South America 2008

[unofficialandes]

The 2008 South America Ski Season is under way!!

Just arrived in Las Lenas to a solid base and a running Marte. I will do my best to keep all interested parties updated with news and conditions from the Unofficial House in LL but lets here from you guys. Where are you? Where are you headed? How long will you be here? How is the snow? Photos? Videos?

I will be working to make this first post filled with great links and other important information, i.e. South America 2007 Consolidation Thread -Thanks Yossarian** but as for tonight this internet in LL is way to slow so post all the great links and threads. More to come!

Websites

www.livinginpatagonia.com
www.SouthAmericaSki.com
www.UnofficialAndes.com

Weather Links

www.snow-forecast.com
http://livinginpatagonia.com/?page_id=122

Threads
South America 2007 Consolidation Thread
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...h+America+2007

General Info and FAQs

paedde's Request for Info:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...=South+America

Snowsprite's Request for Info:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...lenas+portillo

Yoga's Request for Info:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...light=Portillo

Lobido's Request for Resort Comparison:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51057

Sculhane Request for Info On Driving in Argentina:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57159

Squirrel Info Thread Lenas:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ighlight=Lenas

Covert's The "A" Factor
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=91025

Cletus' Air Travel Tips for Skiers
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=33759


2006 Trip Reports

Sculhane (Various):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...light=Portillo

Bkln (Various):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...light=Portillo

Jim (Portillo):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...light=Portillo

MBSC (Lenas):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...light=Portillo

EnLosAndes Play by Play (Lenas):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...light=Portillo

Matosan's Touring (Bariloche area):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ight=Bariloche

Klar's 6-Weeks (Bariloche/Esquel):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60554

PNWbrit (Bariloche):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60172



2005 Trip Reports

Squirrel (Lenas):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ighlight=Lenas

Foggy (Lenas):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ighlight=Lenas

Arty (Lenas):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ighlight=Lenas

Comish (Lenas, with Boobies):
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ighlight=lenas

Jim (Portillo):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...light=Portillo

Play by Play Lenas:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ighlight=Lenas



2004 Trip Reports

Squirrel Hall of Fame (Lenas):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ight=Bariloche

Cletus - click and remove the "normal_" from the pic path names to view (Bariloche):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ight=Bariloche

Pics from Catedral (Bariloche):
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ight=Bariloche



2003 Trip Reports

The Traveling SA Junk Show
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86898

[enlosandes]

Bariloche area is at least a storm away. The ski resort Catedral was forced to close until more snow falls. The other resorts (Bayo, Hoya) have not opened. Looks like something substantial coming in around Thursday onwards. No reason to panic yet, but the northern part of the Andes are in far better shape than the Lakes district.

[AKturnanburn]

Great consolidation thread.

Me=Santiago 8-19 to 9-11 no plans yet but I want to hit LL for a week or more, a few days in mendoza and a week or so in bari.

[JrockSF]

Bariloche area is at least a storm away. The ski resort Catedral was forced to close until more snow falls. The other resorts (Bayo, Hoya) have not opened. Looks like something substantial coming in around Thursday onwards. No reason to panic yet, but the northern part of the Andes are in far better shape than the Lakes district.

How far of a drive is La Hoya from bariloche....?

[covert]

about 4hrs if memory serves...

this guy kills it for booking plane tickets...kyle"at"justfares.com

way easier than surfing the net for deals. he found a better itenerary than i could, for less, in a day, with a departure only a little more than a week away.

nice work

[enlosandes]

I guess this would be a good spot to add the Bariloche weather page.
http://livinginpatagonia.com/?page_id=122

[Jim S]

Thank you so kindly. You are THE man!

.

[keithNW]

Hi,

My roommate and I are coming to Las Leñas on august 1st. Thanks for keeping us all informed of the snow. Do you know of anyone renting rooms? We are staying with southamericaski first week, but need a roof for the next 3 weeks.

Enjoy the snow!

[Huckin eh?]

I gotta make it down there one of these years. Good thread.

[alfajores]

This seems relevent now. A good thread and for those looking at August september trips. take a peak. Remember, this is the year the glaciers are melting in winter. Try to stay flexible and Book as you go for shorter periods of time so you can extend them if you wish but it always sucks to get locked into paying for time you don´t use. Chase snow too, don´t predict it. That didn´t quite work for me since most people here like to say things when they are not certain or have no knowledge of it at all. I came to Bariloche and it was a bad choice as far as snow goes but my reservations here locked me down.

More advice, ask!

[covert]

what do i do when the marte is closed and i have gout?

[stupendous man]

this is awesome for research purposes. we'll be there in spring. your spring, that is.

[Hutch]

what do i do when the marte is closed and i have gout?

Take your indomethacin and keep eating beef and drinking quilmes?

[snowislife]

This seems relevent now. A good thread and for those looking at August september trips. take a peak. Remember, this is the year the glaciers are melting in winter. Try to stay flexible and Book as you go for shorter periods of time so you can extend them if you wish but it always sucks to get locked into paying for time you don´t use. Chase snow too, don´t predict it. That didn´t quite work for me since most people here like to say things when they are not certain or have no knowledge of it at all. I came to Bariloche and it was a bad choice as far as snow goes but my reservations here locked me down.

More advice, ask!

I am heading down to Argentina next week (July 17) with a buddy of mine. Our original plan was to go to Bariloche but it appears the snow is hurting. We are thinking of going to Las Lenas for the 1st week instead. The crux is accomodations of course.

