TR: Adventures in Argentina 2012 (NSFW?)

I’ll preface this trip report with a big thanks to llyon. Japan and Alaska were awesome, and happened with you. South America happened because of you. No way would I have had as much great skiing and fun times without your help on this trip. Thanks dude.


So, obviously, all photos are of Lee ripping unless otherwise specified. In addition, it should be noted this trip gets a little non-ski related, and maybe not fully safe for work at the end of September (I added the “(NSFW?)” in case you hate my writing and start scrolling). Snow melted early this year, but we still made the most of it. So, here we go!






I was thoroughly amongst the dog days of a New England summer.

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Lobster bakes and good beer on the beach started to lose their allure.

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They say if you don’t like the weather in the northeast, wait a few days.

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So I waited, but nothing happened.

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Time to do something about it.

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Las Le?as…close enough. After 60 some-odd hours of planes, cabs, busses, and “no nintendos”, I found myself putting on ski gear, rather than board shorts. Like the rude transition of sandals to ski boots, my legs quickly learned the days of sitting in a beach chair thumbing through pages of a good book were long gone. The brain, blood drunk with a taste of adrenaline, pushed away the anguished cries of my soft quads, and forced me to at least try to keep up that first week. A skiers paradise when it comes to amazing lift accessed and easy hike-to terrain, words don’t do this place much justice.


Sunrise on the road
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Inversions are supposedly rare in Las Lenas
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Entre Rios
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Mike Uhrin in the foreground, Lee breaking trail
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Torrecillas
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Mike Uhrin
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Reaping the benefits of switchbacks
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Sur
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Valle Hermosa
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Manhattan
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Lido
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Cerro Lenas
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Yeah…it was a good first week. Icing on the cake was getting to ski Adrenalina. I had an 1800 meter day with less than a week of hiking and skiing to help the fitness. Still not sure how I dragged myself up this one.


Scope shot, our line was right down the middle
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Lee and Matthias enjoy some scenic skinning
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Got wind?
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More hiking, more wind
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Matthias Weichselbaumer finally getting to make some turns
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Matthias Withthecrazylastname in the choke
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Walking out after a long day
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It was around now some models came to town for the weekend. The snow was melting fast, even up high, and there was a birthday coming up. It was time to let loose “a little”. In standard South America fashion, “a little” does not mean a little. It was all too easy, after watching the surrounding peaks turn crimson, to decide a couple of fast groomers were in order. Borracho gringo bravado combined with terrible snow lead to a whole lot of french frying when we should have been pizzaing (and we all know, when you do that, you’re gonna have a bad time). Memories are a blur, which is undoubtedly for the better, though I’m sure near death experiences were all too plenty on the infamously long Las Lenas piste. Hair of the dog saved us from a whole lot of fear.


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Hot girls and big peaks. Another shitty day in Las Lenas.
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After a short Mendoza session complete with all the essentials (lomo completos, harrowing rides through the city, sunrises, and of course far too much to drink), we stumbled back to Las Lenas in time for some of the last good skiing of the season.


Cerro Lenas poking through the clouds
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Marte, Marte
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Lee near Soldata
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Txema Trull, a little loose
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Jordi Tenas
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Txema Trull
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Jordi Tenas, getting sendy
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Matthias Weichselbaumer
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Alas, it was time to leave. Santa Rosa had toyed with our emotions, threatening to snow, then leaving us high and dry. Once again, we embraced the Mendoza lifestyle. All too frequently, we awoke from a rowdy night out, having missed first breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, and luncheon (but fortunately not “so drunk you leave the fridge open”). After a couple weeks enjoying some rest and relaxation, it was time for me to move on. The responsibilities of home called.


Farewell Las Lenas
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Hangover cures, Mendoza style
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“Mendoza is not for beginners.” Yaya Luna
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A short three-day stay in Buenos Aires was almost more than enough for me. Just as I expected, the city chewed me up and spat me out like so many gringos before. My dirt-cheap hostel, though cheap, was also rather dirty. It was for the better (sort of) I spent so little time in it. I dragged myself to the airport Sunday afternoon with less than 11 hours of sleep since my arrival on Thursday.


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Home now. I already miss it all: amazing snow and terrain, delicious steak and wine, late nights with Argentine women (ok, ok, late nights with a bottle of Fernet), even the struggle to speak Spanish. It will all have to wait. Next year, when it’s been almost too long since I last slid down snow, I will return.




Though most of my skiing shots have been used in this trip report, I have plenty more shots from Buenos Aires if anyone is interested. I tried to keep those limited since this was primarily intended to be a skiing trip, even if it didn’t work out that way.

Also, if you’re interested in reading more, I condensed this trip report from my blog. Feel free to check it out.

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Well done TR, THanks for the effort.

I don't know, I think I'd rather go to West Virginia.



Not really. Fantastic TR, love the coverage from all angles.

Huge stoke!

Nice Zach!

Muy bien muchacho. Te amo este threado.:biggrin:

High marks, all around.

Well done and thank you!

BEEEEEOOOOOOTEEEEEFULL

Great stoke. Thanks for transporting me away from my desk for a few. :yourock:

Amazing shots... best TR of the summer.

And I stayed home and cut the grass and drank beer. Sure sign, I'm past my prime.

Nice TR and thanks for the stoke.

solid. thanks for taking the time to put that together.

I really enjoyed this!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vt-Freeheel

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That pretty much says it all.

Sweet TR. Some of the best stuff on here in a while!

Great photos, amazing clarity. Too bad there were not more "model" shots.:)

Well done, sir, well done.

Thank you.

Amazing photos and great writing.

I really need to go back to Lenas.

I also have a craving for grilled meats and it's only 9.30 a.m. Bastard!

Killer Stoke!

...and now for Winter.

WOW.....great TR.

amping!!!

great photos. BA nightlife is something else, thats for sure.

This is a fantastic trip report. Great pictures!

I'm sold. Argentina seems to be a decent place to visit.

Fantastic TR! Lines looked amazing and it transported me to the time I spent traveling through SA. The shot of the guy turning down the spine is fantastic