BEND, OR -- Mt. Bachelor's planned opening on the day after Thanksgiving is now in doubt. "We are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast, on conditions and - full transparency - we need some more snow." The resort's Lauren Burke tells KBND News an early season storm looked promising, but it was followed by rain that washed away almost all of the snow. 

Now, "There is not even close to enough snow on the mountain. It looks so snowy when you’re in town and you’re looking up here. But, just a couple inches of snow here and there really isn’t enough for us to safely ski; especially on the lower mountain," says Burke. 

Mt. Bachelor isn't alone, "Unfortunately, the west is off to a slower start, this season," says Burke, "Some resorts are starting to open with snow-making only. But, as we all know, snow will come. It’s just when it’s going to come and how much is going to come." And snow-making isn't an option for Bachelor yet, "Currently it’s much too warm to make snow. So, we need a mix. We need a mix of snow-making and some natural snowfall, right now."

She expects to know more Monday, once a more reliable forecast is out for the week, "Any little bit helps. Looking out there, there’s probably a couple of inches of a true base - six or so inches. But, in order to safely ski and cover those big volcanic rocks that you see at a place like Mt. Bachelor, you need a couple feet." Burke adds, "You know, if Mother Nature doesn’t exactly cooperate, we’re going to keep doing our snow dances and adjust based on conditions." 

Photo: The view from the Cloudchaser Lift, as of 11/17/23