Way too soon: anyone for SA next year?

[girlski0912]

It is my "You just graduated from law school and took the bar" reward. I plan on heading down end of august and staying 2-3 weeks, depending on how bad the bar kicks my ass and how broke I am...oh yeah and if I have any gainful employment lined up.

[divegirl]

This is SO great!! So many people are going. I'm SO excited. Thanks for the advice, Arty...PNWBrit...very helpful. And the PICTURES...WOW.

Question:
How is the weather going to compare with what has been going on in the PNW?? Will this be a bad year for South America, the areas where we want to go? I don't want to go down there and be dissappointed...if there is such a thing.....

[PNWbrit]

This is SO great!! So many people are going. I'm SO excited. Thanks for the advice, Arty...PNWBrit...very helpful. And the PICTURES...WOW.

Question:
How is the weather going to compare with what has been going on in the PNW?? Will this be a bad year for South America, the areas where we want to go? I don't want to go down there and be dissappointed...if there is such a thing.....

The weather down there is even more frustrating than ours! It seems that a mid season drought is the norm . Late August and September storms are vital and elusive.

[Squirrel99]

Agreed on the weather. That's why you really should plan for at least a 2 week stay (it's a good 9-10 hour flight plus 4-6 hour bus ride anyway from NA). Plan on a focal point- either Lenas, Portillo, or Catedral/Bariloche- and have the option to chase the snow if necessary. Plan to spend a day or two in Mendoza / Santiago / B.A. those are really great cities. And doesn't hurt to bursh up on Spanish as it would make your experience all the more enjoyable. If you're group is not all hard corps about skiing, try to find the right place- LL and Portillo as the others have stated, you're non-ski options are limited.

The maggot super secret stash would be aweseome, but as a lenas vet, it's hard to deviate. Would like to try and audible this year to a hut for a few days and perhaps on to either termas, portillo, catedral, or la hoya after LL - but it's all snow dependant.

Most places in SA average about 200-300" per year- and typically only snows a few times all summer. When and if they get it, it usually all dumps at once-which can also cause problems in getting major areas open (ie. Marte lift).
I think 2002 was an El Nino year in NA, which resulted in 450"-500" at most areas in SA that summer.

[Spats]

What Squirrel said. I was down there a month and we had exactly one good dump. Fortunately it was epic.

I remember talking to locals about how much snow we got in the Sierra and Utah. I told them some places averaged 12 meters of snow per year and they couldn't believe it. They get 8 in a really good year -- 6 is more typical.

[Yossarian]

I plan to return to Bariloche for the third year running. Quickly becoming a favorite place on the planet.

I'm too lazy to write up a lot of details right now, but they're in my head and I'll do it eventually.

[yogachik]

I was down there a month and had exactly one good dump. Fortunately it was epic.

Yeah, long flights constipate me, too.

I intend to go to Chile this year - going to take Splat's advice and go around Labor Day. From all the beta I've gathered, that seems to be the time to go - or am I wrong?

[shamrockpow]

Yeah, long flights constipate me, too.

I intend to go to Chile this year - going to take Splat's advice and go around Labor Day. From all the beta I've gathered, that seems to be the time to go - or am I wrong?

September is usually a little safer, b/c at least you'll get spring skiing without freshies. What Squirrel said about snowfall is definitely true for the High Andes (LL and all the Chilean areas near Santiago). The thing is that the weather is completely different in the South. Basically a giant high pressure sits over Northern Chile (the Atacama is the driest desert in the world) and Argentina, with much closer to tropical rainfall levels if you go north (Peru) or south of Chillan. Termas itself is kind of on the border, but they definitely do get more reliable (heavier) snow. The Bariloche/Pucon lakes region is more like Tahoe, or even the PNW with lots of volcanos. There's also skiing at the end of the world, but Splat is the expert on that.

I also might be moving to Chile this summer, but even if I don't I'm definitely down to spend a good amount of time touring around looking for snow and cool mountains. If anybody wants to get in on more of a travelling circus trip (a la the Cletus/Cornhole crew from 2 years back) I'd definitely be interested. I've got about 10 places on the mental checklist that I really need to get back to...

