BEND, OR -- Mt. Bachelor will open on a limited basis on Monday, November 24th, several days ahead of schedule.  Management had planned to open by Thanksgiving weekend, but moved that date up after the area was blanketed in snow.  Drew Jackson with Mt. Bachelor says it's a good sign for the season. "We're really optimistic about the way the season is starting. Summer really went on into the fall, but now that theweather has turned and snow is falling, we have high hopes for big snow totals this weekend and we're really excited and set for a great start and a good weekend coming up."

Jackson says it'll be a soft opening, Monday. "We will have the Accelerator Lift open and a little terrain park and also the Nordic Center."  He tells KBND News, "With the forecast for the weekend calling for more snow, hopefully that will allow us to open more lifts next week. Monday and Tuesday, the Sunshine Accelerator Lift will be open 9-4.  They hope to open the Pine Martin and Skyliner lifts by Wednesday.