Check out the photo from Valle Nevado base here!
http://www.southamericaski.com/
Espero que sigue nevando.........
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Check out the photo from Valle Nevado base here!
http://www.southamericaski.com/
Espero que sigue nevando.........
If going down to Chile/ Argentina (first time ever) is a tour good way to go, who's better recommended? CASA or Powderquest? Or just skip the tour and check it all out alone??
If short on time but have some $$$ totally recommend tour as get taken to
all the best terrain and local spots in a quick time. Casa and Powderquest are
both good, Powderquest has some really good guides from Whistler that
have been down there for years and speak good Spanish. It depends if
you want/can go full on backcountry or rather just ski alpine.
If long on time and short on money, recommend going it alone and staying
in hostels and either getting a private room if want comfort but still want
to meet others. The most frequeented ski hostels are the following
Las Lenas http://www.laslenasski.com/view.asp?p=678
Portillo (awesome deal) http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=593
3 Valleys (Valle NEvado) http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=591
Termas de Chillan http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=558
(water is very cold here though for showers)
Bariloche http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=158
BTW, laslenasski/southamericaski are awesome. They've taken unbelievable care of me both times I've been down there. Highly recommended.
Oh and squeaky, I'm adding you to my list of crack dealers. Squirrel is number 1, but you're in a close second now.
Cool... thanks. That gives some ideas and direction. I dont mind goin alone as the language thing is no problem for me. I agree. It might be worth the extra cash to go the tour the first time. Then come back with the knowledge of where to go and when...
[/crackdealer]Hello, Arty50.Quote:
Originally Posted by Arty50
You need to come to South America this year. [end/crackdealer]
BTW... where can I get on the hill weather reports for Bariloche, Farrellones, Chillan, etc? Aside from the reports from the resorts...
I've always had decent luck with snow-forecast.com
Good call on snow-forecast.com! Resorts are not yet reporting, but at least reports and forecasts are available from nearby areas like Farrellones. Right on... thanks!
Has anyone stayed at the Inca lodge (better than average hostel?) or Octagon in Portillo or Tres Puntas at Valle Nevado? Checking to see if these are decent, clean digs for the money.
Inca is fine if a bit cramped. Upgrade to the full meal package. It's worth it.
I can't quite tell, but are the rates listed on the page linked to for a week during the designated period? I think I may be missing something.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
Octagon in Portillo is worth the more $$$ private bathroom for your room and room and beds way comfier than Inca. Tres Puntas is definitely a good hotel
at Valle Nevado.
Need your guys' advice.
I'm planning a trip to S. America this summer w/ my buddy. Our first time...so we don't know sh*t.
Need your tips on the following:
#1: Chile vs. Argentina? Pros + cons of each.
#2: Mountains w/ best expert terrain and snow quality (i.e. S. American equivalent to Jackson Hole, Steamboat, Mammoth).
#3: We're not taking a tour. So any travel tips/routes would be greatly appreciated.
We just care about good snow, terrain, and relatively normal conveniences. No need for apres-ski massages or 4 Seasons accomodations. But hot water and good food are definitely nice. You get the idea.
search functionQuote:
Originally Posted by marknieto
JONGGG
marknieto, you can pm Me and can forward you a whole resort comparison
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
From what I see, it looks like meal upgrades to eat in the hotel while staying in the Inca lodge are $8.00 (I assume daily rate). So that's kinda a no brainer if the food is way better than the Inca cafeteria.
The Octagon rates go up quite a bit... are the communal bathrooms really crap? I wear contacts so I have to at least wash my hands somewhere...
may 26 and dry in patagonia. the usual heavy rains in april and may have failed to show themselves. chance of snow this wed, thurs, fri. thought they said el nino was coming this year. maybe they were just actually telling me their kid was coming down here. fkrs.
(edit: barilochetrips.com is where it's at down here for bariloche and/or solid info from a great ex-pat friend)
at least they aren't as extortionate as casa, still $$ for handholdingQuote:
Originally Posted by Split-It
^^^ totally hand holding, i agree. but good solid info doesn't come easy down here. just a little something called the A-factor. argentine's aren't really known for their great customer service, especially if all you speak is gringo.
What is Las Lenas like when the Marte chair isn't running (inbounds and assuming there's snow on the ground)? Boring?
Jay the bahtrooms in the Inca are not that crap, it is just you need to understand it is 5 sinks right next to each other and 5 showers for like 40 guys and you need to walk through the hallway of the building to acess them out in the open. Bring flip flops for sure though as floor is cold and bathrooms are so so clean. The upgrade to dining hall is worth it for the quality of the food and service but to be honest sometimes the ambience of the guests is a bit chi chi. The staff cafeteria is cool to get to know some of the staff for a coupel of days first and then maybe upgrade. The food is ok and decent in the cafeteria except at breakfast the cashiers are anal and only let you take like 1 piece of fruit, but you can pay for extras like more fruit or eggs. To me I would pay for Inca and any money saved do a heli drop or 2 instead.
