Mt. Bachelor, an active volcano rising above Oregon's high desert, is a low-key ski area that receives lots of light, dry snow.

Mt. Bachelor is not your typical mountain. At other resorts, the highest point often is difficult to distinguish from neighboring summits, which may be just a few feet higher or lower. But Mt. Bachelor, a stately volcanic cone that is part of the Cascade mountain range, rises from Oregon's high desert and is visible for miles in every direction. It is actually an active volcano with numerous steam vents around the runs, something that's sure to add a new dimension to your winter vacation.

Situated on the eastern side of the Cascades, where snow falls lighter and drier than at other northwestern resorts, Mt. Bachelor has become a popular destination for western skiers and snowboarders. Despite no on-mountain lodging and little nightlife, Mt. Bachelor attracts visitors with its dependable snowpack, clear dry air, average day-time winter temperatures of 25 degrees, and fine skiing and snowboarding from early November to July.

Visitors should keep in mind that all that snow results from a lot of storms, and winds often close the Summit Express chair, a high-speed quad to the 9,065-foot treeless summit. An average stormy day brings winds of 60 to 70 miles per hour, which can kick up ground blizzards where the snow swirls into a whiteout six feet high. Visibility is usually better lower on the