^^^ Does that dot dash line second from right in 7th photo indicate mandatory air sections? Bravo
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^^^ Does that dot dash line second from right in 7th photo indicate mandatory air sections? Bravo
Wow 1977. Awesome. 47 years ago
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I’ll never forget my two months there in late 2002 mid-Aug to mid-Oct.
Portillo didn’t close until the first week in October
La Parva just gets better and better when deeper snowpack opens more of the terrain skiers right on the “resort”
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Looks like next to nothing will fall over the next week. But May is already a record month for rain, and probably snow.
Some explicative charts (Tobalaba station)
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Already more than halfway to the annual total.
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So, if the next 3 months (the 3 rainiest) get just half of normal snowfall, it should still be a great ski season.
Public service notice
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Mayo 31 looks like big bang day.
May 31 it is, but only Alpha, and only the weekend. Big bang will be June 7 I believe, when both Valle and La Parva open.
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Advantage of being on the divide.
Just in from El Colorado.
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Seems the wind hardened things up a bit.
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Slava, of course.
While a month may go by before another snowfall, it would appear that the windless snowfall that blanketed the central Andes may stick on all faces. That is, it is settling and getting wet, so it probably won’t blow off the north faces, which bodes well for the skiable terrain available, especially for the next 60 days, the coldest of the year.
Just to keep the ball rolling on my stated objective of attracting people to the wonders of Chile, here is one I visited this year - Cordón Caulle.
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Volcan Puyehue is just one of dozens of volcanic craters of differing ages, right smack on the N-S Liquiñe Ofqui fault line. It is a fissure volcano about 50 km long, and doesn´t look like much, until you get closer and can appreciate the dynamism of this landscape. The months-long eruption of the Cordón in 2011 produced much disruption, mainly in Argentina, and a haunting lunar landscape, which steams, erodes, and crumbles so that no trail lasts long. That map, tho, is pre-2011. For context, some photos of the eruption:
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I scored a local geologist as a guide, thru https://www.geoturismocontrafuerte.cl/ and did an 8 hour trek around the recent crater, leaving at dawn in the dead forest
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The cone and one of many lava branches
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We had to head towards Puyehue first, to be able to cross a deep ravine. The north face of the Puyehue crater, which is 2km wide
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He figures this is the way
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All this, in a place that gets 2 meters of rain a year. So, lots of erosion and steam.
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The black in the back is from a prior eruption 70 years ago or so
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Magnificent
More on Caulle later.
Portillo breaks the ice and sez
“Se adelantará la apertura del hotel para pasajeros a el día 20 de junio, esto por la nieve acumulada durante los últimos días, mientras que el centro de ski estará abierto a esquiadores y a un precio increíble durante los fines de semana de 1 y 2, 8 y 9 y también el 15 y 16 de junio.
Para esos días los tickets día se podrán comprar en la boletería del hotel y los precios durante estos fines de semana serán de:
$30.000 desde los 18 años
$15.000 hasta los 17 años”
So we skirted the inner cone and lava flow where the crumbling pumice meets the settled lava source, perhaps 3km total walking with warm to hot ground and steam oozing in random spots.
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Better know where to head
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The last lava flows, and where it started to look good to ski (many meters fall here)
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And finally the eroded ash has allowed colonizing plants (chilca, nalca, etc) to expand up the mountain
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And hot water sprouts out of the lava terminus, forming pools
The hidromasaje pool
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You can camp nearby
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A few km down from the camp, more colonizing species are sprouting (cola de zorro, colihue, coigue etc)
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and a bit further, the temperate rain forest is lush and thriving, here on the Cascada Contrafuerte trail
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In places the riverbed is choked with massive logs. A view of about half of the Cordón Caulle and the Nilahue river, where the road gets rougher
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Approximate trekking route
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Thanks for posting Casey. I have to admit, this morning is likely the first time I've checked out this thread. It's because I literally dreamed of heading down there last night... So is a month the least amount of time you'd suggest for a ski trip? Ballpark, how much USD/day would you need. I like eating well and I'm too old to totally dirt bag it as far as accommodations. My dream has me Chile curious.
It depends a lot on where you go. Lift tickets can run 20-60 USD per day. Lodging is very expensive in Farrellones, but can be cheap anywhere far from Santiago. I would budget about 80% what you'd budget for a cheaper North American ski holiday and you'll definitely live well.Quote:
Originally Posted by garyfromterrace
Income inequality in Chile is definitely more noticeable than many places. So you could spend $5 on lunch or $100 on it depending on where you go.
How easy is it to get from Santiago to the mountains? What about other parts of the country? Wondering if renting a vehicle is worth the cost over using public transport.Quote:
Originally Posted by kamtron
I just put my two weeks in a work yesterday so I HAVE to go now.
