Ski Chile 2018

[Casey E]

The 3 Valleys got between 10 and 20 cm last weekend. Frisks up the runs, but not much else, still rocks around. With a 60% deficit, not much can be expected. In the south, rain and snow continue apace, Corralco (which claims "more than 2 meters of snow") posted this from the weekend:



The forecast is looking up though, and Sunday may see a good dump in the Central Zone.



We were in the Alto del Padre zone last weekend, trying to find snow. We did, but things did not turn out as well as we hoped. Only the southern exposures above where the roads go had enough snow, and it was still thin.

Looking north from our high point on the road, towards the Alto del Padre area (which is across a river and has the only bridge gated)



Looking south from the same spot, towards the customs building where the road was closed (and had too much snow anyway)



So on Sunday, in spite of the bad weather, the boys managed to get up to an old gold mine around the corner in that last picture



Then even got a couple turns in, Gerry skiing



The tantalizing area around Alto del Padre and Baqueanos



We stayed overnight down the valley at The Los Queñes River Lodge, where Todd Ericson would be happy to help skiers (and kayakers) out in the Rio Teno watershed (http://www.cabanaslosquenes.cl/)

The lodge is located at the bottom right in this pic, lovely location, WiFi, BBQ’s, hot tub, the works.



Yes there is still snow at the bottom of that picture, at 600 meters! The dense evergreen forest was trashed by that last snowfall though....

[Casey E]

And now as a public service, here is a link to a facebook used backcountry gear marketplace ("rando" in spanish)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1468...ECENT_ACTIVITY



This attests to the advances made in the sport in recent years. As does this touring group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SkimoChile/

[Casey E]

A couple of teasers in my rooting for the Rio Teno area, shots gleaned from the "Baqueanos" website -

Nice view of the V, Planchon/Peteroa



And the Alto del Padre mole



And with a hut like this, exceptional for Chile, what more could you ask?



http://www.baqueanos.cl/

[Casey E]

So the big storm for Sunday has shrunk, leaving the probs at 10-20cm by Monday. At least the rest of the week will be cool and another front will pass thru Wed to Fri. Fingers crossed that that one will turn the tide.



(La Parva fcst)

[tripice351]

Hoping next week hits good. I still have some vacation to burn, been eyeing a return to S.A..

[idahospud]

I'm going to be at Portillo July 28 through August 4 and if the snowpack allows, I'd really like to hit the Super C. Anyone going to be down there in that time frame? I'll buy beers afterwards.

[Casey E]

Snowing now, started as little styrofoam balls, “escarchilla”-like stuff, now flaky.

[gnarbro365]

Three people hit Super C yesterday. Not sure how it turned out for them, but the ascent looked like it went fairly smooth for them. The exit downlow was no doubt bony.

Started snowing around noon in Portillo today. Picked up around 6-8cm by the time we closed. Nuking currently...I’ll report the total in the AM.

The rest of the week looks promising. Nothing huge, but it seems like it will be cold and consistently snowing for a few days. A nice change of pace...my goggle tan is all time already.




As always...if anyone ends up visiting Portillo feel free to hit me up. I’ll be here until October.

[Casey E]

Darnit! Now you can see Santiago from La Parva, no more than 10cm acum

[Mike Pow]

Three people hit Super C yesterday. Not sure how it turned out for them, but the ascent looked like it went fairly smooth for them. The exit downlow was no doubt bony.

Started snowing around noon in Portillo today. Picked up around 6-8cm by the time we closed. Nuking currently...I’ll report the total in the AM.

The rest of the week looks promising. Nothing huge, but it seems like it will be cold and consistently snowing for a few days. A nice change of pace...my goggle tan is all time already.




As always...if anyone ends up visiting Portillo feel free to hit me up. I’ll be here until October.

James Winfield was one of them

[Casey E]

Yeeha Portillo! Time to go skinin’?

[Casey E]

[gimpy]

This thread is the only good reason to visit this site during the northern hemi summer. Rock on Casey+++

Casey- can u recommend a rental company located in the Bariloche zone that rents 4wd vans and will take a reservation over a year in advance? It's still a ways off but something really really rediculously radical is going to go off in that zone in December of 2020.