With regards to Bariloche, I hope it snows down there like the past 2 years
(last year was most epic year in 11 years, see photos, 2 days early August were neck deep) but the reality is it probably won't. After 2 seasons in a row of skiing and snow to the base (which does not normally happen) it is highly unlikely they will have a good season in 2007. Although I hope they do as will
be there for 3 weeks late July to Mid August. Best place to stay in Bariloche is a friend's hostel www.hostel41below.com .
I had completely the opposite experience - including the first time when I spoke practically zero spanish. Perhaps things have changed in the past 2 years as the gringo tsunami has struck. It will probably never be as smooth and easy as Europe (which is a good thing!) but it's decidedly not a 3rd world country - hence my incredulity at the number of people paying for the handholding services (not a bad way to make a living I suppose!)Quote:
Originally Posted by Split-It
Good point... I was thinking the same, with the exception that the handholding may get you to better spots out of bounds, etc ?Quote:
Originally Posted by cj001f
SGonzalez---thanks for the Portillo info.
Jav
Airline flights from 690 to chile from lax..... holy cow:eek:
squeakygonzalez and split-it, please keep up the weather reports, would be much appreciated.
gracias.
Where did you see this... ? I've been checking kayak.com weekly. Miami or LAX seem to be the cheapest airports for a flight out to SA. But then some of us have to add in the cost of a flight to one of these airports to see if it's cheaper than just flying out of our home area airport. My plan was to visit family in Miami, FL. Catch a cheap SW Airlines flight ($99 each way for me) to Ft Lauderdale (40 min drive to MIA). Then get a ride to Miami International Airport to fly out to Santiago. Pricing that out saves me about $200. Maybe an idea for anyone who's heading down to SA, but would like a day or two to hit the beach.
Jay I think the hand holding is worth it if and/or when
-Your bags are delayed 2-3 days arriving at Santiago, Mendoza or Buenos Aires
-To access backcountry spots
-If want to go to more than 1 resort and avoid the hassle of missing the bus, taking the wrong bus, the bus breaking down, the border is closed past portillo, you show up at hostel or hotel and they do not know what you are talking about
-You only have a week or two
Another good website for flights from the east coast is www.carbonetravel.com There are cheap options doing crazy things like flying through Panama or Colombia.
Sorry Carbone's website is www.1800argentina.com
The cheap fare is on LAN and doesn't include taxes or the $100 reciprocity fare they charge Americans. Santiago sucks.
It isn't that fucking hard. If you want some bullshit handheld pseudo-adventure to talk to people around the watercooler or spray on the internet about, go ahead. Do you ski with a guide in America? Why would you need one in S. America?Quote:
Originally Posted by squeakygonzalez
Yea, LAN is good and they fly out of SLC. The cheapest (without crazy layovers) is COPA Panama (Continental Airlines Affiliate) but they only fly out of select large US hubs. Is the reciprocity fee because we started charging it first?Quote:
Originally Posted by cj001f
Yes. It only applies to visitors arriving by air and is good until your passport expires.Quote:
Originally Posted by 801 jav
I think the cost factor is the big problem with the tours. You could easily drop 5k for 2 weeks. Tour would be good if traveling alone (most people can't commit to a S. Hemi trip, let alone pay off their season pass for last year).
Road between San Raf and Mza was closed today due to snow.
Tours are probably worth it if you have the $$$ and only a short time. If overcoming the whole South American junk-show thing is part of the attraction of going down there, then try organizing things yourself.
Yea, I agree. How much snow so far?
None on the ground in LL before now. It's been a late start, but hopefully things will come good before the end of next month.Quote:
Originally Posted by 801 jav
This year Bariloche got 1 new quad, 1 new triple and 2 new doubles for this season... Las Leñas got some new pavement for the roads, 2 new snowcats and improvements on that sweet dome next to the ski rental. STOKED! :rolleyes:
Good, the road between Los Molles and LL took years off our truck!Quote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
Cold in Bariloche today, but mostly sunny skies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by enlosandes
Keep us posted. Thanks!
Let us know how it's going out there. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
I've been going either solo or in my own small group almost every year since 2001, but use services (like southamericaski.com) to arrange lodging and/or transport - which can be very beneficial. Most people do not need a guide and can get around on their own (it's part of the adventure). As for guiding- it depends on where you are going and what your objective is. If your main intent is to "access the gnar" but do not feel comfortable assessing avalanche terrain (and lack proper gear) then it may be beneficial as a good portion of expert terrain is not 'controlled'