How easy is it to get from Santiago to the mountains? What about other parts of the country? Wondering if renting a vehicle is worth the cost over using public transport.Quote:
Originally Posted by kamtron
I just put my two weeks in a work yesterday so I HAVE to go now.
I haven't done a budget for a ski trip in a long time.
A quick look at lift tickets, for "mid/low season", excluding weekends and holidays and sometimes more, we have US$ 60 for La Parva ($82 high), $51 for Portillo ($68 high), Corralco ditto, and Antillanca $33 ($39 high). Discounts can be had for "cuponeras of 5 or 10 tickets, or often for weekday specials with certain credit cards, Telco promos, or "2 for 1" specials. Pricing at the moment seems to be unstable, some don´t have prices published, nobody has promos. I figure I get an average of 30% discount skiing weekdays, but I have the bank cards, Telco plans, and intel.
I bought a seasons pass for La Parva last week, first time ever, understanding it would be for La Parva, with perhaps some deal for a Valle Nevado ticket, given the fusion news. Yesterday they confirmed it was good for both ski areas, same price. Yeah! opening day Friday.
As for lodging, Portillo is prohibitive unless you stay in the Gallinero, or chicken coup, also known as The Inca Lodge, which is about US$1,500 for 3 nights, all inclusive, for 2 beds in a shared 2 bunkbed room and common bathroom. Or the classy lake view double costs $4,800 for the same.
The 3 Valleys have a multitude of lodging possibilities from cheapo Farellones airbnb nowhere near a lift to upper scale La Parva with only one "hotel", just apartments, and rarely more than a block to walk to ski. Look on google, booking.com and airbnb. A fun place in Farellones, which has a special place in my heart (met the mrs there) is the El Alemán De Farellones, now renovated. From there you can walk to the Embudo lift (when there is snow) to connect to the rest of El Colorado.
Whenever you are away from a ski area, lodging is very cheap, and eating can be as well. This applies to backcountry destinations (like Maule, Paso Vergara, Antuco, Lonquimay, etc).
Las Trancas (Chillan), and Malalcahuello (Corralco) are other ski towns with multiple lodging opportunities, but there you definitely need a car.
I haven't done a budget for a ski trip in a long time.
A quick look at lift tickets, for "mid/low season", excluding weekends and holidays and sometimes more, we have US$ 60 for La Parva ($82 high), $51 for Portillo ($68 high), Corralco ditto, and Antillanca $33 ($39 high). Discounts can be had for "cuponeras of 5 or 10 tickets, or often for weekday specials with certain credit cards, Telco promos, or "2 for 1" specials. Pricing at the moment seems to be unstable, some don´t have prices published, nobody has promos. I figure I get an average of 30% discount skiing weekdays, but I have the bank cards, Telco plans, and intel.
I bought a seasons pass for La Parva last week, first time ever, understanding it would be for La Parva, with perhaps some deal for a Valle Nevado ticket, given the fusion news. Yesterday they confirmed it was good for both ski areas, same price. Yeah! opening day Friday.
As for lodging, Portillo is prohibitive unless you stay in the Gallinero, or chicken coup, also known as The Inca Lodge, which is about US$1,500 for 3 nights, all inclusive, for 2 beds in a shared 2 bunkbed room and common bathroom. Or the classy lake view double costs $4,800 for the same.
The 3 Valleys have a multitude of lodging possibilities from cheapo Farellones airbnb nowhere near a lift to upper scale La Parva with only one "hotel", just apartments, and rarely more than a block to walk to ski. Look on google, booking.com and airbnb. A fun place in Farellones, which has a special place in my heart (met the mrs there) is the El Alemán De Farellones, now renovated. From there you can walk to the Embudo lift (when there is snow) to connect to the rest of El Colorado.
Whenever you are away from a ski area, lodging is very cheap, and eating can be as well. This applies to backcountry destinations (like Maule, Paso Vergara, Antuco, Lonquimay, etc).
Las Trancas (Chillan), and Malalcahuello (Corralco) are other ski towns with multiple lodging opportunities, but there you definitely need a car.
Well you don´t want to ski staying in Santiago, the road can be a major issue. Sure, it is just an hour from where I live, but only about 10% is moderately straight, and the rest is one big narrow winding curve, so you don´t average more than 40km/hr going up 2,000 vertical meters. Newbies get stuck, get sick, hog the road at 20km/hr, and so on. Very easy to get transport up and down, tho, and some people actually work up there commuting.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeLunker
Public transport is pretty good in Chile, as are the toll roads, most with 120km/hr speed limits. Easy to buy both bus and air tickets online, not expensive if you plan. Trains are making a much overdue comeback. But getting to the base of a ski area when you want to be there is another issue.
