This is an important milestone for Central Oregon tourist-based business -- which is the biggest business in central Oregon:
Bachelor plans to open by holiday
Snowmaking efforts set to begin this weekend, as icy weather moves in
By Scott Hammers / The Bulletin
Published: November 16. 2011 4:00AM PST
An incoming storm followed by a weekend cold front has staff at Mt. Bachelor optimistic the ski area can open by Thanksgiving.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Mt. Bachelor had just 7 inches of snow at the base and at mid-mountain, but the National Weather Service is predicting steady snow through Saturday. Forecasts call for 2 to 4 inches today followed by another 4 to 8 inches tonight, and another 5 to 9 inches Thursday. Temperatures are expected to dip Friday — reducing the likelihood of snow — but meteorologist May Wister, with the weather service office in Pendleton, said 3 to 5 inches is still a strong possibility.
Mt. Bachelor spokesman Andy Goggins said the ski area plans to begin snowmaking on the runs off the Pine Marten Express lift this weekend, when daytime high temperatures on the mountain are projected to remain in the 20s.
I remember, back in the day, when there was almost no chance that Mt Bachelor ski area wouldn't be open for Thanksgiving, back then this wouldn't have been news. And that was long before they started snowmaking at Mt. B.
Global warming or just normal variation?