Mount Bachelor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Bachelor |
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Mount Bachelor from the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (east of the mountain)
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 9,068 ft (2,764 m) NAVD 88 |
| Geography | |
| Location | Deschutes County, Oregon, U.S. |
| Parent range | Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Bachelor |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | less than 15,000 years |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano (on top of a shield volcano) |
| Volcanic arc | Cascade Volcanic Arc |
| Last eruption | 5800 BC |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Ski lifts |
Mount Bachelor, once called Bachelor Butte, is a large volcano in central Oregon. It is part of the Cascade Range and the Cascade Volcanic Arc. This mountain is a stratovolcano sitting on top of an older shield volcano.
Mount Bachelor got its name because it "stands apart" from the nearby Three Sisters mountains. It is the northernmost volcano in the Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain, which is about 15 miles (24 km) long. This chain has had four big eruptions over thousands of years. Scientists think Mount Bachelor is a moderate threat, but it's not expected to erupt soon. It's still a mystery if it's truly extinct or just sleeping.
The Mount Bachelor ski area opened on the mountain in 1958. It's a popular place for winter fun like snowshoeing, snow skiing, snow tubing, and dog sledding. You can even hike to the top on a trail that goes over old lava flows. The mountain's summit also has the Mount Bachelor Observatory, which is used for scientific research.
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Where is Mount Bachelor Located?
Mount Bachelor is in Deschutes County, Oregon, in the Cascade Range. It's south of the Three Sisters volcano group. The mountain stands 9,068 feet (2,764 meters) tall. It rises about 3,500 feet (1,067 meters) from its base.
The volcano is about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Tumalo Mountain. It's also about 18 miles (29 km) southwest of the city of Bend. Mount Bachelor is located within the Deschutes National Forest.
Weather Around Mount Bachelor
The weather here changes a lot because of something called a rain shadow. This happens because of the Cascade Range mountains. Air from the Pacific Ocean moves up the western side of the mountains. As it rises, it cools and drops its moisture as rain or snow.
Once the air crosses the mountains, it goes down the eastern side. This makes the air warmer and drier. On the western slopes, it can rain or snow 80 to 125 inches (203 to 318 cm) each year. On the eastern slopes, it's drier, with 40 to 80 inches (102 to 203 cm) of precipitation. Summer temperatures can reach 80 to 90°F (27 to 32°C). In winter, it can get very cold, dropping to -20 to -30°F (-29 to -34°C).
How Mount Bachelor Formed
Mount Bachelor is one of several volcanoes in the eastern part of the Cascade Range. This area is called the High Cascades. These mountains formed towards the end of the Pleistocene Epoch, which was a long time ago. They sit on top of older volcanoes that sank due to cracks in the Earth's crust.
Mount Bachelor is the newest big volcano in the Three Sisters area of Oregon. This area has many volcanoes grouped closely together. Other peaks nearby include Belknap Crater, Mount Washington, Black Butte, and Three Fingered Jack to the north. To the south are Broken Top and Mount Bachelor. Most of these volcanoes are made of mafic lavas, which are rich in magnesium and iron. This type of lava is less thick and flows easily. It usually causes less explosive eruptions.
The Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain
The Mount Bachelor volcanic chain is southeast of South Sister. It includes Mount Bachelor, which is the largest volcano in the group. It also has several cinder cones, lava flows, and three shield volcanoes. The chain stretches for about 15 miles (24 km) and covers about 100 square miles (259 km²).
The volcanoes in this chain vary in size and shape. Some are steep cones from small explosions. Others are gently sloping shield volcanoes. The way the volcanoes line up shows how cracks in the Earth's crust affect them. This chain shows that many volcanoes in Oregon formed in short bursts of activity.
What Mount Bachelor is Made Of
Mount Bachelor is a stratovolcano with a symmetrical shape, built on top of a shield volcano. It formed between 18,000 and 8,000 years ago. The mountain is made of basalt and basaltic andesite rock. Even though the top cone formed after the base, they are made of similar materials.
The mountain has not been changed much by glaciers. There is a small bowl-shaped valley called a cirque on its northern side. This cirque was carved by a glacier. The glacier has broken down the lava into fine powder. However, the glacier has shrunk a lot recently due to a warmer climate.
The top of Mount Bachelor has several vents. These vents erupted block lava flows and had only small explosions. This is why there isn't much ash or rock from explosions near the top. There is no crater at the summit.
When Did Mount Bachelor Last Erupt?
Mount Bachelor last erupted between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago. The mountain is covered with ash from the huge eruption of Mount Mazama about 6,845 years ago. Today, there is no hot steam or gas coming from the volcano. Some spots that look like steam vents are just air moving through the mountain's porous rock. These spots can be dangerous for skiers and snowboarders because the snow underneath can be weak.
