Mt. Bachelor

Mt. Bachelor is a 9,065 ft msl peak in the Central Oregon Cascades, located approximately 20 miles west of the city of Bend. It is a popular ski area with lift service from 6,300 ft msl to the summit. The Desert Air Riders (DAR) Central Oregon paragliding club and the Cascade Paragliding Club have made arrangements with the ski area to allow lift-assisted paragliding from the time the lifts open in the fall until the lifts close the following Fourth of July -- seven or eight months in a typical year. Because Mt. Bachelor is an insured flying site, pilots are required to purchase a paragliding pass from the DAR to help offset the cost of the insurance. The pilot qualifications for flying at Mt. Bachelor are listed below. If you want to purchase a pass or have any questions about Mt. Bachelor, contact one of the DAR Mt. Bachelor guides listed below.

Pilot Qualifications for Paragliding at Mt. Bachelor:
1. Pilots must be members of the U.S. Hang Gliding Association.
2. Pilots must have an Intermediate (Para III) USHGA rating, or a Novice (Para II) USHGA rating with 20 hours of logged air time and 90 logged flights, or a foreign rating equivalent to an Intermediate rating. Novice pilots must show logbook.
3. Pilots must have either a high altitude special skill sign off or a logbook showing flights launched above 6,000 ft msl.
4. Pilots must have a two-way radio tuned to 151.625, a reserve parachute, a helmet, and boots appropriate for walking/launching on snow.
5. Pilots must be 18 year of age or older.
6. Pilots must purchase a Mt. Bachelor Paragliding pass from the DAR (cost $10 for seven days or $30 per year).
7. Pilots must purchase lift tickets (cost per ride to the summit is approximately $9 for pilots who purchase a points ticket).
8. All flying must be done under the supervision of a guide approved by the DAR and Mt. Bachelor.
9. Any pilot who has caused problems at any other site will not be permitted to fly.
10. All USHGA rules and guidelines apply.
11. All FAA rules and guidelines apply.

Directions to Site: Before flying at Mt. Bachelor you must contact a paragliding guide and arrange a time to meet at the ski area. From the town of Bend, drive 22 miles west on Century Drive until you reach Mt. Bachelor ski area. Meet the guide at either the Sunrise lodge or the West Village lodge, depending on which lifts are in use. Sign a waiver at the Information Booth in the lodge (or at the ticket window if the Information Booth is closed).

Landing Zone and Launch Notes: The LZ is located in the flat area NW of the base of the Skyliner chairlift -- if it's your first time flying at Bachelor be sure to walk the LZ with a guide and discuss the approaches. If landing into a north wind set up your approach over the trees so you don't fly close to the Skyliner lift. All launch sites are at or near the summit. Ride the chairlift to the summit with a guide, who will choose an appropriate launch based on the conditions each day. The only lifts that are insured for foot traffic are the Sunrise chair, the Pine Marten chair and the Summit chair. Use only these three chairlifts and do not attempt to go up on the Skyliner chair or any other.

Notable paraglider flights: During the months of April, May and June, thermal flights are common at Mt. Bachelor. The best altitude gain during the first season of flying (1996) was to 11,600' msl over the summit. The flight from Mt. Bachelor to Tumalo Mountain has been done many times, and Tumalo has proven to be a good thermal trigger. During the spring of 1999 John Van Duzer flew 13.6 miles east along Century Drive toward Bend, landing just short of the Inn of the Seventh Mountain. Hang gliders launched from Mt. Bachelor have flown triangles in the Cascades and have also flown all the way to Bend.

Mountain conditions and information: See the Mt. Bachelor website.

Bachelor to Millican Map

DAR Mt. Bachelor Guides: (click on name to see phone number & email address)
Richard Anderson
Frankie Aspinwall
Bill Burks
Matt Dadam
Shawn Hasse
Jeff Huey
Pete Keane
Phil Pohl
Steve Roti
Tony Sleznick
Bill Taylor
John Van Duzer
George Young (site liaison)

Submitted by: Steve Roti
Last Revision Date: 8/17/2002


Last Revision Date: 7/21/01