[Casey E]

Casey- can u recommend a rental company located in the Bariloche zone that rents 4wd vans and will take a reservation over a year in advance? It's still a ways off but something really really rediculously radical is going to go off in that zone in December of 2020.

Sorry, Bariloche and most things Argentine are not my zona de expertise. As our land near Villarrica is in the path, we will be around too.

[gimpy]

Sooooo, yer saying the party is at yer place?

[splat]

Has anyone mentioned the exchange rate in ARG is currently around 1:28?
I'd be interested to know if the HUDGE savings are showing up anywhere beyond places like Ushuaia.
Cause BA certainly maintains gringo pricing on par to US prices.

[Casey E]

It has started snowing in the 3 Valleys, and should continue off and on until late friday. Expected accumulation around 60-90cm.



An update on the volcanic activity has 5 volcanoes on alert, with 4 in the south of Chile, and Chillan heading the list as "orange".



With the magmatic dome in the Nevados de Chillan Nicanor crater growing slowly, showing "explosive activity with pulsing emanation of hot gases, ballistic material and on occasion fine particulate material around the crater, maintaining high productivity of seismic events", they say it is likely to produce minor eruptions with material falling within 2-3 km of the crater. But a picture paints a thousand words, so



Most likely major flow is to the north, but that doesn't mean the ski area to the south won´t be affected. Ash will likely be blown by the prevailing winds east and south.

http://sitiohistorico.sernageomin.cl/volcan.php?iId=32

[skiandgolfnut]

Any updates from portillo? Beginning to get quite nervous about August 11. They seem to overhype their situation on social media but clearly it isn't great. Spending all that money for roca jack to be closed would be very upsetting. Sadly am running out of time to get deposit back. Hopefully this storm delivers.

[gnarbro365]

Portillo picked up about 24cm between 8am and 4pm. Winds moderate gusting strong, and already forming small but reactive wind slabs. We closed the majority of the terrain around 3pm due to anticipated avalanche activity. Around 4pm, massive avalanches could be heard throughout the valley. Pretty crazy coming from Tahoe to be surrounded by avalanches you can only hear and not see. Reminds me of a few trips in AK...

Still snowing 4-5cm/hr now. Not sure how long the precip rate will last, but it sounds like at least another 30cm between now and Friday night. A mine in the area was calling for 140-170cm before the storm started, but take that info with a CUP of salt.

No photos, as the visibility was zero all day. I’ll update with photos when the storm clears.

[Casey E]

Back to Chillan. They partially opened today, with just the upper lifts/runs. Not enough snow at the bottom, and a reasonable amount at the top.

[gnarbro365]

Sweet day in Portillo. 54cm in 24hrs. Was a bit wind affected, but I can’t complain about pow all day on July 5th. Avalanche “mitigation” in a foreign country is something I never thought I’d get to do. I am very humbled...





No major avalanche activity (which is odd) or mitigation on the Roca Jack side. I think the intention is to let it settle and hope for more snow tonight. The Heli is scheduled to arrive on the 14th, and that will make mitigation work easier (I think?).

Condor and Lake Run look thin, but skiable. We’ll see if they choose to open it after the storm finishes.

[Casey E]

Around 40cm have fallen in the 3 Valleys since Wednesday, and another 10-20cm could fall today as the storm tapers off. This will improve things significantly, and more lifts and runs will be opening, but will not create a game-changing base. More is needed. Snowing nicely now in La Parva -

[Casey E]

The storm is gone and the total would appear to be 50cm at the bottom and 70 at the top, update coming sometime tomorrow.

In other news, Planchon Peteroa has been added to the yellow alert list, mainly from seismic activity.



http://www.emol.com/noticias/Naciona...onPeteroa.html

Freezing levels are set to rise over the next few days, up to 4,000m Sunday and Monday.

[Casey E]

Got 2,000m of powder by 10:30 today, magnificent stuff.
Say no more (-Charlie Garcia)

[Casey E]

And look what popped up from my quiver just for this occasion, the rock hounders. Anyone recognize these?