Thread: South America 2012

^^^ Sweet! Good for you!

Snowing at Arpa...

Does anybody want to ski to Frey in the am? Weather is going to break and the snow should be as good as it has all year. Please let me know if anybody wants to go. Need a partner, help a brother out

Glad to see that things are looking better elsewhere in the Andes. Here in Las Leñas, conditions are not great. This recent storm is more or less missing us... just a few inches out of it so far.
Here is a video from skiing today, plus some shots from the Cuyam-co trout farm in Malargue.






Unofficial Andes

here is a few clips from my trip to chile last week, skiing is all inbounds at valle nevado. my editing skills are not the greatest but thought id share

https://vimeo.com/47559384

Big storm has been hitting Portillo the last 2 days. About 20-25 inches so far. Snow predicted for tomorrow as well.

Portillo pic from today from Jimmer who's instructing down there this winter

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...87891150_n.jpg

Originally Posted by Cheftres

Does anybody want to ski to Frey in the am? Weather is going to break and the snow should be as good as it has all year. Please let me know if anybody wants to go. Need a partner, help a brother out

Hey when do you want to go? I am in Chillan now, but will head to Bariloche in a couple of days.

Slowly started to focus on my Andes trips....I was away on family vacation. Heard the season wasn't great until recently.

Probably looking at Chillan right now. What areas are having a bad year? The place to hit in less than 2 weeks.

My range is anywhere between Arpa and Esquel. I would like to return to Chillan, I haven't been since 2007 and his probably one of my fav.

Landing in ushuaia this week. Finger crossed.

Originally Posted by MadPatSki

Probably looking at Chillan right now. What areas are having a bad year? The place to hit in less than 2 weeks.

Chillan is probably the best call this year. They have consistently gotten the most snow all season.

Originally Posted by llyon

Chillan is probably the best call this year. They have consistently gotten the most snow all season.

That was my impression from taking a few quick looks this summer, but I haven't certain. It would seem Patagonia (from Bayo to La Hoya) and Los Penintentes are the poor right now. How is Las Lenas?

So from Portillo to Chillan would be good, however I noticed that the lake wasn't frozen. Pucon would seem to have the snow, if only it had some lift-assisted steeper slopes.

Anyone have some beta on Antillanca? Never been and not much info. I wouldn't mind checking that place out.

Lake is not frozen but as it is Lake Run has probably the worst snow in Portillo today. Crusty mank. Otherwise skiing is very good here. Patrol says maybe 20 cm tomorrow.


Don't know if you can see the traverse in the rock face.

Lenas is ok right now. It's supposed to snow tomorrow and Thursday. It has been the same all season really.... all the main lines are filled in, the base is melted out, and there is some good soft snow to be found in the right spots.






http://unofficialnetworks.com/las-le...rs-fun-105303/

Originally Posted by llyon

Lenas is ok right now

I arrived Saturday and

Have not gotten the hang of mobile posting. But so far I've been a bit underwhelmed, although the potential of the place is clear. Any skiing is better than no skiing. Kudos to llyon for all the stoke. May skin up some easy aprons. Noticed a guy with a white pack and red shell ripping hard.

Originally Posted by llyon

Lenas is ok right now. It's supposed to snow tomorrow and Thursday. It has been the same all season really.... all the main lines are filled in, the base is melted out, and there is some good soft snow to be found in the right spots.






http://unofficialnetworks.com/las-le...rs-fun-105303/

thanks for the usual stoke! waiting for a good moment to head to LL. what do you think? try next week expecting that the storm is bigger than forecasted or wait untill september?

Originally Posted by MadPatSki

Anyone have some beta on Antillanca? Never been and not much info. I wouldn't mind checking that place out.

Like a mini-Portillo in set up.

No lake though. And no towering peaks.

Accommodation, food, entertainment, and skiing all on site. Good drive from nearest town, so stay & play is the way.

Great place. Low key and good value when I was there.

Mellow mountain accessed by t-bars.

No one skiing off-piste when I was there and great powder.

Loads and I mean loads of touring potential with more challenging terrain.

