Winter sports began in the Cascades in the 1920s when Scandinavian lumber workers who came to Central Oregon to work the lumber mills formed the Bend Skyliners Mountaineering Club. In 1958, Bill Healy and the Skyliners sold $25 shares to 180 Bend locals to produce the $100,000 needed for start-up- no small task in a town of 12,000- and Bachelor Butte ski area opened that year. Mt. Bachelor is now the 6th largest ski resort in North America – with over 4,000 skiable acres, 3,365 feet of vertical drop, and 101 runs to explore, in addition to its Nordic Center for cross-country skiing and snowshoe tours. More than just skiing and snowboarding, The Mountain (as it’s called in town, as in “you going to The Mountain today?”) also features snow tubing and dog sledding in the winter and a mountain bike park (complete with bike rentals and bike camps), lift rides to Pine Marten Lodge for sunset dinners, a disc golf course and more in the summer. They feature a Kids Ski Free program and a variety of ticket combos and pass options so you can save a little coin on your snowriding adventure.