Mt. Bachelor has blue-sky pre-holiday opening

Mt. Bachelor opened its 58th winter season on Saturday, with limited conditions in early-season snow, and skiers and boarders traveled to the slopes under sunny, blue skies to see how things were shaping up.

Operations include a terrain park served by the Sunshine Accelerator lift and resort services staged out of the West Village base area.

Although the compacted snow base isn’t quite deep enough to allow for traditional skiing and snowboarding on the resort’s primary runs, there is enough snow beneath the Sunshine Accelerator lift to allow for the creation of a pre-Thanksgiving terrain park. The park and Sunshine Accelerator lift will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., officials said.

“Local skiers and snowboarders are eager to get back on the snow and the entire Mt. Bachelor team shares their enthusiasm for winter’s return,” said Dave Rathbun, Mt. Bachelor’s president and general manager. “Our Saturday opening will be somewhat limited, but with favorable weather early next week, it may not be long before we can open more of the mountain.”

If conditions allow, resort officials will prepare additional lifts, terrain and services to open in time for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

All 2015-2016 Full Season, Midweek and 12 Day passes along with 4-Packs are valid to use beginning Saturday. Single-day Sunshine Accelerator terrain park lift tickets will be $35 for adults (19-64) and $25 for other ages. Prices will change once additional lifts are added to the schedule.

Resort services available beginning Saturday:

— Food and beverages from the Cocoa’s Caf and Clearing Rock Bar in West Village Lodge
— Gravity Sports @ Mt. Bachelor ® retail shop, featuring all new 2016 gear and discounts up to 50% on remaining items from last season
— Equipment rentals and private ski & snowboard lessons
— Pass pictures/pick-up at the Sales & Service Center inside Mountain Gateway
— Walk-up tubing from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Snowblast Tubing Park for $10

The opening date for other services, including childcare, group ski & snowboard lessons and the Nordic Center, will be determined in the coming days.

Visit http://www.mtbachelor.com for weather updates and more details.

NewsChannel 21’s Pedro Quintana visited the opening-day session and sent video on Twitter (@pedroKTVZ) and Facebook. Watch for his report tonight at 6 p.m.

In celebration of the resort’s winter season opening, Mt. Bachelor is offering discounts of up to 45 percent on pre-purchases of three-of-five and four-of-six day lift tickets through its 96 Hour Sale ending on Monday, November 23.

Three-of-five day lift tickets may be used for skiing or riding on any three days within a five-day period. They are available for $115 with several holiday blackout dates. An unrestricted three-of-five day ticket, without blackout dates, is available for $145.

Four-of-six day lift tickets may be used on any four days within a six-day period. The price with holiday blackout dates is $145; unrestricted tickets are $182.

The tickets are valid throughout the 2015-2016 winter season but must be purchased online by 12:00 p.m. PST on Monday, November 23. Quantities are limited and some ticket types may sell out prior to the deadline.

Additional information about the 96 Hour lift ticket sale and the resort’s operating plans can be found on Mt. Bachelor’s website.