The Red Chair, with a fresh paint job Monday afternoon from Bend-based LTJ Chairlift Painting, awaits opening day at Mt. Bachelor.

The ski area west of Bend plans to open Nov. 23, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, snow permitting, according to Andy Goggins, Mt. Bachelor spokesman. Leif Williams, his counterpart at Hoodoo Ski Area west of Sisters, said Hoodoo plans to open Nov. 29, the day after the holiday, depending on the weather. While the ski hills are preparing to open, some mountain highways are closing in Central Oregon. The Oregon Department of Transportation closed McKenzie Pass Highway on Saturday and the Deschutes County Road Department announced Monday that it will close Cascade Lakes Highway on Thursday.