Ski Chile 2017

[Casey E]

This offer just in from El Colorado, where it is supposed to snow this weekend. Remember Sept 15-19 will be busy (National Holidays)

[Casey E]

Soloed Volcan Sollipulli Saturday, 1,000m vertical and 8 km from the Nevados de Sollipulli dome hotel to one of the dozen or so peaks around the crater. 1/3 beautiful old growth mixed forest, and 2/3 up an old lava flow, past the most recent sub cone from 700 years ago. There was about 1 meter of snow at the camp at 1,200m, and an unfathomable load near the top.

[Bloomy]

Will La Parva / El Colorado / Valle Nevado be worth skiing the week of Sept 25? This last weekend's storm combined with colder temps this week look promising, but the base and previous pics posted look a little uncertain.

[Casey E]

It all depends on the temperatures and precipitation next week. Relative to the lateness in the season, it should be pretty good, especially above 3,000m, as long as a heatwave doesn't hit. If another snowfall shows up, it could be great, but the current fcst is not promising.

[406]

Will La Parva / El Colorado / Valle Nevado be worth skiing the week of Sept 25?

Are they still open? when I looked earlier in the year put down Sept 24 as closing day.

VN was fun Sept 8th, prior to storm, found spring conditions and pockets of week old powder. So if not to windy or hot would think should be good.

[klar]

Skied in valle las arenas on monday with some new snow. Walked from the first gate because they wouldn't let us up without a 4x4. Road looked okay though. The Arenas couloirs had all slid during the recent snowfall so it was a bit of a bumpy ride and we didn't go all the way up. Really nice snow right next to the walls and on the apron. Lots of people sledding and a big group of skiers camping. Coverage in general looked really thin everywhere, lots of rocks hiding under the new snow. Still a fun last run to end our trip on.

[Casey E]

The heat is back on, red lining the length of the ski zone in Chile



As a patriotic family tradition, we will be skiing and BBQing in La Parva the next few days. I understand the snow is pretty good, but I will report back as soon as the pisco sours run out....

[Casey E]

BTW, Portillo closed monday, saying "This is the first time, and we hope the last time that we have closed before the celebrations of the Chilean Independence Day on the 18th of September.".
Strange indeed, considering the 3 Valleys, a short distance away, are still skiing well, even when Santiago has a 28% deficit of rain. Meanwhile, Nevados de Chillan has a great base, but the city of Chillan also has a 26% deficit. Further south, slight surpluses have translated into huge snowfalls, and a massive base.

Go figure.

While the season in the 3 Valleys will make it to month end, and perhaps beyond, the south will go until the skiers give up.

[Casey E]

More stoke from Valle Arenas on this FB post. Each snowfall, even small ones, will provide those willing to hoof it with some great runs.
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?s...00000652727937

[Bloomy]

Casey and Klar,
Thanks for the great pics and constant updates. Hopefully the three valleys will have some decent lift served turns and maybe side country on 9/25-26.
cheers, Jon

[Casey E]

The base in La Parva is about as good as it has been all season. Will be warm today, but good skiing.

[Casey E]

Cerro La Parva bowl had some nice tracks down it yesterday. There was still some bits of powder to be had on the pure south faces above 3,000m. The highest runs were soft this morning, but the lower ones were hard and will probably soften up after 1pm today.

[Casey E]

In true Andean fashion, a week after the last snowfall, and 3 days of blistering temperatures, there was still powder of sorts to be found. Yesterday we climbed the Falso Parva and skied La Lengua, with weathered powder. This is not common, but as the snow fell with no wind and the week was mostly windless, powder it was. Got down just in time for a mega dieciochero BBQ.

Slava skinned and I boot packed


Crossing over from the Falso peak to La Lengua








Slopping through the mush bowl at the bottom was a small price to pay....

[wyeaster]

awesome stuff

[406]

Had an awesome week plus few days in Chile...starting to go through photos and will hopefully get a trip report up next week. Casey or anyone know the name of this chute off Cerro La Parva looking from Valle Nevado top of t-bar:


and this one from Cerro False Parva, looking from top of Piuquenes lift:

[Casey E]

Had an awesome week plus few days in Chile...starting to go through photos and will hopefully get a trip report up next week. Casey or anyone know the name of this chute off Cerro La Parva looking from Valle Nevado top of t-bar:

and this one from Cerro False Parva, looking from top of Piuquenes lift:

I don´t know of names for these, but you could call the first the "middle chute of the south face of Cerro La Parva", but I would prefer "Embudo de la Parva" (funnel), and the second "Falso Parva proper", or perhaps "El Chueco" (the crooked one).

You choose.

[Casey E]

Ski area closing dates, latest estimates, more for lack of skiers than snow -



https://www.nevasport.com/chilenoski...s-de-ski-2017/

[kamtron]

I came back to Seattle and am getting a taste of summer before fall, one of my favorite seasons, kicks into gear.
The end of the Chile trip was spectacular. I got in some more time in La Parva and Valle Arenas, with a couple enormous couloirs and an exploration of valle Mesoncito (recommended although the approach is exposed).











Then some skiing in an undisclosed location





Gracias, Chile! Estuvo bueno. Hasta la proxima

[406]

From social media, looks like it is snowing down there today...

Trip report from my trip:
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...hile?p=5111869

[Casey E]

Valle Nevado now

[Casey E]

I should add that Volcan Chillan has covered the hot spring valley with ash.
Now:

[Casey E]

Valle Nevado closes tomorrow, on what should be a fresh snow day, ending the resort season in the central zone. Corralco got 28cm yesterday and volumes more is forecast, some of which will fall as rain. Spring skiing in the south should be great.

[Casey E]

From social media, looks like it is snowing down there today...

Trip report from my trip:
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...hile?p=5111869

Great trip report!

[Casey E]

While this overestimates the general volume, and underestimates the amount of rain above snowline, it is indicative of a lot of action for the next week. Look out for high winds at altitude....



Some detail for Corralco

[Casey E]

Looks like about 30-40cm fell last night, and it is likely to taper off now. El Colorado re-opens tomorrow til monday: