Ski Chile 2022

[Casey E]

So Beders "is it going to snow?" got me going on my 9th yearly thread. I am starting to think I am part of the problem, 9 years with below normal snowfalls and all.

This year is no different, as we confront "La Niña after La Niña". The latest Chilean weather service forecast has tipped towards La Niña since last October (80% vs 30% originally forecasted), albeit with declining probability as the winter progresses, becoming 50/50 with "La Nada" by the JAS quarter.



This means less snow for the fall and beginning of the winter. Long term trends are not good, with rising temps and declining rainfall.



The reference for "normal" weather was just updated, or downgraded, as you will, with the switch from 1981-2010 as the reference, to 1991-2020. Here is what that means from a historical perspective 1914-2020.



1921-1950 averaged 353mm annual rainfall in Santiago.
1951-1980 averaged 299mm
1981-2010 averaged 342mm (largely due to 9 years with significantly higher rainfalls, within the "normal" El Niño cycle).
1991-2020 averaged 286mm (with no above average years from 2006 on)

So those deficits you see in the charts I share are going to be less dramatic, due to the lower base reference. But still, AMJ quarter is not looking good.



The April forecast is due next week, so maybe there will be new info. Here is the March forecast link: https://climatologia.meteochile.gob....cas-202203.pdf

[Casey E]

The bright note would be 40% higher than normal rainfall in the Araucania region. This has not yet produced much snow, but it did on Sunday at Corralco:



https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=38...1C&ref=sharing

Also, if going further south means more snow guarantees, there is this place that popped up on my radar recently.

https://www.theskijournal.com/exclus...-palena-lodge/





https://elevenexperience.com/rio-pal...-heli-skiing/#

Way down there on the remote Rio Palena. If it didn´t rain as much as it does (22 days a month in winter), it would be paradise for outdoor sports.

[Beder]

Thanks Casey. I saw this gloomy headline today and thought of you.

https://www.reuters.com/business/env...ar-2022-04-11/

[byates1]

I met this j1 chick from Chile telling me skiing was not allowed outside ski areas and in national parks etc?

Assuming she had no idea what she was talking about..

[Casey E]

I met this j1 chick from Chile telling me skiing was not allowed outside ski areas and in national parks etc?

Assuming she had no idea what she was talking about..

Yeh, no idea. Perhaps she refers to the number of gated mountain roads, which are generally control points for hydro facilities upstream. And, with the private owners of huge swaths of the Andes increasingly worried about unfettered access messing the place up, there is no lack of occasional flash points.

But there are very few restrictions beyond isolated avalanche control of the few high roads kept open in the winter, and the parks have no particular restrictions I am aware of. V Villarrica, being active, supposedly requires guides or some real permitted certification, but no one has ever stopped me. Ever. Anywhere.

[Casey E]

Back to Rio Palena. Magnificent river(s), gorgeous mountains, volcanos, lakes, ancient forests, wild beaches, hot springs, you name it. No people. The small town of La Junta, on the Carretera Austral in Aysen, will be the epicenter of a new adventure tourism destination.



Some pics from 10 years ago:












Can´t heliski? Go fishing, or boating, or hiking or hot springs, or binge on mate and asados.

[byates1]

Looks amazing. Is the cost of living favorable to Americans w USD?

[Casey E]

Looks amazing. Is the cost of living favorable to Americans w USD?

Chile is expensive within Latin America, and the far south is the most expensive part of the country. How it compares to the USA, I am not sure. Probably land values are lower, in particular in isolated areas like the Patagonia, but other stuff is generally more expensive.

[danmelon]

Nice, subscribed. Thanks for keeping the dream alive.

[Casey E]

The times they are a-changin'

Chile now has an avalanche foundation, the "Fundación Chilena de Avalanchas"

https://avalanchas.org/conoce-la-fun...de-avalanchas/

There they explain the origins of the initiative, and what they hope to do in the future. An important work in progress, with input from heli operations, mining companies, ski areas and others. Looking forward to the app....

Other players are getting serious about education, such as this from Andes Consciente (@andesconsciente), Backcountry Access Chile (@bcachile), and the local guides of Backchillan (@backchillan)



Shangila has some nice backcountry

[Casey E]

Here is another place on the bucket list, a couple hours south of Santiago, sixty km east of San Fernando.



Apparently, that video was the first BC expedition in the area.

