Yo, Tracy!
OK, I'm jealous. :D
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Yo, Tracy!
OK, I'm jealous. :D
I just wanted to be sure that I was in on this soon to be instant classic thread.
the "huffing like a 8 month pregnant woman at lamaze class." had me rolling.:yourock:
bump, rawk out with your something out!
:yourock:
:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:
Awesome TR! Looks like some great lines there. I want some!
and what may you be talking about?Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldMember
:yourock: awesome pics trac, and I speak for every sweaty american right now.....we are so freaking jealous.:yourock:
Great writing in your post bklntrac! It was a fun read - your security discussion brings me back to the hassles I experience just a couple of days ago, coming back from Argentina! Way to capture the moment! And way to TR your trip! Love it!
Love this pic especially.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067277.jpg
No offense to them, and I think they'll agree, there are people here with 3 TIMES the post count that don't have 1/2 the presence here that you do. Fucking powerhouse! Or should I say BREICK....HOWWWSE!
Good read - thanks!
FKNA post of the summer.............
16k................. You need to pack in some of this http://ecom1.sno-ski.com/product340.html It's yummy when that high.
Pics are juicy, narrative is far jucier, you've got the writing steeze for sure trayc. I'm fully enjoying the vicarious traveler and snow stoke while its 90F outside up in the Northern Hemisphere.
Thanks.
BTW, speaking of actors living in the Bklyn area, you wouldn't happen to hobnob with 0942482, wouldya? Good friend and old college housemate of mine, who I figgered might fly in the same circles as you.
You have no idea how much I needed to see some pure stoke right now.
Thank you, trayc.
Now GO GET SOME MORE!
:D
Day 5
Last night I dreamt of the curious rabbits sprinting across the landing zones yesterday in the few hours I actually slept.
I've learned...
- The alternative usage #4080 for your shovel handle: working out the charlie horses that have attacked your legs in the middle of the night. The fantastic sta-cool(tm) aluminum brings icy relief to your sore and tired muscles.
- Screaming in pain at 3:30 am will wake your roommates.
Today TG and some others will get back on the helicopter, I'm scheduled to go on a backcountry adventure between Valle Nevado and La Parva. I found a map of the area, so all those lines we did yesterday most likely begin between 1000-2000 feet lower than I listed in the other post.
http://www2.ing.puc.cl/~cseebach/mou...a.el.plomo.gif
I am supposed to be one of the little dots on this ridge, but have made the call to bypass the hour hike due to my respiratory troubles. I have a head cold which probably contributed to my choo choo train breathing yesterday and my calves are so swollen my circulation is cut off in my boots. It's hard to turn away when the mind says go and the body says no. Taking the time to make some lift assisted turns and low level exertions at altitude while the rest of the group climbed helped me actively stretch and breathe at a normal pace, really good for me.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067314.jpg
I'll rejoin the group after I cross the valley between us. They will take the first chute, lookers left. An audience formed behind me to watch the spectacle. "Loco Gringos" was the most popular comment.
We later accessed some fun lines in La Parva with short hikes or traverses.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067317.jpg
Pretty rocks and windbuff in La Parva. Skier: "F"
I didn't take many pics, as Adam was filming. I got to see the raw footage tonight from today and yesterday. I wish I could post it, but who knows how long before I can get my grubby hands on the finished product. No wine, beer or liquor for me at dinner or the local bars and discotheques as I fight dehydration. Instead I took some NyQuil, that's some powerful shit right there.
Our buddy who brought us to this camp to celebrate his birthday had to leave today, unexpectedly. TG leaves tomorrow and after that it'll be me and this crazy crew who literally worship our set of ski-pro-instructors. Sure to be the source of some good stories the rest of the week, once this pack of "red-blooded" guys realizes I'm in a room by myself.
Go for it. Gracias muchacha por "Behind the Wheel Espanol".Quote:
Originally Posted by snowsprite
Si. Pero, puedes decir mañana?Quote:
Originally Posted by shamrockpow
Run away with me to SA.Quote:
Originally Posted by splat
Didn't you guys use that on Shasta? I was thinking about that TR while I suffered.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Tim
We have friends in common but don't know each other personally. He lives close by, I see him often.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate
trayc--you are a phenomenal writer/narrator. truly gifted!
this TR could probably stand on its own WITHOUT pictures...and that's saying a lot!
FKNA - that's all I can say.
Quel bon fromage!
p.s. if you ever see any material like this for sale, please lemme know
Great stuff Trayc.
A new toque?Quote:
Originally Posted by Buster Highmen
trayc - wonderful stuff
FKNA.
That is all.
Wow! How'd I not see this till now? Enjoy the trip and keep the posts coming.
Wow! Great pics and what an experience for first visit to SA.
Muchas gracias!
For charlie horses, etc, if you have any down time in Santiago, there is a nice spa (Spa Mund - down the street from German consulate) that has good massages for $30 an hour.
Portillo offers reasonably priced massages as well.
I had one massage in Valle Nevado, and it wasn't very good.
Ok,its official. Tracy rocks. Thanks for the stoke!
Days 6, 7
la línea - the line
The line snakes over one cheek, across my nose and then dives into the other cheek. It is a separation of cafe con leche vs cafe sin leche. A line that formed after two days of sunshine. A line that would have gotten me in trouble if I called in sick Thursday and Friday, after catching a Wednesday evening flight to DEN or SLC to catch a storm and then returned on a Monday red eye. The line cannot be covered with foundation and concealer. The line would give me away to savvy co workers and clients, even if I happened to fool the boss.
