TR: Move Along, Nothing To Ski Here (Argentina, mucho pics).

[MakersTeleMark]

Sarah and I recently returned from a very nice vacation (my first in 4 years) skiing based out of Bariloche, Argentina. I'll keep the write up short, as it would take thousands of words to demonstrate the depth of the entire experience. A couple need to be mentioned for sure:

This place rocks: http://www.barilochehouse.com/ Jamie and Shanie are ***** hosts. We will be back next year.

The snow pack is very interesting coming from a Colorado perspective. Almost every imaginable type of snow was found and skied ranging from thigh deep fresh powder to ice crust. The stability overall is scary (in a good way-- we skied slopes with angles and aspects that would be deadly here at home). The weather, when we were there at the end of winter, trying to bust into early spring, was variable, but mostly followed a cycle of bluebird, dumping powder, very high wind, bluebird. The winds were very violent at times and Sarah and I had to bail on an adventure to Frey because of them. Good thing though, as the snow pack really sucked the next two days because of it.

Other than that, I'd recommend that to really get the goods in the bc, you need 4wd. Our little Fiat was grounded a few times even on stuff we thought would be doable. I don't think there was a single hour over the entire time we had the car where the skid plate wasn't essential. The mud is what really got us, but we tried our best.

On with the pics, feel free to pm if you have any other questions. The overall theme of the trip was POTENTIAL. Not too many bc skiers around these parts, especially on tele's, but damn, there's tons of terrain, and it's beautiful, just like the food, views, and people.


Arriving in Bariloche to some festival. The balloon was apparently just a prop:



A typical parrilla with lamb, lomo, chimichurri, and vino:



Wine and bed, what vacations are for:



Pretty typical off piste terrain at Catedral, untracked for the most part:





Apparently we're news:



Some reading material:



By the fire:



This guy got his mule stuck in the mud quite a few times:



Good to be skinning again:



Summit Views suck:







Ready to head down:







And out for dessert:





The normal front door view:



But not this morning:



Which means:



and











Product Placement for a Bluebird day:



With a great companion:



Avi danger is acceptable:

[MakersTeleMark]

(cont)

So we hit it:

















Back in town, we found out where oney's are born:



Time for a beer out on the peninsula:



And a little cooking at home:



Next came a high wind storm system which literally blew us over and forced us out at night:



Next day was variable, so we went for a local hike:









Up early again to ski:



The Fiat's limit:



Through the Carved Forest:



Up to the hut:







Sarah makes new friends:



We find an old skin track:



But eventually have to make our own:



We stop just shy of the summit due to really nasty windslab:





So down we go:

[MakersTeleMark]

(cont)

Farewell to the Hutmaster:



Then another adventure begins:





Some typical roadside potential on the way home:



More line scoping the next day:





We pick a peak and find a muddy approach as usual:



But it is well guarded:



We get close to summiting, but wetslab avalanches turn us around:









Back to the farm:





Someone else is having fun:



Boots off at the door:



Time for some wine:



And some fondue:





Chocolate always makes fruit taste better:



It turns out they have their own 10th Mountain Division:





But some weird things too:



But we will definitely be back:

[dk_alaskan]

that is AWESOME, all i can say. Way to get some!!!!

[Rontele]

Certainly you deserved every moment of that vacation. Glad you two had a great time and thanks for the pics, they rock!

[smalls]

very nice stuff.

that turkey is a pimp.

[smitchell333]

Buen Hecho!!

[nick > jesus]

wow, looks amazing

[Cono Este]

Awesome!!

[Fuzz]

That looks like one kick-ass trip!

[leroy jenkins]

Holy fuck I could use some of that right now.

Glad you guys had a good time.

[Buster Highmen]

There's cut, contrast and love there.

[Chinaski]

thanks for the stoke.

[H-man]

FKNA that was sweet. Thanks for sharing.

[Marv Albert]

Yessssss!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tri-Ungulate]

You're a lucky, lucky man... and not just for where you got to explore.

[enlosandes]

Great report you guys! Love your sense of adventure for getting off the beaten path!

[couloirman]

I just wanna congratulate you on the best TR name ever. Oh yeah, and some sweet turns.

[Mofro261]

There's cut, contrast and love there.

this one got me too.

Beautiful stuff.

[concretejungle]

If I chose one pic to quote I'd have to repost them all. That was great. Thanks.

[hutash]

I love this shot. It seems to sum up a person trip with a special person, very romantic.

Great TR, looks like a fantastic trip all around (especially all the good SA wines )

[~mikey b]

well done y'all! good stuff

[BenWA]

Beautiful pics man, just amazing!

I *could have been* in Argentina right now with Squirrel99 et al, but I was too lacking in the financial department to go this summer. That, and my back is f'd. But DAMN, I'm drooling over your pics. I wanna be there so bad!

[Arty50]

Gahhhh!!!! El Boliche de Alberto y La Laguna. Two of my most favorite things in the world. I want to go...

[Rippinsick]

Straight up SICK! Super TR! the pics pretty much tell it all, no words necessary. Very nice!