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Thread: Go down easy

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Go down easy



    Inspired by Kyle I figured I'd put up some pictures from this summer's trip to the other southern hemisphere option. It was a low snow year (very low in some places, okay-ish in others), but we got quite lucky for a while with good snow, although not much of it.

    Down (up) the rabbit hole.









    Feels like coming home.







    In South America it is not uncommon for random dogs to appear from somewhere and join you for an hour or a day of skitouring. They are always very stoked. These two burst from a bush on the approach and were really excited about going for a walk. Momma dog was a bit skeptical in a few spots but baby dog ran ahead, so what's there to do but follow?





    They decided to wait down there.






    We skied a bit and waited to see if they would show up. They didn't and we went back to check. Turns out Momma was not happy about going down what she walked up. I would still be feeling bad if we'd left them so we coaxed, bribed with alfajores and I carried Momma past the steeper bit. Baby dog shredded the steeps without issues. Here we're all good again. Skiing while carrying 15 kg of struggling dog is rather challenging.



    Outing with team Canada on the other side of the lake.







    How we roll down here.



    Back on the other side.



    So, now where?



    Anything is cool, really.



    Find the skiers.





    This guy is a bit of a show off.





    Balanced breakfast in the car.



    Wouldn't be Patagonia without some nice walks in the woods.



    What do you mean you only have one skin?



    What do you mean it will be fine?





    I think these guys like watching skiers get stuck in the bamboo on three hour bushwhacks without snow.



    Let's stick to the easy options, shall we?







    Ich bitte dich nur, weck mich nicht.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    The far south sounded bad this year, the middle had been good enough for a surprisingly long time but wasn't that great anymore, and we wanted to see some new sights. So we drove north.





    The pass road we wanted to check out was closed, because of a rock fall, maybe, on the Chilean side, maybe. It would open in a few weeks, maybe, or never, who knows? So we went to Las Leñas, seeing as freak had never been and we were almost there anyway. We put up with the bullshit that is the ski resort for a day and saw the sights and skied some cartón.



    The next day we went for a roadside walk. There is something to be said for tree-less approaches.





    Dusty spring. There were seashells everywhere. Apparently it was a lot less dusty here a few million years ago.





    We drove up the closed pass road to see how far we'd get. At the top we found Argentinian and Chilean border officials having lunch. We learned that the road would open tomorrow at 9am, sharp. We figure we'd wait it out another night and took the opportunity to visit a haunted cave. The pass opened around three and we spent the day hanging out with about 50 other people, waiting for just that to happen. Among our fellow travelers was a music group that sang and danced for everyone. We got the wrong date stamped into out passports. On the Chilean side, they tried to hide their fear of rental car papers but we could tell. The pass was cool and worth the effort.



    Spent the Dieciocho here:







    Happy Birthday, Chile.



    We headed back to Bariloche and since the snow and weather situation remained unchanged, joined some french friends for a Lanín excursion. They brought a buddy from Mendoza who had made the journey from San Rafael by moto, using his snowboard as a sail, presumably. Last time I was here we started skinning in the forest, had to walk to the base of the volcano this time.



    Note the wind.





    The humble abode. Unlike last time, no dead rats.



    Long shadows.



    It was really windy during the night (the location of the shelter is not, in fact, sheltered at all) and everyone was kind of worried about their skis blowing away during the night, though no one wanted to go out and check. We got up when the group from the lower hut stopped by (some guys from BA with local guides, on foot). By the time we'd made breakfast, one of the guides had brought a fearful client ("the wind, the mountain, the snow, I just can't handle this") back to our hut to wait it out. We eventually decided we'd see how bad the wind was, assuming we wouldn't be heading to the summit. It was pretty bad and everyone was pushed over a couple of times before we did indeed turn around after maybe an hour of climbing.









    It snowed chunks of ice, upwards.





    But things really could be a lot worse.



    Finally, one of the many excellent abbreviations of Argentina, SCUM, the community art center. The agency in charge of preventing wildfires is called SPLIF (Servicio de Prevención y Lucha contra Incendios Forestales).



    Goodbye Bariloche, with your scenic construction sites and excellent ice cream. See you around.

    Ich bitte dich nur, weck mich nicht.

  3. #3
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    WOW!
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  4. #4
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    Excellent TR! Thanks for sharing.
    Quote Originally Posted by Hohes View Post
    I couldn't give a fuck, but today I am procrastinating so TGR is my filler.
    Quote Originally Posted by skifishbum View Post
    faceshots are a powerful currency
    get paid

  5. #5
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    super TR thanks
    always forward but never straight

  6. #6
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    Thanks for that

  7. #7
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    Great stuff. Cool dogs! I want to see this in a deep snow year. Is it ever not windy there?
    Well maybe I'm the faggot America
    I'm not a part of a redneck agenda

  8. #8
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    nice trip
    thx for sharing!

  9. #9
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    Great TR and pics. Gracias.
    Did the last unsatisfied fat soccer mom you took to your mom's basement call you a fascist? -irul&ublo
    Don't Taze me bro.

  10. #10
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    Bravo

  11. #11
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    Feb 2005
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    Hell yes! Thanks for posting.
    Is it radix panax notoginseng? - splat
    This is like hanging yourself but the rope breaks. - DTM
    Dude Listen to mtm. He's a marriage counselor at burning man. - subtle plague

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    Thanks Klar!
    "The skis just popped me up out of the snow and I went screaming down the hill on a high better than any heroin junkie." She Ra

  13. #13
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    Jun 2006
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    Ventura Highway in the Sunshine
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    Quote Originally Posted by Summit View Post

    WOW!
    Yeah, that was my response...WOW!

    Thanks for another excellent TR.

    I agree it is a constitutional right for Americans to be assholes...its just too bad that so many take the opportunity...
    iscariot

  14. #14
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    Another summer "Winter's Tale". Excellent.
    (have you ever read Helprin's book?)
    Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
    >>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<

  15. #15
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    Oct 2007
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    I really need to stick my head out of the Euros thread more often, it's great out here.

    Beautiful as ever. Such magnificence. Thanks.
    Short stories about snow and rock, and pictures, too

  16. #16
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    Jan 2006
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    Thank you, Klar, once again !
    "Typically euro, french in particular, in my opinion. It's the same skiing or climbing there. They are completely unfazed by their own assholeness. Like it's normal." - srsosbso

  17. #17
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    Mar 2008
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    This is simply AMAZING!!! I really need to join you two one of these years down South!
    Shameless spam: Trip reports and Gear reviews and if you want to support what I do follow me on Instagram @KyleMiller411

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by klar View Post


    This is the chillest picture ever

  19. #19
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    Really nice TR. Extra props for the John Martyn soundtrack.

  20. #20
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    Klar again keeping this place worth the time

  21. #21
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    in the trench
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    Nice one klar. Looks amazing

  22. #22
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    Mar 2012
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    West Side WA
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    Tronador is so cool. And those Leñas couloirs....
    Care to share some dates for those of us planning southerly excursions? Looks like you timed it well for high pressure and spring conditions.

  23. #23
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    Great TR but every time see the thread title I think "heh, sluts"

  24. #24
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    Nice wake up TR.
    www.apriliaforum.com

    "If the road You followed brought you to this,of what use was the road"?

    "I have no idea what I am talking about but would be happy to share my biased opinions as fact on the matter. "
    Ottime

  25. #25
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    Excellent.
    www.dpsskis.com
    www.point6.com
    formerly an ambassador for a few others, but the ski industry is... interesting.
    Fukt: a very small amount of snow.

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