Odd jobs around Mt. Bachelor provide camaraderie, perks and the pursuit of skiing

If becoming a Volunteer Mountain Ambassador isn’t quite the right fit, Mt. Bachelor has an array of part-time and seasonal, odd jobs suitable for the 50-plus crowd that offer a chance to pursue a passion for skiing, and make a little extra money while doing it. Jobs around the mountain can be fun, provide a social outlet and offer excellent perks, including a free season pass, bus pass, locker, 30 percent off merchandise and 50 percent off food.

“I love it. It’s a really fun job and a great group of people,” said Jill Beaulieu, 58, who works part time as a reading tester for elementary-aged children for the High Desert Education Service District and part time in ticketing at Mt. Bachelor where she also sells season passes, ski and snowboard lessons and equipment rentals.

“I love being in the mountains, and I get to be where I love to be,” said Beaulieu, who is an avid telemark skier. “The customers are all really happy because they are going skiing. Every day is fun and crazy, and really busy. The people I work with are my favorite part of the job; it’s such a great crew.”

Around the mountain, there are many possibilities for part-time jobs, from working in the rental shop or one of the restaurants to helping in the onsite child care center or even with ski and snowboard lessons. Other seasonal positions might include driving the shuttle bus, assisting with ski lift maintenance operations, janitorial duties, selling merchandise, making coffee or serving as a security officer.

Mark Ramp, 59, is a retired air traffic controller from Alaska who has worked in the parking lots at Mt. Bachelor for the past four years.

“I worked 30 years indoors, so I was ready for a change,” said Ramp, who had retired and said he was driving his wife nuts being at home all the time. “My wife suggested I get a part-time job, and I love to ski, so I called Mt. Bachelor. They told me they needed someone in parking, so I interviewed with the manager and he hired me on the spot.”

Ramp said he agreed to work one day a week, but that quickly grew to two, then three, and eventually five days a week. He also worked in the rental shop last ski season, but said he missed working in parking so he moved back.

In line with being retired, Ramp has now scaled back to two days a week in parking again, and said he enjoys that time being outside and the positive energy of the people arriving at the mountain.

“In parking, we are there early, and if it’s not extremely busy, we are done by 10 or so and can hit the mountain or go do something else,” said Ramp, who spoke so highly of the job to his friends in Alaska that two of them have since moved here and now work in parking with him.

“Hey, this is a great gig. You get a free pass, and they even pay you a little bit. One guy who everyone calls ‘Coach’ is in his late 70s and drives the shuttle bus back and forth. In between bus runs, he puts on his cross country skies and goes out skiing.”