Ooonce, Ooonce, Ooonce I hear the South America 2005 Mini Discussion

[Squirrel99]

I'm considering the same exact thing.

So glad to go through ATL instead of DFW this year. Changing planes and DFW sucks.

I'm shooting for 8/25 (Thursday) flight from ATL to SCL. I'm going to take the first flight out of Seattle (or maybe the red-eye the night prior) to hang out in ATL for the day with some friends before catching the long 9.5-10 hr. flight to Chile.

Instead of drinking (which seems to be the usual norm with those Southern Belles ), thinking about hitting up some Six Flags action for a few hours to pass the time.

[Squirrel99]

Based on some very preliminary responses, I'm going out on a limb and proposing the following week for a South America Summit:
Aug 27 - Sept 3, 2005 @ Las Lenas
*week after reserved for Bariloche or Termas touring*

I usually stay in LL for about 20 days, but this year, thinking about going for 8 to 10 days, then checking out some new terrain in either Chile or Bariloche region (or perhaps getting that 'secret' hut for a few touring days about 2-3 hours from LL).

I'll hopefully be on the Delta flight to Santiago Thursday 8/25. Likely connecting onto the LanExpress 9am flight to Mendoza (if not, hopping the bus). Would be cool to have a 'maggot' flight!

Okay, it's almost April... discuss

[Meathelmet]

I would definitely be interested in linking up with some mags near end of July. The warm days would be fun. I could ski in a man-blouse and smoove chicas on the lift. Mmmmm. Damn.

Rusty, do you have any connections in the LL itself for lodging?

Tried to find out the prices for Los Molles, but they replied back that they
have not yet lauched next winters prices..

But this thingy that i found, has anyone any experiences of it?

http://www.laslenas.net/apartments.html

And some other place:

http://www.intertournet.com.ar/esqui...enas_dptos.htm

And some third place:

http://www.snownet.com.ar/ingles/UntitledFrame-6.html

How does theese prices compeare to the prices you have paid before?

Just to get some kind of overview in the pricerange.
I guess there will begin to be double tariffs (locals vs. gringos) as the economic slide seems to continue down there..



And about the usuall snowfall statistics.

I have found somehting ,like this, http://www.cosis.net/members/onlib/r.../nhs-2-221.pdf


but searching to find out what the usuall snowfall cyckle is in the SA since it seems to differ from the northern hemisphere quite a lot?
Does anyone have any links or where to find some readings?

And oh, Fieldguides seems to have this kind of guides in the repertuaire...

[Phil]

Giddy Up ! is all I got to say.

[cj001f]

So glad to go through ATL instead of DFW this year. Changing planes and DFW sucks.

Not as much as Delta´s service sucks. Fíng 30 year old airplane. Can´t figure out who has what seat. Every leg late.

An Aerolineas flight to Mendoza should be the same price as Lan(as long as you don´t pay the etranjero price), so why not layover in BUE where you can get all you can eat Lomo for AR$17?

EZE airport tax is AR$57 or something like that.

[Meathelmet]

An Aerolineas flight to Mendoza should be the same price as Lan(as long as you don´t pay the etranjero price), so why not layover in BUE where you can get all you can eat Lomo for AR$17?

EZE airport tax is AR$57 or something like that.

Is it true that the goverment has passed the law that foreigners cannot travel on the economy class at all on internal flights?
They have to buy instead First or Businessclass ticets.

Equalizing sucks..

[cj001f]

Is it true that the goverment has passed the law that foreigners cannot travel on the economy class at all on internal flights?
They have to buy instead First or Businessclass ticets.

Equalizing sucks..

I believe that´s the law, but it doesn´t seem well inforced. And it only seems to be for Aerolineas Argentinas tickets. If you purchase your ticket in the States/Europe (internet or travel agent) you definitely have to pay that price, if you purchase in Argentina via a travel agent or direct from Aerolineas you probably (I´ve heard of very few exceptions) don´t. As an example I purchased a same day ticket on Aerolineas at the airport with my illiterate Spanglish, and a US passport, to Rio Gallegos for AR$300, after my southern winds flight was cancelled. My advance reservation was AR$297. All of my tickets bought in Argentina have been simlilarly cheap, and far different than the absurd fares quoted by the Aerolineas website.

There are other Argentine airlines (destinations are from Aeroparque, the Buenos Aires domestic airport, a $20 or less transfer from EZE, including massive bags):
American Falcon http://www.americanfalcon.com.ar/home.asp flies to Bariloche
Southern Wings http://www.fly-sw.com flies to Mendoza and Bariloche, but I wouldn´t pay for your ticket in advance (the scandal being 60kg of Coc in an unsuitcase in Madrid, turns out the President of the airline was complicit )
LADE http://www.lade.com.ar/ flies to Usushaia and other Patagonia destinations. They fly Argentina Airforce equipment, it´s an interesting experience.

