Oregon Public Broadcasting

Outdoor enthusiasts in the Northwest have been in hog-heaven recently.

Yes, rain and cooler weather are forecast for later in the week. But in central Oregon, mountain bicyclists and others took full advantage of near-record high temperatures in Bend. Ethan Lindsey reports.

The mid-November blue skies created unexpected traffic jams on central Oregon’s well-worn mountain bike paths.

But outside the Powder House ski shop in Bend, Mike Rinaldi says the bright sun is a little bittersweet.

Mike Rinaldi: “It’s pretty nice out here, so is that good or bad? Well, it’s bad for skiing. You know we love the weather down here if it’s snowing in the mountains.” 

Rinaldi says he and his family  spend many a winter weekend together at Mount Bachelor.

And he says he’s looking forward to the coming season.

But many locals are already complaining – and have been for the past few years, ever since Powdr Corp, the Utah-based resort conglomerate, took over in 2001.

But last year may have been a turning point. Higher annual ticket prices combined with poor maintenance sparked a snowstorm of complaints, and an overhaul of Mount Bachelor's management team.

Alex Kaufman took over as director of marketing in August.

Alex Kaufman: “We have a lot of folks who are in town who are really passionate about the mountain. And that is a pro and a con. We have a lot we have to answer to, and one part of that was lowering season pass prices this year to get more locals and central Oregonians up onto the slopes.”

Kaufman says this year Mt Bachelor has lowered season ticket prices and improved maintenance on the ski lifts.

Staffers also revamped the web site to better communicate with skiers and snowboarders.

Still, locals are now upset that the resort raised weekend ticket prices.

But for skiers like Mike Rinaldi, there's really only one thing that matters.

Mike Rinaldi: “I just ski the mountain, I don’t care who owns it, per se, other than if I’m waiting too long for my hamburger.”

Mount Bachelor and Oregon’s other major ski resorts had hoped to open by Thanksgiving. Weather forecasters say that now looks unlikely.