[PeachesN'Cream]

right now i'm plaing on going.

the only good thing i can seem to muster from this lacking year up in the pnw is that i'm not spending a ton of money. i should be able to afford a trip to LL if i'm good and save.

having squirrel as a roommate doesn't make it easy to forget about LL. should be a shit-ton O' fun.

[the_eleven]

Definately looking at the last week of August/first two weeks of September time slot.

Hopefully drake-boinay will have finished my skis by then.....

[Minotauro]

In Bariloche, I recommend to stay at the resot rather than the town unless you are around 18-20 and love to go dancing til 6am (Bariloche is the national center of 18year graduation trips); or if you like to travel around a nd lose some ski days (not an option for me).

A cheaper and good hotel is the Hotel Catedral. A star less but nice enough.

As fot weather, last two winters sucked. Hope this one improves to 90s level.

[shamrockpow]

In Bariloche, I recommend to stay at the resot rather than the town unless you are around 18-20 and love to go dancing til 6am (Bariloche is the national center of 18year graduation trips); or if you like to travel around a nd lose some ski days (not an option for me).

A cheaper and good hotel is the Hotel Catedral. A star less but nice enough.

As fot weather, last two winters sucked. Hope this one improves to 90s level.

SCHOOLIES!

[lameduck]

How about Krasnaya Polyana 05/06?

[Greydon Clark]

Me and Mrs. Clark are currently planning a SA trip and want to squeeze in some skiing. We were thinking Sep. 11th to the 24th... approximently... in LL but are willing to consider other destinations if it means meeting up with friends (both real on web based). Sounds like lodging is cheap, but what is the cost of two weeks of lift passes? Also, any vegetarians do extended trips in SA (skiing is only part of a multi-month trip)?

[daPig]

Im pretty new to the board but Ive been looking for some people to do a trip like this for a long time. Most of my friends wouldnt think about going somewhere cold in the summer so I have had zero luck so far. I would be up for Portillo or LL or wherever...and Ill try to minimize my JONGishness!!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I'm still in. Late August-ish...Early September-ish. 10-14 days mebee. Not sure where yet...LL or Bariloche most likely.

[FollowMe]

I'm thinking early September, around 2 weeks, but I'll be based out of Rio or Sao Paulo. If Santa Rosa blesses us w/ her beauty, you'll find me on the first flight towards LL.

[MOHSHSIHd]

Most likely a yes on SA this summer...


any time between June->August

whats the best bang for your buck place to go?

Cheap, Steep, Deep?


ill sleep in a box if i have too...

[crashnburn'd]

I would like to go, however it looks as though my brother will be getting married sometime around early September...

[powderwhore]

I'm looking at being down there for two weeks! Who's coming with me?

[CUBUCK]

I'm good for a week in august or sept.

[Spats]

Also, any vegetarians do extended trips in SA (skiing is only part of a multi-month trip)?

Argentina would be really difficult for vegetarians. Meat is like a national religion: they eat about 3x more beef per capita than any other country.

Las Lenas is the most expensive place to ski and stay in SA. Lift passes were about $24-30 a day, if I recall correctly, depending on the season.

As far as getting to/from Lenas: just bus it from Buenos Aires unless you get a really good deal to/from Malargue or Mendoza. Super-deluxe overnight sleeper coach, analogous to first class on a plane, will cost you about $30-40 from BA through to Las Lenas (with a connection in Malargue).

[cj001f]

Argentina would be really difficult for vegetarians. Meat is like a national religion: they eat about 3x more beef per capita than any other country.

Chile wouldn't be much better. You could survive I suppose - your diet wouldn't be varied (cheese, bread, cheese) and you'd miss out on an a signifigant portion of the culture, but whatever floats yer boat. I can't think of a restauraunt menu that featured something without meat - with the exception of fish in Chile.

Is travel from Bariloche to Cerro Cathedral that bad in winter? It's a 30 minute drive! And the teen scene isn't to be missed. They're like Tasmanian Devils, they come, the destroy, they move on

[mtbakerskier]

Good chance that I might be going this year. But it all depends on my job / work situation after gradumacation

[Squirrel99]

I'm looking at being down there for two weeks! Who's coming with me?

There'll be a large contingent from the PNW this year in Las Lenas due to the serious lack of snow/lack of skiing. We gotta make up some lost days!

I'm sure we'll have some space. Probably start planning sometime in April.

estimated mid-aug to mid-sept