Pics and words here
http://www.snowsphere.com/features/c...he-andes-part1

Originally Posted by Mike Pow

Like a mini-Portillo in set up.

No lake though. And no towering peaks.

Accommodation, food, entertainment, and skiing all on site. Good drive from nearest town, so stay & play is the way.

Great place. Low key and good value when I was there.

Mellow mountain accessed by t-bars.

No one skiing off-piste when I was there and great powder.

Loads and I mean loads of touring potential with more challenging terrain.

Pics and words here
http://www.snowsphere.com/features/c...he-andes-part1

Thanks for the info and link (I'll read when I get home). I've seen some info on Antillanca and it's been on the next-to visit list for SA ski areas prior to the last trip, but it was always second hand information. It is also hard to get info or to get to when traveling solo.

I would look into getting there without a car, not sure how realistic it is. Hard to now if it is even open? Probably, but what would be the conditions. Anyway, I've had the similar issues prior to showing up at places like La Hoya or Los Penintentes a few years ago.

a local buddy of mine was planning on going there first week of sept. This was 10 days ago when he was in chillan (not much snow there), local peeps in las trancas said antillanca had the snow. my buddy hit the portillo storm this past weekend.

He was saying that he was going to either fly in or bus it from Santiago to Antillanca (near Puerto Montt, right?).

I'll post up some more feedback if he goes...

Originally Posted by MadPatSki

Thanks for the info and link (I'll read when I get home). I've seen some info on Antillanca and it's been on the next-to visit list for SA ski areas prior to the last trip, but it was always second hand information. It is also hard to get info or to get to when traveling solo.

I would look into getting there without a car, not sure how realistic it is. Hard to now if it is even open? Probably, but what would be the conditions. Anyway, I've had the similar issues prior to showing up at places like La Hoya or Los Penintentes a few years ago.

Plenty of info here

http://www.antillanca.cl/

And looks like they've got a chairlift now too.

Originally Posted by MadPatSki

Pucon would seem to have the snow, if only it had some lift-assisted steeper slopes.

Anyone have some beta on Antillanca? Never been and not much info. I wouldn't mind checking that place out.

Pucon has good terrain - the key is hike up and/or traverse as far out as possible to the untouched slopes. Summit hike and run is great if conditions and permisos allow.

Antillanca is cool, super mellow and small compared to most other places. Hike the Casablanca volcano if a clear day, but beware the sudden socking in of clouds = 0 visibility. I stayed down the road at the hot springs in their cabanas - Aquas Calientes. Cheaper and nice springs pool to swim in. Chance that you'd get stuck down road with a really big dump, but... http://www.termasaguascalientes.cl/

Thanks Mike, I had seen the website. I was just trying to get the latest snow conditions and see if the lifts were actually running. Hoarhey seem to collaborate that there is potential some good snow there.

Originally Posted by smitchell333

Pucon has good terrain - the key is hike up and/or traverse as far out as possible to the untouched slopes. Summit hike and run is great if conditions and permisos allow.

Been to Pucon and skinned up until we were socked in. Pucon has been a stopover on par of two trips, I wouldn't necessarily return, especially if you consider the flatness of the place if you are only using lifts.

Originally Posted by smitchell333

Antillanca is cool, super mellow and small compared to most other places. Hike the Casablanca volcano if a clear day, but beware the sudden socking in of clouds = 0 visibility. I stayed down the road at the hot springs in their cabanas - Aquas Calientes. Cheaper and nice springs pool to swim in. Chance that you'd get stuck down road with a really big dump, but... http://www.termasaguascalientes.cl/

I'll be spending a few days in Termas, but I might head further down at check it out. And maybe 1-2 days above Santiago before flying back to Canada two weeks later.

Whats up guys

Im in the middle of a 5 month SA tour and want to ski a couple of days in chile.
Is it out if line to see if anyone resides either in santiago or close to a mountain and wants a couch surfer for a couple nights.
Im 26 and have been a squaw local for the past 5 years. Any insight or advice would be much appreciated.

Jeff
Jrsaslowsky AT gmail.com

hope the storms keep coming, heard it's been a bummer season so far. sounds like chile is finally getting it. bummed to not make it this year but again soon for sure!