Termas de Chillan (Mini TR)

[el penoso]

No action pics sorry. Just some pics of the terrain of the resort. The resort is larger than the pictures suggest over 25,000 acres. Since my rental rear entry boots broke as well as collapsed sidewall on the Rossy Rebels I wasnt able to explore a fraction of that. I am kicking myself for not bringing my own equipment.


The road is full of Chillian gapers. The people seem to be everywhere on the road they dont seem to understand that the road is for driving not for shooting the shit. Good thing for them its not powder day or else im sure i would have a few dents.

The mountain at a distance. It expands further to the left. I think the right side is the furthest you can travel and still be "inbounds".

The right side if the mtn. The traverse from the top didnt look to hard either. I was thinking about hitting it up until i felt the lack of control i had from my rear entries.

The summit of Chillan. There is another peak to the right.


looking again at the right side if you look closely you can see some steam vents on the right.




Many cornices to launch off.

The hostel we stayed at in Las Trancas...great deal like 20$ per person including dinner and breakfast.

My equipment was shitty but the view was top notch. Thats Antuco to the left.

I plan to return this weekend.....with better equipment this time.

[MadPatSki]

I was just looking for some Beta for Las Trancas and found this TR. I guess that what happens when you spend some quality family time at the beach.

Nice TR. Termas de Chillan is on my potential list for August 30-31. I need to figure out the logistics of getting there and back.

I have the hostel and train info for Santiago-Chillean for August 29. I know there are buses from Chillean to Termas (but I cannot find the details). Did you have a car or did you bus it?

[Mach Looney]

Cool TR.

When I went there I just asked information at the train station, and even with my poor spanish they set me straight. There's a bus station very close to the train station, about half a block away. Just take the bus and it will drop you off right in front of Hosteling International. You hop on and there's a guy who collects payment once you're moving. If I remember right the bus comes once an hour.

Get some action shots!

[el penoso]

I have done both...having a car is recommended. The last time I went up by "Micro" (small bus) and all i can say is that it gets you there. It is very slow and can be crowded. Its not the most comfortable, seats suck and its cold due to there not being a heater. One thing I can say is that its cheap about 3 or 4 dollars.
We got dropped off in one of the plazas in Chillan the bus terminal was about a ten minute walk. Take a taxi if your bus does not go to the terminal. Get there a little early and when you see your bus go directly to the back (trunk), hand your shit off to the guy tell him where your are going (he will already know from the skis and u being a gringo) and get on through the BACK door. This is to ensure you getting a seat on the bus, unless you want to stand for two hours. Tickets are bought on the bus during the ride so don't worry.
Having a morning arrival might be best. I left Chillan at 7pm. so everyone was going home I was lucky to get a seat. One more thing to add if you decide to take a bus there keep in mind you will probably have to hitch hike to the mountain (unless your staying at the pricey resort) The mountain is ten minutes by car from Las Trancas. Shouldn't be problem though there are plenty of nice people driving up the road. Good luck, have fun.

Here is a cool picture of the mtn. i found at one of the hostels.

[MadPatSki]

Thanks for the info Mach Looney and el penoso.

I have done both...having a car is recommended.

Being solo, probably not going to happen...so it will be the old crowded bus if I go (I still haven't decided at 100% if I wanted to squeeze Chillan and a quick trip South in my two week trip).

Having a morning arrival might be best. I left Chillan at 7pm.

I'll be landing in Santiago at 10:30am, then I need to find the train station so I'm not exactly sure yet at what time I'll be in Chillan?

One more thing to add if you decide to take a bus there keep in mind you will probably have to hitch hike to the mountain (unless your staying at the pricey resort) The mountain is ten minutes by car from Las Trancas. Shouldn't be problem though there are plenty of nice people driving up the road. Good luck, have fun.

There is no way on hoping on one of those buses coming up in the morning? Hitching a ride isn't a problem either. Question about Las Trancas. Should I make advance reservations (just in case).