So my first question is, if we go to Las Lenas: Does anybody have floor space or suggestions for inexpensive places to stay in Las Lenas? (We are low maintenance. We can barter supreme info/beta on backcountry skiing the Squamish/Whistler to Pemberton corridor in BC )

I have looked at Laslenasski but its pretty expensive.


Jcolingham: Is Barriloche really that dire at this point? We are planning to tour - would getting up to Frey or Cerro Lopez get us into the snow? I looked at the forecast for cerro catederal - seems like snow but a bit warm at the end. Everyone tells me that a big storm will suddenly hit but we are pretty worried.

Other than Las Lenas (due to high season expense) is there other places worth going to in the mean time? Portillo? Ushuaia looks interesting but far... and more plane tickets.

Thanks
gq.

[enlosandes]

Things are looking up here in Bariloche. There is, or will be enuff snow around Frey and Lopez by the time you arrive. Suerte!

[traingone]

I am coming to ski chile/argentina in August for 3 weeks. I'm going solo and trying to figure the best way to get from Santiago to bariloche... rooming etc. Can anyone hook a fool up... the only thing i can order in spanish is horchata???

i want to go cat skiing in ARPA and possible 1 day heli trip--anyone game?

[alfajores]

Right now from my experience, I would go where there is fresh snow. Bariloche dumped all night and day. It was even dumping in San Carlos. I would also look at San Martin de los Andes. Chapelco should be good right now. Las Leñas is definitely having a good early season. I think tomorrow is the first day of High Season. Prices sky rocket and that isn´t good. To pay $40 american for a day of skiing here in Catedral should be worth it. I am banking on full open tomorrow at catedral, atleast the center and right side of the mountain. Princesa 2 maybe not. Las leñas is drier snow and worth a trip. you cna bus between the two for around $100. I would connect in san rafael and hostel for a night. Buses leaving for Bariloche from San rafael only leave at midnight so you are better suited to go the bariloche to las leñas route. Plus Catedral is getting snow right now. A bus from BA is going to take a full day. A bus to Ushaia will take about 2 to 3 full days depending on iten and comp. A flight really makes sense but costs several fold more. I like busing, i see more of the place and meet some great people. I honestly didnt like Portillo all that much. You might enjoy going to the staff bars and the all inclusive nature of the place, but it is small. I am more a fan of the idea of camping out in Santiago and waiting for a snow to go to portillo. You will save about 50% over staying there and get more time to hit up other places like Valle Nevado. I have a friend there and the snow is supposedly incredible compared to i dont know what. Termas de Chillan opened too.

I say just wing it and try to get real dirt on the snow. TGR helps because people are actually at the places and can tell you snow conditions.


Traingone: try to learn numbers in spanish and directions. Numbers are necessary! Directions such as top, side, bottom, under, left, right, through, ect are very helpful. Verbs, learn the ones that seem to make sense. you need to look up some travel verbs and daily living verbs. Otherwise, you are great and the people will find a way to help. Santiago to Bariloche by bus my friend. Take a bus to Osorno and cross into san carlos de bariloche. Osorno is better than Puerto Montt in that it will take a lot less time and costs less. You also want to be sure not to spend a lot of time in osorno. there isn´t as much to do there if you arent going to be taking advantage of the hiking and other outdoor activities (imo as a ski bum). How to get your bus, when you are in santiago (airport, city center, whatever) go to the major bus station. "Estacion de omnibus" should suffice and go to booths that say Bariloche or Osorno. You can buy it there and will almost definitely have an overnight to osorno meaning no need to get a hotel. I really didnt like the semi cama after flying because my legs couldnt elevate and i started to get a lot of drainage to my feet (i just turned 22 and feel elderly) In this instance, i recommend upgrading to cama or executive if the $7 difference doesnt break your budget. This is something you really dont have to worry about. You can just do it when you get there but try to get it taken care of right when you arrive. They usually rock and let you leave your bags if you trust them. I always do and never have a problem.

PM if you have more questions!

[enlosandes]

Traingone,
You can fly one way on Sky Airlines from Santiago to Osorno for around a hundie, then take the 4 hour bus ride to Bariloche.

[NT]

Here in Ushuaia until July 20th. Not much snow here, but we have had some powder. Mostly wind. Frikkin Gorgeous though! And the avy conditions are solid.

Will anyone else be coming down here?

[xyz]

We can barter supreme info/beta on backcountry skiing the Squamish/Whistler to Pemberton corridor in BC )

Grahame, don't be giving up our stashes eh!

Stu

[Hugh Conway]

there's a decent microbrew available at the union hall in Osorno - down by the train station

[brutah]

i´ll be skiing las lenas the next 4 or five days if anyone wants to makew some turns, i´ll be in a gray jacket with black pants on rossi t4s. might be accompanied by my buddy who will be in a blue coat and yellow pants.

i´ll be in bariloche from july 28th-asugust 15th.

cheers

[AKturnanburn]

Hey, any floorspace in LL anywhere around 8-22 to 9-9?

I'm staying extremely flexible and willing to snow cave it if it comes down to it but I'd love to help some folks out with rent.

[TeleHead311]

We have a few spots available the week of August 2-9 if you are still looking. Email me at steamboatconnection@yahoo.com.

Think snow

[snowislife]

We have space for the week of July 26-August 2 for Las Lenas. PM me if interested.

g.