Valle Nevado- Chile ?????

[Scotsman50]

Can't stand summer any longer so thinking of a quick trip to SA. Can't afford time to go to LL ( was there last year) and Portillo is too boring.
Crystal Mountain season pass holders , which I am, have 10 days free skiing at Valle Nevado . Any mags got an update on current conditions and a cheap place to stay?

[PNWbrit]

you utter, utter bastard.

[Trainwreck]

31 inch base, 35 trails open last time I looked.

There is a hostel in Los Farrelones from which you can access all three valleys.

[ski_rick]

If you found Portillo boring, I wouldn't expect much from Valle Nevado (but if I hadn't ever been and had 10 free days I'd go too). If you're into doing some hiking from the top of the lifts, see if you can upgrade to the Valle Nevado/La Parva combo ticket, there are some great lines just a short hike up from the top of the lifts at La Parva. The Farrelones hostel is the only thing up there I know of that would be considered cheap. Might want to bring a sleeping bag with you, a friend stayed up there last year and swore he'd never stay up there again, cold and dreary was how he described it.

Of course, you can stay in Santiago too, which has any and all types of accommodations. You'll either need a car or have to take the shuttle. If you're more then one person, a car is definitely worth it, although you'll end up driving more switchbacks then you can imagine. Don't expect to make it up to the resort for first tracks if you take one of the shuttles, they all stop at the rental shop first and take a while to get everything coordinated. I don't think I've ever been on the mountain before 10:30 taking the shuttle.

I've stayed a couple times at the Happy House Hostel in Santiago (http://www.happyhousehostel.cl/). It's on the other side of Santiago from the mountains, but convenient to the highway so is pretty easy access. It's a nice place for a hostel and you'll likely meet some other skiers (maybe find a ride share). I will warn you however that the walls are kinda thin and the neighborhood is pretty busy on the weekends, thus it's pretty noisy (there's a couple bars in the first floor of the building, see if you can get a room on the top floor if you do say over a weekend).

[jSki]

Skied El Colorado, right next to VL last weekend and it was great. There was about 7in fresh and all the lifts were spinning. I stayed in bounds all day and there was some great terrain off the back side. Not super steep but some great pow/chop and plenty of cliffs to hit. I'd be down to hit some BC if you're down here and have gear.

The hostel in Farrelones was $35/night. The bus to VN is 9000CL, ~$20US and will have you on the mountain by 9:00. Takes around an hour to get to the resorts from Santiago. If you can hook up some beer you can crash at my apartment in Santiago, super easy to get to the bus from there.

Go for it if you can, or if not, figure out how I can use your pass for 10 free days.

[dtrey28]

I've only been to VN so I can't really compare to anything else. That being said, I had a great time but the terrain does get a little old especially if you don't get fresh snow. No trees = blown off fast. Ski rick is right on about the lines at the top of la parva, they are worth the hike. I thought el colorado was lame personally but la parva was worth checking out for sure. here is a TR from last year. you should go.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=99703

[traingone]

Skied El Colorado, right next to VL last weekend and it was great. There was about 7in fresh and all the lifts were spinning. I stayed in bounds all day and there was some great terrain off the back side. Not super steep but some great pow/chop and plenty of cliffs to hit. I'd be down to hit some BC if you're down here and have gear.

The hostel in Farrelones was $35/night. The bus to VN is 9000CL, ~$20US and will have you on the mountain by 9:00. Takes around an hour to get to the resorts from Santiago. If you can hook up some beer you can crash at my apartment in Santiago, super easy to get to the bus from there.

Go for it if you can, or if not, figure out how I can use your pass for 10 free days.

I will bring beer... be there in august is there space??? is there SNOW?

[FatherOblivion]

Sounds like fun, I've got a good friend who spent time working at La Parva, really enjoyed it I think.