Sometimes the line must be earned. The exertion of the climb demands my focus, I concentrate on my breath and curse every day I made a lame excuse to skip exercise. The line is a narrow bootpack before me spanning snow and scree. At the top, the line is a ridge separating one slice of heaven from another. To my left, the line exists only in my imagination, on a blank canvas of untouched snow. Then the line races behind me trying to catch me with tiny bouncing balls of slough... but I speed away to the right and then to the left. Up in the air, the line is abandoned until I return.
The line takes it easy, except when 25 people are waiting at the bottom of the poma. The line disturbs the rigid corduroy on an early morning warmup run. Each night the wind made the line disappear under chalky buff.
The line is a ribbon curling down from the Andes to Santiago. Hasta luego Valle Nevado y amigos nuevo.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067321.jpg
Let's go Knicks! (note the 'dope pant')
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067324.jpg
Mi amiga, N
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067337.jpg
Las Lineas en powder after our hike
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067338.jpg
Yesterday the chair came to a grinding halt, but they started it up again. Today, no mas. Oh well, I wanted to hit some of those lines again before we left.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067340.jpg
Looking across at my handiwork, oops, hard to see in the photo.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067341.jpg
Can he feel my tatas in that hug? I think so.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067342.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067343.jpg
Hasta luego, D, J & E
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067344.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067345.jpg
Saying goodbye to the crew on the bus.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067348.jpg
On top of the bus, Titu secures the bags. Seeing that pile, I'm glad I'm not returning to the airport.
Send me a ticket. :tdo13:
We'll open a taco stand in Los Molles...............:cool:
:biggrin:
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067337.jpg
hmm. that looks fmailiar, I spy.
Way to go Tracy, thanks for the stoke.
Trayc: I'm delighted that you kept the anvil of literacy ringing even at that high altitude. You wordsmith, you.
Nice pix too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
r.:cool:
Trayc...sooooooo gettin' it done. I'm planning to make the trip south next summer. Wanna show me the ropes?
double-entendre intended.
edit: and velvet is preferred
Very nice reading. Thanks.
Goggle tan lines....so hot right now :yourock:
Nice TR and looks like a great trip overall! Glad you had a good time out there.
B)
Some seriously nice stoke in there. Rock on!:)
Great TR, sounds like a fantastic trip.
I just found this thread. So cool! Thanks for the awesome TR and pics.
So stoked and ready to rock and roll down there next week.
Awesome TRAYC!
Sweet sweet summer stoke indeed, what a ride.
You look on top of the world! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by bklyntrayc
I love this TR... so jeal that I couldn't make it down this season... your write up is awesome, too- loved reading it! Thanks, Trayc
Su amiga es caliente.
Is that John Egan getting some tata love?
Day 7 continued
Once again I'm at a loss for a proper response. The butler has come to my hotel room door in Santiago. He wants to know if I need assistance unpacking and if there are any clothes I need pressed. I thought this was a Sheraton, but I've been upgraded to a ridiculously large deluxe room in "the tower". So big that my first NYC apartment could fit into the bathroom with room to spare.
A complimentary bottle of champagne and selection of chocolates is on it's way to the room. Cold comforts considering my travel agent has let the last available room in Portillo slip through her hands. Frette sheets and towels are nice, turn-down service is nice, the seafood dinner is excellent, but I'm looking for a guarantee that I'll be back on snow soon. I tap my local connections, to see what my options are. Arturo will see what he can do, but the answer will not come until manana. This morning I was skiing, but skiing tomorrow is looking like a bust.
I have no choice but to take a bubble bath in the built for two tub, eat bon bons and sip champagne.
Penitentes is a little resort about 16 miles away from Portillo in Argentina, and one of the options Arturo is pitching to me if there are no cancellations in Portillo. A quick search on the web reveals that it is the avalanche capital of South America. Hmmn. I could switch plans and leave for Las Lenas early, but I have already missed the buses leaving Santiago. It looks like at least one more night in this city ringed tightly by snow-capped peaks. I make the best of it with some more delicious seafood and flirting with the waitstaff en espanol.
Day 8
At 6:30 pm I am about to give up hope on Portillo. Arturo has been calling all day. I have been calling all day, using different accents to no avail. I'm prepping for an early morning bus ride to Mendoza and possibly 2 days of travel to Lenas when Arturo calls. I'm in. A single room is available in Portillo for a reasonable price, he has called in the hookup.
Days 9 & 10
A quick early AM departure and Arturo and I are in the "Hummer" on our way to Portillo. The road to Portillo is also the main international highway between Chile and Argentina. We pass farms and orchards in the valley, fruit stands, and people walking barefoot in the mountains doing religious penance to the blessed virgin. I am stoked on my unbelievable luck, getting to this point. I should be sending up a prayer of thanks with them. I want to stop and take pictures, but Arturo will only have the afternoon to ski, so on we go. Check in, drop bags, change, ski.
Portillo is compact and steep, chairlifts cross the highway, the Chilean army trains alongside us. We ride the crazy 4 and 5 man poma lifts and zoom around the place. I spot Jim S shadowing one of the superstars down a chute - 'garganta' en espanol. Later I meet Jim S and girlfriend D. My knees are swollen my legs ache but when the snow is under my feet I'm not noticing these woes.
I am here. Life is good.
Tonight I do some slightly more advanced planning for Lenas.
Food & Drink Chilean style
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067361.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067362.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067364.jpg
Yea! Freebies.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067368.jpg
Arturo & the 'hummer'.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067371.jpg
Chilean army on the 4 person poma.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067372.jpg
Top Secret operations on the lift.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067373.jpg
Working across these lines
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067377.jpg
Coaching D into a carved turn.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067380.jpg
Lake view.
Sorry you couldn't make it, it would have been fun. Seems like your career is heating up instead.Quote:
Originally Posted by TacomaLuv
Si.Quote:
Originally Posted by shmerham
Don't eat the crill soup!
Have a drink at the Postada for me.