Get some action shots!

I would love too...but hard to do when you're solo.

Unless I find someone to team up with me.

[shamrockpow]

I´m showing up in SCL on August 30. Not sure where I`ll go, but Chillan is an option -- drop me a PM. Just curious, but why would you take the train instead of the comfy and cheap bus that leaves south once an hour from SCL?

Thanks for the TR Penoso! Base looks decent, but not great. Any idea how Chillan compares to the VN/Parva/Portillo areas for base right now?

[Doremite]

Highly recommend Termas. Very mellow "crowd" wise and fantastic terrain. A bit of a haul, but place is a blast....... Recommend car as well, but understand that's tough if you're solo. No beta on bus, but sounds like others have provided plenty of info. I'm just here to encourage. Git 'er done.

[el penoso]

It wouldnt hurt to make reservations. But I think you will be ok. All the hostels and cabañas were not even close to being full the last few weekends. That hostel I have pictured is an excellent place to stay. Its very warm and cozy and the chances are good in meeting someone that can give you a ride to the mountain. Plus thats where the bus drops you off.



Any idea how Chillan compares to the VN/Parva/Portillo areas for base right now?[/QUOTE]

The resorts near Santiago just got dumped on (1/2 meter). Im hearing there has been some record low temperatures in Santiago and even snowed there as well. I will be going up there at the end of this month I hope it sticks around.

[MadPatSki]

I´m showing up in SCL on August 30. Not sure where I`ll go, but Chillan is an option.

That's 24 hr after me.

Just curious, but why would you take the train instead of the comfy and cheap bus that leaves south once an hour from SCL?

Got some good Beta about that train ride + scenery from it. I don't recall the exact time, but I think the schedule would fit my timing + the train isn't that expensive and faster (4hr travel instead of 6?).

Base looks decent, but not great. Any idea how Chillan compares to the VN/Parva/Portillo areas for base right now?

I've been told that coverage is generally better at Chillan versus Three Valleys. Anyway, I planning to see the difference myself in this trip.

Chillan 30-31
Three Valleys 2-4
Portillo 5-8
Arpa 9

That is, of course, a preliminary plan as what I'm currently thinking.

[MadPatSki]

It wouldnt hurt to make reservations. But I think you will be ok. All the hostels and cabañas were not even close to being full the last few weekends. That hostel I have pictured is an excellent place to stay. Its very warm and cozy and the chances are good in meeting someone that can give you a ride to the mountain. Plus thats where the bus drops you off.

Hi EL Penoso or others,

It shouldn't be a problem considering that I would be staying there midweek.

While I was looking for some bus information (return especially), I found a list of bus going up to Las Trancas (confirming that there is more than two buses a day).

http://www.chil-in.com/index.php?p=bus&lg=gb

Do you have any Beta on Chil'In Hostel? It slightly more expensive, but it mentioned somewhere on their website and they offer shuttle to the ski area.

I have another question. Does Termas de Chillan have issue with road clossure due to weather? I'm on a ongoing ski streak and I would hate to not be able to make my August turns (note: landing in Santiago on the 29th).

Comments and opinions are welcomed.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

Aw, yeah! Snow! I need to get me some of that soon!!!!

[Alkasquawlik]

Thanks to the peeps with the info in this thread. Termas here I come!

[MadPatSki]

Plans are being shift around if I'm solo or joined by some fellow Ottawa skiers.

So it will be either 30-31 (solo) or a few days between Sept 1-4 (not solo). So I either start South or ski above Santiago until my partners land.

[Snow Ranger]

very nice pics. i need to go there. one thing i noticed that is strange. why are the ski tracks on top of the snow surface rather than down in the snow? is this backasswardness related in some way to how toilet water flushes counter clockwise in some countries?

