For the third year in a row, Mt. Bachelor has increased its alpine skiing season pass prices by $20, the ski area announced Thursday.

In addition, the price of daily adult lift tickets also will go up $5.

An adult season pass purchased before Oct. 1 will cost $889 for the 2015-16 season, up from $869. Likewise, passes purchased after Sept. 30 will cost $1,089 up from $1,069. The increases are 2.3 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively.

Daily lift tickets will cost $84 in the upcoming season, up from $79 the last two seasons.

Drew Jackson, communications specialist for Mt. Bachelor, said the increases have to do with rising costs to the ski area, including legal and regulatory health insurance costs. In previous years, costs like propane and maintenance have driven up the costs, according to Jackson.

“Every year, our fixed costs go up,” Jackson said.

The season pass prices for other age groups increased as well. Young adults, those between the ages of 19 and 26, will now pay $419 for passes purchased by Sept. 30 and $499 after, up from $399 and $489, respectively. Teen and youth season passes increased by $20 across the board.

Additionally, Jackson said the ski area will be introducing a Multi-Access Experience, or M.A.X., Pass this season. The pass will allow 110 total days of skiing at 21 ski areas across the United States and Canada, including Mt. Bachelor. On its own, the M.A.X. pass costs $699.

Mt. Bachelor season pass holders can buy the M.A.X. for an additional $249 to get five additional days of skiing at each of the 21 other ski areas, for 105 days total.

The M.A.X. Pass is operated through Powdr, Mt. Bachelor’s parent company. Jackson said the pass provides access to other Powdr ski areas as well as those operated by Colorado-based Intrawest and Michigan-based Boyne Resorts.

“Last year we offered a reciprocal skiing and riding program with other resorts,” Jackson said. “The M.A.X. Pass replaces that.”

Other pass packages and their prices are:

• Midweek adult season passes, $609 by Sept. 30 and $739 after.

• 12-day passes, $499 by Sept. 30 and $589 after.

• Four-day passes, $179 by Sept. 30. They may not be sold after that date, according to Mt. Bachelor’s website.

A nordic season pass for adults will cost $249 if purchased before Oct. 1 and $319 after, according to the website.

Because of a change in legal liability stemming from a lawsuit against Mt. Bachelor that was settled in January, Jackson said, the resort now requires an electronic signature for all pass holders. As a result, each new pass holder requires a new ID.

— Reporter: 541-617-7818,

shamway@bendbulletin.com