MT. BACHELOR — Skiing and snowboarding were once my main wintertime escapes.

Every season, I made it up to Mt. Bachelor at least 12 to 15 times, often finding endless powder turns and never worrying about where to park.

The last few years, I’ve grown weary of competing with all the tech bros for parking spaces and fresh tracks. Rising costs and crowds, and more demands in my personal and professional life have limited my days on the mountain.

I am more apt to go winter mountain biking or cross-country skiing these days, though I still don’t know if I truly enjoy Nordic skiing. Every time I make the trip to Meissner Sno-park just west of Bend, I think of comedian Jim Gaffigan’s bit: “What kind of an anti-depressant do you have to be on to enjoy cross-country skiing? ‘Hey, you know that awkward part in downhill skiing where you’re trying to get over to the lift? What if we just did that?’”

So, yes, I like downhill skiing much more, but I pine for the good old days of $39 lift tickets and no lift lines.

I’ve lived in Bend for nearly 23 years, and I realize I sound like a crusty old Bend local, and I guess I am. But a sunny day on the hill filled with fresh snow and positive vibes can make one forget about the good old days, and just be grateful for what we still have.

This weekend’s Central Oregon trail conditions

March in with fresh tracks; Winter storm brings powder-filled weekend

A late start to the season

I finally made it up to Bachelor on Feb. 23 for my first day of downhill skiing this winter, and I was reminded of why I love it so much.

This was definitely my latest first day of the season in my 22 years of skiing and riding at Bachelor. While I used to purchase a season pass or a 12-day pass, the last few years I have settled for the four-day pass ($349). That comes out to about $87 per day. (Skiers can currently buy single-day lift tickets for March, ranging from $99 to $152, at mtbachelor.com.)

By the time I arrived at Bachelor the Sunrise Lodge parking lot was full. I ended up parking in the far corner of the West Village lot, about a quarter-mile from the Pine Marten chairlift.

When I parked, a car near me was bumping some sort of techno-pop only a teenager or a 20-something could love. Two young ladies were nursing White Claws — my dashboard clock read 9:57 a.m. It was noon somewhere.

Finally back on the chairlift

Already in a bad mood, the long, awkward walk to the lift in my ski boots did not make me any happier. But the lift line was actually not that long. Most all the lifts were open, spreading the guests across the mountain.

As soon as I hit the soft, pristine snow on the Olympian Run, I was back in my glory days, shredding turns on a memorable bluebird winter day at the sixth-largest ski resort in North America.

I ventured over to the Cloudchaser lift, navigating the narrow runs of Wanoga and Jet Stream. Then I headed up the Summit lift for two long, thigh-burnings runs down the groomed Healy Heights. Normally I would drop off the ungroomed backside or into the Cirque Bowl, but I figured that would be a little too much for me to handle on my first day of the season.

I cruised over to the Outback and Northwest chairlifts, enjoying endless runs and sprawling Cascade views on the cloudless, windless day.

Simply put, I was reminded of why I love skiing.

Crowds and rising costs an issue across the West

I realize the issues of surging crowds and soaring costs are not unique to Mt. Bachelor. They are present at major ski resorts across the West. Twice on the chairlift I sat next to folks from Seattle who regaled me with tales of traffic horrors at Stevens Pass and Crystal Mountain ski resorts.

To avoid surging crowds and costs, skiers and snowboarders can venture to smaller Oregon resorts like Hoodoo, Willamette Pass, Mt. Ashland, Anthony Lakes and Warner Canyon. Many of these hills were discovered or re-discovered by Bend locals during the pandemic.

But we should never forget what we have right here: incredible skiing and snowboarding just a half hour from Bend — an hour on the weekends.