Glaciar Universidad is part of a large group of glaciers, just north of the Tinguiririca Volcano, and a few km west of the 3,600m crash site of the Uruguayan rugby team flight (1972). The area is also known as the "O'Higgins ice cap", and is the largest group of glaciers in the Central Zone. Permission from the electric company is required to access the area, but my buddy says they may plow the winter access up the last set of switchbacks in the near future. Lovely ice caves (his pics).

[Casey E]

On the pandemic, Chile just lowered outdoor mask requirements to less than 1m distance (so stadiums might be too tight).

The boosters which began last August have been rolled out extensively, with the 2nd booster now in full swing. I got my #2 (Pfizer) in January.



This helped curb the death toll from Omicron in February and March, mainly in the unvaccinated and un-boosted.



Regardless, the toll was quite high



May 1 the land borders will all be opened for the first time. No negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) is now required for entry, nor a "mobility pass" (however it is required for many internal activities like flights). See all restrictions here: https://cl.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

[Casey E]

The news we were all waiting for



Maybe too soon, as temps can still get pretty high for a month yet, but still welcome.

[Casey E]

More stoke for another facet of Campo de Hielo de O'Higgins. And more granite walls for the climbers out there.





https://www.litoralpress.cl/sitio/Pr...VWKA54Q2W4ZWDA

A looong approach or heli in, as they did. Very remote.

[Casey E]

Public service - get the KMZ file of Andeshandbook peaks, hikes and climbs here

https://www.andeshandbook.org/home/c...a_google_earth

The Cajon del Maipo in google earth looks like this



You may need a subscription to get the file. They are asking for money to maintain the site.

[Mike Pow]

Leg End

Have a great winter

[jhyatt]

Subscribed. I am more thinking of going to Chile next January February for Austral summer because I want a break from the north American skiing shitshow.
I have been to Punta arenas several times for work en route to Antarctica.
I am super curious about Puerto Montt.
Hiking biking fishing sort of stuff.

[Beder]

Bust that drought




Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Casey E]

Tonight it snows in La Parva. A crummy webcam before shot from El Colorado ski area towards La Lengua, Falso Parva and Cerro La Parva, now:



Could snow 30cm tonight, but it is warm here in Santiago. And windy....

New feature on

http://www.meteochile.gob.cl/PortalDMC-web/index.xhtml#



The extent of this "event" is Chillan to Portillo.

[Casey E]

Laguna del Inca getting it



This will be fast and furious.

[Casey E]

More is on its way to the south



The red dots are the snowforecast registered ski areas
.

[Casey E]

Less fell than expected, as expected


But it is a start!

[Casey E]

But it was enough for Slava to retain his first tracks title again this year





Tricky ride down

[Casey E]

For those contemplating a non-skiing trip, we did 10 days in Magallanes, including Torres del Paine, last December. Unable to reach the park in 1977 due to snow, the last time I was there, Mrs E convinced me that 2021 was the year to go, as with travel so restricted, there would be few crowds, and maybe cheaper than usual. It exceeded my expectations.

We did no major hikes, but did great day hikes and boat rides, and were lucky with the weather. Photos here: https://bit.ly/TDPDec2021
A sampler:

[Buke]

Subscribed. I am more thinking of going to Chile next January February for Austral summer because I want a break from the north American skiing shitshow.
I have been to Punta arenas several times for work en route to Antarctica.
I am super curious about Puerto Montt.
Hiking biking fishing sort of stuff.

My one trip to Chile (roughly 15 years ago) was in the Christmas to New Years time frame. We had gone down to meet up with my brother in law, who was studying Spanish.

We spent a couple days on each end of the trip in Santiago, then spent the rest of it around Puerto Montt with the BIL. Puerto Varas was a really cool little tourist town, we also spent a few days on Chiloe Island down in the little town of Chonchi and a day in Ancud.

I think the highlight for all of us was renting a truck and driving a loop around the Alerce Andino National Park, spending a night in the little village of Cochamo. If I could go back with more time I'd definitely hike out the Cochamo Valley.

That whole area reminded me of what I imagine Western Washington State was like 50 years ago before so many people moved in and filled the place up. There's a ton of stuff to explore around Puerto Montt and if you are looking for an escape from winter I think that part of Chile would be perfect. Of course, I'm a little partial to PNW climate and Puerto Montt is basically the southern hemisphere equivalent to Portland/Seattle/Vancouver.