Up Century Drive From Tetherow, This Winter's Upgrades Were Built for Big Storms

On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 2, snow dusted Mt. Bachelor from mid-mountain to the summit. About 18 inches fell before the weekend was over. A lift operator was photographed shoveling the top of Pine Marten Express while Bend was still in shorts. The Bulletin reported that the snow sent the resort to fall hours early and paused biking on some trails.

That snow melted. What it left behind was a different mood at the top of the road that starts at Tetherow's front gate. Century Drive runs west from the edge of Bend past the Sno-Parks and up to the lifts. This off-season, nearly every operator along it spent the summer and fall preparing for heavy snow, right after one of the leanest winters anyone up there can remember.

The 140-inch winter that set this season's baseline

Last season Mt. Bachelor got about 140 inches of snow, its lowest total in 50 years, and it didn't open until Dec. 23. The mountain usually averages more than 400 inches a year. The season before that, it opened in mid-November. The Bulletin reported both figures from an interview with John Merriman, Mt. Bachelor's president and general manager.

This year's target is Dec. 4. The official opening day listing shows 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the mountain notes that the date depends on conditions. The rule for opening is specific: at least two feet of snow, plus forecasts calling for below-freezing temperatures or more snow. If conditions line up sooner, the mountain will open earlier.

Merriman told The Bulletin what he's watching for:

"Last year was one of the worst years in history as far as snow totals, but the nice thing is what we're seeing so far this year, and I'm hoping that it continues, is the return of the clouds that sit on top of Bachelor and stay for days."

He also said he expects this season to land close to the 400-inch average. The mountain's fall construction is aimed at that kind of winter, with long storms and lifts that have to reopen behind them.

The Northwest Express is getting rebuilt for the day after a storm

The biggest project on the mountain this fall doesn't add a new lift or new terrain. Mt. Bachelor's Northwest chairlift modernization keeps the existing lift and changes how it holds up through a storm and recovers afterward.

The September project update lists what's already done and what isn't:

• Done: Conduit and fiber optics are buried down the lift line and the trenches are backfilled. In past years, all of that ran above ground, exposed to ice buildup. The aerial section on the lower half of the lift is also finished.
• Done: Upgraded power. A new bottom transformer feeds the new lower operating shack and maintenance building.
• In progress: A two-story operator and patrol dispatch shack at the top terminal, still being framed in September.
• In progress: Craning in a new electric motor, drive, diesel backup motor and fuel tank, and removing the old equipment.
• In progress: A semi-enclosed chair-storage building called the park rail, plus an on-site maintenance garage at the bottom terminal.

The park rail shows the thinking behind the whole project. Storing chairs under cover means less storm recovery and snow removal before the lift can open after a big weather event. The mountain says it expects fewer ice-related interruptions now that most of the infrastructure is underground. Its stated goal is "a more reliable, efficient and storm-ready Northwest chairlift for the 26/27 season." As of that September update, the work was still underway.

West Village is switching from propane to wood fuel

The second project serves the same kind of winter. A new wood-fuel energy facility in West Village was reported complete as a structure as of Oct. 13, with final connections and commissioning underway. It's expected to start running in December 2026. Mt. Bachelor projects it will save about 150,000 gallons of propane a year, a cut of more than 90 percent.

For anyone who parks at West Village, which is also where both shuttles described below drop off, the base area is changing how it heats during the same weeks the season is set to open.

The nordic trails had a dry year and saved money

Short of the lifts on the same road, Virginia Meissner Sno-Park is the trailhead for Meissner Nordic. The club grooms 47 kilometers of trail for skate and classic skiing under a grooming agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Long-timers may still call it the Tumalo Langlauf Club. That was its name from 1996 until 2011.

The club's season recap puts last winter in numbers. Grooming didn't start until late December and ended in early March: 140 hours over 58 days. In 2024–25, the club logged more than 800 hours across 150 days. Because expenses came in under budget, the club moved maintenance on its grooming equipment up and is carrying the unspent money into this season.

Like the work at the mountain, that's preparation for a long, busy season. The regular schedule is December through March, seven days a week. Snowshoe routes from the Sno-Park lead to the Meissner and Nordeen shelters, and a lodge near the parking lot has tables and a wood stove. The club is a 501(c)(3). A donation box next to the parking lot helps pay for grooming.

The stops between Tetherow and the lifts

TripCheck lists five Sno-Parks along Century Drive. Distances are measured west from Bend:

From Nov. 1 through April 30, you need a permit to park at designated Sno-Parks, and you can be fined without one. ODOT's permit page lists $25 for an annual permit, $9 for three consecutive days and $4 for a day. Agents may add a service fee. A permit can move between vehicles, and California and Idaho permits are honored. The Forest Service confirms the requirement at Wanoga and Dutchman.

Wanoga has its own rules for the sledding crowd. The hill is for sledding and tubing, not snowboarding, skiing or jumps. Snowmobiles aren't allowed in the snow-play area, dogs must be leashed, and vehicles over 24 feet or towing trailers can't park there.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check permit requirements with ODOT or the Forest Service before you go.

What to have ready before Dec. 4

1. Passes. The Bulletin reported that prices would go up Oct. 1. The current Full Season pass table, dated Oct. 7, lists $1,499 for adults, $809 for young adults, $609 for teens, $479 for youth, $969 for seniors 65–69 and $659 for seniors 70 and up. The adult Midweek pass is $1,149 and the all-ages 5-Day pass is $469. The last day to buy Outplay 365 was Oct. 6. A $199 Fast Tracks 4-Pack gets express-lane access on nine lifts for four days you choose.
2. Parking. General parking at West Village, Sunrise and Skyliner is still free and first-come, first-served. A limited number of paid, reservable premium spaces are available at West Village and Sunrise.
3. Transit. The Cascades East Transit winter route leaves Bend from Hawthorne Station and the Mt. Bachelor Park & Ride near the Pavilion on Columbia Street, and stops at West Village and Sunrise. It runs seven days a week, holidays included. As of mid-October, the page still showed last season's April 20 end date, so watch for the 2026–27 start.
4. Out-of-town guests. If visitors are staying in Tetherow's Lodges or vacation rental homes, Tetherow's shuttle page describes a winter Mt. Bachelor shuttle for $30 per person per day. It leaves the Guest Services Building at 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and picks up at the mountain at noon and 4 p.m. It goes to West Village only, not Sunrise Lodge. Reservations open two weeks before arrival and need at least 24 hours' notice. Call 877-298-2582 to confirm this season's schedule.

Everything listed above depends on the same two feet of snow that sets opening day.

At Bend Lifestyle REALTORS®, Rachel spent years as an outdoor guide before she started selling homes, and our team still plans its winters around Century Drive. If you're thinking about how close your Tetherow address puts you to the lifts and trails, or you'd like to know what your home is worth heading into ski season, book a free consultation and home valuation with us.