Other Nearby Volcanoes
Mount Bachelor is connected to several other volcanoes. These include cinder cones and shield volcanoes. Some nearby cones are Dry Butte, Egan Cone, and Red Crater. Shield volcanoes in the area include Sheridan Mountain and Lookout Mountain.
Mount Bachelor's Eruptive History
The Mount Bachelor Chain has been active during the Pleistocene and Holocene periods. Most eruptions were slow lava flows, with a few small explosions. These explosions created small cones and threw out volcanic rocks.
The chain had four main periods of eruption. The first started about 18,000 to 15,000 years ago. During this time, the Sheridan Mountain shield volcano formed. Some early eruptions happened under ice sheets, causing violent explosions. These explosions threw out volcanic rock into a nearby lake.
The second period had explosive eruptions that built cones and lava flows south of Sheridan Mountain. The third period created the shield volcano under Mount Bachelor. It also built the mountain's summit. Lava from Mount Bachelor flowed down its northern and northwestern sides. By 12,000 years ago, Mount Bachelor was almost its current size. The mountain was finished about 10,000 years ago.
The most recent activity in the chain created cones and lava flows, like the Egan cone on Mount Bachelor's lower northern side. Since ash from Mount Mazama covers the northern side, no eruptions have likely happened in the last 7,700 years.
In total, the Mount Bachelor chain has produced about 40 cubic kilometers (9.6 cubic miles) of volcanic material. Mount Bachelor itself accounts for about 25 cubic kilometers (6 cubic miles) of this. Scientists believe Mount Bachelor's volume was created in as little as 1,500 years.
What are the Dangers?
The United States Geological Survey says Mount Bachelor is a "moderate" threat. It's not likely to become an active volcano soon. It might be a "monogenetic volcanic field," meaning it only had one long series of eruptions and then stopped. But it could also just be inactive and erupt again in the future.
The Bachelor volcanic chain is in a lava flow hazard zone. Eruptions from these volcanoes could produce ash and lava flows that travel 3 to 9 miles (5 to 15 km) from the source. Close to the vents, ash could be up to 10 feet (3 meters) thick. Further away, it might only be 4 inches (10 cm) thick.
Lava flows move slowly, so people and animals can usually get out of the way. However, lava can block or change rivers and streams, which could cause floods. If Mount Bachelor erupted, it would greatly affect the ski area and put visitors in danger. An eruption from Mount Bachelor or nearby volcanoes is unlikely, but it would be a serious threat to the ski resort.
Mount Bachelor's History and Recreation
Mount Bachelor is called "Bachelor" because it stands alone, unlike the "Three Sisters" mountains. In the past, it was sometimes called "Brother Jonathan" or "Mount Brother."
Around World War II, many soldiers trained near Bend at Camp Abbot. At that time, Bend's economy relied on sawmills and farming. A small ski area opened at Mount Bachelor in 1941.
In 1958, the ski hill grew into a resort. The Bend Skyliners Mountaineering Club helped raise money to start it. The first chair lift was installed in 1962. The resort kept growing in the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity led to the mountain's name officially changing from Bachelor Butte to Mount Bachelor.
In the 1980s, the local economy faced challenges. But building a mall, a new chairlift to the top of Mount Bachelor, and the High Desert Museum helped the area recover. In 2013, a new plan was approved to develop the resort further. This plan included a mountain bike park, more chairlifts, new trails, and a zip line.
The top of Mount Bachelor has an observatory. It's run by a research group from the University of Washington Bothell and the ski resort. Scientists there study pollution that travels from Asia to the Pacific Northwest.
Fun Activities at Mount Bachelor
The Mount Bachelor ski area runs a chairlift in both summer and winter. This makes it the only major Cascade volcano with a chairlift to its summit. It's one of the biggest resorts in the Pacific Northwest. It has 3,683 acres (14.9 km²) of skiable area and a vertical drop of 3,365 feet (1,026 meters). There are also six terrain parks for skiers and snowboarders.
The resort is a hub for winter activities in Deschutes County. It works with the United States Forest Service to offer fun while protecting the forest. You can take tours with a naturalist to learn about local plants and animals. Other activities include snowshoeing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and dog sledding. In the summer, fishing, hiking, and camping are popular in the nearby lakes and streams.
You can hike to the top of Mount Bachelor on a trail that starts at 6,300 feet (1,920 meters). The trail gains 2,765 feet (843 meters) in elevation to reach the summit. It's a single-track trail that goes over jagged lava from the volcano. From the top, you can see the rest of the Mount Bachelor chain to the south. You can also see Lookout Mountain, the Three Sisters, Mount Jefferson, Mount Hood, and Mount Adams in Washington state.
