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 mountain, where the ski trails are protected by trees. But when the weather is clear and you're standing on top, you can see California's Mt. Shasta 180 miles to the south. That view, most commonly seen in spring, is fantastic. The most reliable weather (sunny!) occurs in February and March.

This is a resort that has been quick to embrace new concepts in the ski industry, such as electronic ticketing, a revolutionary ski school and high-speed quad chairs. It may be on the cutting edge of ski industry trends, but Mt. Bachelor manages to keep its atmosphere very untrendy. No one notices or cares whether your ski clothes match, or even how hot a skier or boarder you are.

Summit elevation: 9,065 feet
Vertical drop: 3,365 feet
Base elevation: 6,300 feet

Expert: +++
Advanced: +++
Intermediate: +++++
Beginner: ++++
First-timer: ++++

Dining: ++
Apres-ski/nightlife: ++
Other activities: +++

Address: P.O. Box 1000
Bend, OR 97709
Area code: 541
Ski area phone: 382-2442
Reservations: (800) 829-2442
Snow report: 382-7888
E-mail: info@mtbachelor.com
Internet: www.mtbachelor.com (resort); www.visitcentraloregon.com (lodging)

Number and types of lifts: 13—7 express quads, 3 triples, 2 tubing lifts, 1 moving carpet
Skiable acreage: 3,683 lift-served acres
Snowmaking: Limited
Uphill capacity: 21,000 per hour
Pipes & parks: 2 terrain parks, 1 slopestyle arena, 1 superpipe, 1 halfpipe
Bed Base: 7,500
Nearest lodging: 14 miles away in Bend
Resort child care: Yes, 6 weeks and older
Adult ticket, per day: $56 (07/08)