BEND, Ore. -- Those who were hoping for a few more warm late-summer days shouldn't give up hope, forecasters say -- though the snow that coated the slopes of Mt. Bachelor and the road to the resort Monday morning, and even brought an ODOT snowplow to Century Drive, could give just about anyone second thoughts.

Days after Mt. Bachelor announced its pass and ticket prices for the season -- and two days before they go on sale online Wednesday -- the temperatures on the mountain were at or just below freezing, and the live Webcam shot didn't look like August, but at least October.

As steady, even heavy rain fell in parts of the Bend area, the ODOT plow driver reported 1 1/2 inches of slush to remove from Century Drive, near the resort.

A snow-rain mix also was reported in Sunriver.

The snow levels dropped to around 4,500 feet Monday morning, with a couple of inches accumulating above 5,000 feet, the National Weather Service reported, adding that snow levels would rise back above 6,000 feet in the afternoon.

Avid cross-country skier John Kamna couldn't resist a chance to jump in the car and check it out.

"You will find I'm not the only crazy that comes out here this time of year," he said, strapping on the skis -- and indeed, some families with kids had to get an early taste of winter, too.

"I looked on the Webcam today and thought, 'I'm going up -- I'm going up,' Kamna said. "I've got to hit the first snow of the season, so I figured this was the day to do it."

Summer is normally time for sightseeing from the chairlift and at Pine Marten lodge. But the snow shut those summer operations at Mt. Bachelor for a time.

"Our summer sightseers weren't prepared for snow, and we're clouded in" said Tom Lomax, director of mountain operations.

NewsChannel 21 Meteorologist Bob Shaw said we can expect temperatures to warm back to the 70s for the next couple days and the 80s before the weekend -- even the upper 80s Friday, before another drop back to the 70s by Sunday.