Mt. Bachelor lift operator Jake Bowler, left, sits on a post while working at the bottom of the Summit chair at Mt. Bachelor on May 4, 2018. 

BEND — Less than a month after Mt. Bachelor had its earliest opening since 1998, the ski area continued its record-setting season by opening the notoriously unreliable Summit chairlift the earliest it has in a decade.

The ski area’s operations crew attributed this unexpected lift opening Tuesday, Dec. 10, to “a wealth of early season snow and clear, calm conditions over the last few days,” according to a news release, adding that the opening brings the total skiable footprint at the ski area to 2,800 acres.

Mt. Bachelor’s total skiable area is 4,300 acres, but much of that terrain is only accessible when the Summit and Northwest lifts are open. Among locals, both lifts are well-known for frequent closures due to wind, storm conditions or even staffing shortages. During the 2023-2024 season, Mt. Bachelor’s Summit opened a total of 53 days, whereas the ski area as a whole was open for 178 days, according to Presley Quon, communications community relations manager for Mt. Bachelor. 

Despite the area it serves being one of his favorite parts of the mountain, James Gritters, owner of Bend’s cycle and ski shop Skjersaas, said the Summit lift has become “kinda a joke” since COVID-era staffing shortages ramped up the lift’s unreliability.

“I’m surprised they didn’t open it earlier because they had plenty of coverage,” Gritters said. “Compared to last year where we were still renting cycles and there was no snow on the ground, this is epic that there is enough of a base that it’s fun up there.”

Snow coverage at Mt. Bachelor has been uncommonly good during  the early season this year, with some boarders and skiers hitting fresh powder as early as November. However, such conditions also mean those still getting warmed up for the season should be cautious of their limits and the dangers of downhill winter sports.

“It’s up to each visitor to pick the terrain that matches their ability level the closest, and if they are looking to progress their ability or test their limits, that they make sure they’re doing it in a controlled environment or with an attentive partner so that they can be there to help one another,” said Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol Director David Thomas.

In addition to the Summit lift, Mt. Bachelor  opened the Northwest lift Wednesday. Alpenglow and Rainbow lifts are set to open Saturday.

The ski area is expecting 14-22 additional inches of snow by Sunday evening, counteracting several inches of loss during warm weather this past week. Mt. Bachelor said in a news release on Tuesday that the West Village has a snow depth of 48 inches, and with “an active storm pattern ahead, skiers and riders can look forward to the best conditions in the Pacific Northwest leading into the holiday season.”