[zion]

40 cm of powder today!!!!!!!!!
No winds!!!!!!!!
You can't imagine how we screwed everything up there!!! or try to imagine, until you got the video!!!!

just a view of Pucon (ski start at 7min) lifestyle and ride in vilarica volcano
http://www.zapiks.fr/pucon-the-hard-way.html

[LaZapatilla]

I have another question. Does Termas de Chillan have issue with road clossure due to weather? I'm on a ongoing ski streak and I would hate to not be able to make my August turns (note: landing in Santiago on the 29th).

Comments and opinions are welcomed.

I stayed in Las Trancas several years ago for 2 months and I don't think they ever closed the road to Termas while I was there. And traveling without a car is ok. Like someone else said before, there are plenty of nice people driving up the road; Chilenos are very friendly people. Have fun!

[Jiehkevarri]

Random bumb.

I guess SA skiing is pretty discussed issue here, at this time of the year.

I miss the place. And agree on most points on this thread...you don't necessarily need a car, nice terrain with lots of possibilities, relatively cheap (at least it was back in 2002), nice people etc.

I wrote a post to our blog a few days ago about Termas del Chillan (with some more pics, if you're interested. Kind of a re-run though, as I posted these looong time ago already here):

http://homeboyski.com/2008/05/20/ski...as-de-chillan/

[alfajores]

very nice pics. i need to go there. one thing i noticed that is strange. why are the ski tracks on top of the snow surface rather than down in the snow? is this backasswardness related in some way to how toilet water flushes counter clockwise in some countries?

The raised tracks are the result of skiing on something like pow or anything compressible then having the rest melt and/or blow away because the tracks compressed, allowing the snow to become ice and get hard. Incredible how a college course on Mars can finally be applied to skiing!

[GoNads]

Termas de Chillan is sick! Went there for 4 weeks in Sept for summers 2004-2006. If you can put up with all the racers, it's an amazing resort... but its getting more and more popular each year. Back in 04 we were the only people on the hill some days, but now its packed.

We also got hit with 20+ft of snow in 4 days.

These are a few I could find. Can't forget the chilean army dudes that are stationed there...




Burried T-Bar, cat ride pls.



Blurry, but 7am loading...




On the volcano.



AM cat ride to top of DH course.



No snow here... outside our condo.




First of 5 lifts to get to the top.



Arsty photos...


Me and teammates lines. Not possible anymore.



Sunsets...

[squeakygonzalez]

Chil-In is wayyyyyyyyyyy better than the HI hostel, have stayed at both. It is further away from the last part of the road that goes up to termas but as it is a big place and lots of gringos there with cars potentially easier to get a ride up. Catching that bus that comes up from Chillan up to Las Trancas is tough to flag down. ONe option that is guaranteed is actually staying in Chillan and going back and forth, but Chillan is not too exciting unless you speak Spanish and know where to go. Chil -In has hot water, wifi and staff and breakfast is very good. It is within walking distance of the most important bar in Termas or Las Trancas, the SNOWPUB! Basically the only bar. Saturday nights go off here. I jsut found some good beta for buses off a new accommodation place in Las Trancas' website, Ecobox Andino. The last option would be best and never seen before, it is Santiago straight to Las Trancas!

REMbus schedules (year round):

CHILLÁN-LAS TRANCAS
7:50 | 11:15 | 12:40 | 13:20 | 15:10 | 17:50 (monday-saturday) | 19:20 (monday-saturday)

LAS TRANCAS-CHILLÁN
7:30 (monday-saturday) | 10:00 | 13:00 | 14:50 | 17:00 | 17:30

Nilahue bus schedules

Terminal Rodoviario María Teresa de Chillán :
CHILLÁN-LAS TRANCAS 12:30 | 19:30

Terminal Alameda Santiago. Phone: (+56-2) 7785222
SANTIAGO-LAS TRANCAS 6:50 | 14:55

If you have some extra $$$$ the best place to stay in Las trancas is the Mi Lodge, www.milodge.com