And as for Portillo, from the nearest settlement, the road is longer and more of a highway, winding up one watershed to the Caracoles switchbacks. You can go fairly fast on many stretches, but it also goes up over 2,000m, and is rough in places from rockfall, has avalanche tunnels, and MANY big trucks on occasion. It is by far the most transited highway between Argentina and Chile. Basically, plan ahead (I think there are no trucks allowed at certain times on weekends or something). So commuting isn´t so easy. But you could do Portillo out of Los Andes town and Ski Arpa too, which is nearby (worse road). Lots of cool places to stay around Los Andes (vineyards, hot springs, estancias).
Weather wise, June is looking to start mostly dry and warmish
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For the locals, Mall Sport has an expo ski, with ski area and equipment sales and talks
??Viernes 31 de mayo al domingo 02 de junio:
??RANDO DAYS ???????Por Andes Touring @andestouring con la expo y feria de ski ?????? de randonne y freeride 2024! ??
Encuentras:
- Equipos 2024??: Las marcas más importantes de la industria estarán presentando todo lo nuevo en innovación y tecnología en el deporte.
- Equipos usados ??????:Una amplia variedad de equipo de segunda mano ??????
- Vende tu equipo ??Trae el equipo que quieres vender para que quede en vitrina durante el evento
- Charla de expertos ??????: Conversaremos con expertos en la disciplina
- Actividades ???????Relacionadas a la disciplina
- Premios y concursos ??????
??Viernes 31 de mayo:
??????Charla técnica en tienda Volkánica @volkanicaoutdoors Mall Sport
Charla de especialistas sobre el equipamiento de ski ?????? y Randonnée con descuentos especiales en la tienda válido para asistentes
PRONTO HORARIO
??SÓLO Jueves 06 de junio:
Venta especial Andacor @elcoloradofare @farellonescentrodemontana en el área central ??????Mall Sport de 12:30 ?????? a 18:00 hrs con promociones especiales en tickets de temporada ??????????????
??Viernes 07, sábado 08 y domingo 09 de junio:
????????????Reparación de ropa (de cualquier marca) en ??????el área central de 10:00 a 20:00 hrs por @mallsport
?????? Encerado de tablas de snowboard y afilado de cantos de ski + personalización de cascos ?????? en el área central de 10:00 a 20:00 hrs por @7veinte y @mallsport ??????????????????????
Atent@s a la programación vía stories que estaremos publicando estos días ????????
¡Nos vemos! ??????
3h
Crepuscular rays to kick off the first May opening day in decades
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Geez, I'd love to, but I shouldn't spend that much. Portillo 1964, Nancy Greene crash, but I don't speak Spanish. C-couloir but $500/night for the cheap room/dorm? Marte pow but will it be open, snowed in or snowed out? Lots of flights but $1300 for single stop? Sin Salida but closed Corralco? Going solo, but going solo?
Andes weathering did some damage, but not too much. Flat light day
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Got some turns in sheltered spots. Powder was a bit heavy, but was eminently skiable
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Few people
Thx for all the deets Casey. Def always tempted. The dream of being there for 3 months in a van will happen. Insane lodging prices. Affordable day tickets.
What was the la parva season pass?
US$300, “super senior” class (+66).
For such a short season (90 days at best lately), seasons passes are expensive in Chile.
Lots of buzz around the next big front bringing rain at altitude, mainly to the Maule- Araucania regions
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We're all going to ski Chile next season. Get your shit dialed in. Staying at Casey's Casa!
Keep it coming C., yer about the only stoker around these parts lately.
Beware of jinxing the weather by predicting it. Jus' sayin'.
You will be welcomed con abrazos abiertos.Quote:
Originally Posted by Djongo Unchained
My selected predictions are none other than limp attempts to describe what is our planets fascinating, declining, unpredictability. So there.
It is, unfortunately, a shit show coming in
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This is fun for a look see https://www.vista360.cl/corralco/
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Looks like it will be back to snow next sunday. Meantime, a few rain showers.
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Gonna get serious in Araucanía, probably Bariloche to Caviahue in Argentina too.
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Being billed as an “ciclón extratropical”
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What Casey said is good.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeLunker
You can get anywhere via bus or private shuttle. But then you have to stay in ski towns. That's not cheap unless you're away from the popular areas (Santiago, Chillan, or Corralco--although deals can be had). If looking to do more exploration or ski tour a variety of places, I'd get a car, especially since you only have 2 weeks. If you speak Spanish and chat up the rental people, they can often hook you up with a more capable vehicle. Lots of access roads will have some kind of chain-up checkpoint, but I've had success getting past without chains. Just be prepared for shenanigans getting up any access roads with significant snowfall.
I second the booking.com recommendation. Airbnb is more gringo targeted, booking is used more by locals.
If you go on a ski touring trip, you can do it cheap and still ski an occasional resort day.Quote:
Originally Posted by byates1
This is the way.Quote:
Originally Posted by kamtron
I went on a ski bum budget in 2022, besides the $800 flight and a couple splurges on day tickets it was relatively inexpensive for lodging/food.