected to be complete by August 1.
Cone Run and Way Out are more difficult trails with numerous wood features incorporated into their designs, while Last Chance is a most difficult, top-to-bottom enduro trail that drops over 1,400 vertical feet along four miles of single-track.
Crews also will hand-build a double black diamond trail this summer, with guidance from local professional riders.
This downhill trail will drop nearly straight down the Pine Marten lift line across lava rock and natural terrain features and will be designed exclusively for experts who desire an extreme technical challenge.
“With these new trails, Mt. Bachelor’s bike park will offer progression opportunities for riders of all abilities – from first-timers and families to experts,” noted Tom Lomax, Mt. Bachelor’s director of mountain operations.
“Central Oregon is positioned to become one of the best bike destinations in North America, with Mt. Bachelor’s new lift-served trails connecting with 300 miles of existing cross country trails nearby,” he said.
Mt. Bachelor’s summer biking and sightseeing season begins Friday, July 3 and continues daily through Monday, September 7.
Bike park hours will be 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with extended hours on Friday and Saturday evenings until 7:00 p.m. After Labor Day, the bike park will remain open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays into mid-October, if conditions allow.
Gravity Sports @ Mt. Bachelor has a fleet of new 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 20.
Visit www.mtbachelor.com/bikepark or call 1-800-829-2442 for more information about Mt. Bachelor’s bike park and other summer activities.
