Mt. Bachelor sets pass prices, expects better snow year

Mt. Bachelor announced Thursday season pass pricing for the upcoming 2015-2016 ski and snowboard season and the M.A.X. Pass, a new add-on pass that allows access to 22 mountains across North America.

The resort also released pricing on seasonal children’s programs offered by the resort’s Gravity School. The seasonal programs typically sell out prior the start of the season.

MT. BACHELOR SEASON PASSES

Mt. Bachelor Full Season Passes purchased on or before September 30 are priced at $889 for adults. Young Adult (ages 19-26) pass prices will be $419; Teen (13-18) and Senior 70+ are priced at $309; passes for youth ages 6-12 are priced at $199; passes for Seniors ages 65-69 are $579. Season passes for children younger than age 6 remain $29.

All the season pass prices are up $20 from last year — which means varying percentage increases ranging from 2.3 percent for the early-purchase full season passes to to 11.1 percent for the youth passes.

Midweek Pass prices will be $609 for adults and $479 for seniors ages 65-69. The popular 12 Day Pass and 4-Pack will also return this year, priced at $499 and $179, respectively, if purchased on or before September 30.

Payment plans for season passes require a down payment of $49 for each pass ordered by September 15, with $20 serving as an administrative fee. Equal payments for the balance are due October 15 and November 15 and will be automatically charged to purchasers’ credit cards.

“Mt. Bachelor strives to make skiing and snowboarding as affordable as possible through its mix of pass products at varying prices,” said Dave Rathbun, Mt. Bachelor’s president and general manager. “With options ranging from the $179 4-Pack to the Full Season Pass, skiers and riders can buy a discounted pass that best fits their lifestyle and budget.”

Season passes are on sale now at Mt. Bachelor’s website. Guests can also purchase passes at the resort during the inaugural Volcanic Bike and Brew Festival, August 21-23.

INTRODUCING THE NEW M.A.X. PASS

Mt. Bachelor’s parent company, Powdr, is joining with Intrawest and Boyne Resorts to offer the new and revolutionary M.A.X. Pass. This “Multi-Alpine Experience” pass gives skiers and snowboarders access to 22 participating resorts with a total of 110 days on the slopes and no blackout dates.

Popular resorts such as Big Sky Resort in Montana, Crystal Mountain and Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington and Copper Mountain, Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado are included.

Skiers and riders who purchase a Mt. Bachelor Full Season Pass are eligible to visit themaxpass.com and purchase the M.A.X. Pass add-on for only $249 for adults, $199 for teens and $149 for youth.

CHILDREN’S GRAVITY SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Mt. Bachelor has also made Gravity School multi-week children’s programs available for booking. These ski and snowboard lesson programs are offered in three- and nine-week configurations on Saturdays and Sundays and are popular among local families.

“All Mountain Skiers” and “All Mountain Riders” serve skiers ages 6-14 and snowboarders ages 7-14, respectively, and are priced at $164 for three-week sessions and $449 for nine-week sessions.

“Mighty Mites” and “Mighty Riders” serve skiers ages 4-5 and snowboarders ages 5-6, respectively, and are priced at $164 for three-week sessions and $479 for nine-week sessions.

The nine-week sessions can be purchased with a payment plan, requiring only $49 down, per child.

Additional information on season passes, the M.A.X. Pass and seasonal children’s programs may be found on Mt. Bachelor’s website.

EL NIO AND ITS IMPACT ON MT. BACHELOR

With a strong El Nio brewing in the Pacific Ocean, Mt. Bachelor is preparing for a deeper snowpack this winter. According to the resort’s snowfall records, strong El Nio winters bring the same amount of snow, on average, as a typical non-El Nio year.

“Strong El Nio winters have delivered anywhere from 278 to 536 inches at Mt. Bachelor, with the previous one bringing 458 inches of snow in 2009-10,” Rathbun added. “The odds certainly favor a snowier winter compared to last year.”

Just 213 inches of snow fell last winter, yet Mt. Bachelor was still able to offer skiing and snowboarding for 167 consecutive days – a season length that ranked among the top 1 percent of ski resorts in the world.

Mt. Bachelor plans to open for the 2015-2016 winter skiing and snowboarding season on Wednesday, November 25 — if weather and snow conditions allow.