All of the above are reasonable, safe airlines, you can even earn American Airlines miles on Southern Winds.

[Arty50]

Southern Winds sucks ass. I've never been on an older airplane. I think it was an original model 737...with duct tape on the tail fin. 20 years ago I flew on newer airplanes.

Best of all we got to fly in that plane from Malargue to Mendoza right when the Santa Rosa was blowing in. I thought we were going to die.

[cj001f]

I've never been on an older airplane.

It´s a plane, it gets you there. Sorry you don´t have all the comforts of home. My Southern Winds plane was newer than the Delta flight down

[shamrockpow]

It´s a plane, it gets you there. Sorry you don´t have all the comforts of home. My Southern Winds plane was newer than the Delta flight down

No offense, cause I love Argentina, but 3/4 of the flights I've had in that country would be considered amusement park thrill level in the U.S. On the other hand, two buses crashed head on killing 20+ on the route from BA to Mendoza when I was there, so I'm not sure how much better that option is (do they enforce the 5 hour limit for drivers w/o taking a break?)

[cj001f]

No offense, cause I love Argentina, but 3/4 of the flights I've had in that country would be considered amusement park thrill level in the U.S. On the other hand, two buses crashed head on killing 20+ on the route from BA to Mendoza when I was there, so I'm not sure how much better that option is (do they enforce the 5 hour limit for drivers w/o taking a break?)

The buses I´ve been on seem to obey the 5 hour limit, which is better than Chile. 1 driver, 13 hrs down the Carreterra Austral

I can´t say that any of my airline experiences have been thrill rides, LADE was the closest with the Boeing 707 and everything else.

You thought you were in the water at USH not because the aiports small, but because it´s built on an island in the middle of the Beagle channel. Awesome view of the mountains on the approach.

[Spats]

Aerolineas to Ushuaia was uneventful except for Southwest-sized seats.

Of course, I hadn't slept in 36 hours, so my recollection may be inexact.

[nightpanda]

Aerolineas to Ushuaia was uneventful except for Southwest-sized seats.

Of course, I hadn't slept in 36 hours, so my recollection may be inexact.

I can verify those seats are ummmm compact and the sprite also tasted weird.

EDIT: the plane seemed new to me(turbines), only part where I became a little worried was when I just woke up and because airport is so tiny(2 terminals: 1 for departures, other for arrivals) it appeared to me that we were landing into water.

[Arty50]

It´s a plane, it gets you there. Sorry you don´t have all the comforts of home. My Southern Winds plane was newer than the Delta flight down

No you don't understand. I don't mind small seats. I don't mind old upholstery. I really don't mind super hot stewardesses. But what I do mind is old planes that can't handle turbulence very well. When you're on approach, you're 200 feet off the ground, the plane is bouncing around worse than a 500 lb man's stomach on a diving board, and one second all you see is ground and the other second all you see is sky...you tend to be a little unhappy. It was complete barf-o-rama on the plane; and when I walked into the bathroom after we had miraculously landed, I noticed that someone had left skid marks on the seat...probably from shitting their pants. Yes, it was that bad. I'm not scared of flying; never have been. But I thought we were going to die on that plane.

[up an down]

i tore my right acl last week (grade 3 tear ) i was planning on participating in this summit, but alas it is not to be.. hope you guys and gals have a great one

[Greydon Clark]

Trying to incorporate some skiing into a multiple month South American trip. Hopefully I can be a part of the South American festivities. The Las Lenas apartments seem like a good dilly, aproximently $25 per night per bed. My lady friend and I will be arriving around Labor Day, a little late, but hopefully not too late.

Termas de Chillan sounds interesting, but appartently only to the Dude.

What is the likelihood of sucessfully shipping ski gear back to the State once I'm done skiing? Unlikely any South American hot dogs are going to want beat up tele gear.

[Squirrel99]

My lady friend and I will be arriving around Labor Day, a little late, but hopefully not too late.

That's within about 1 week of when Ms. Santa Rosa comes dancing in off the Pacific

[shamrockpow]

What is the likelihood of sucessfully shipping ski gear back to the State once I'm done skiing? Unlikely any South American hot dogs are going to want beat up tele gear.

Likelihood is pretty high. Cost is going to be outrageous. Estimates that I got for the DaKine double ski bag loaded up from Chile was about $250. As Splat has pointed out, locals really do appreciate gear donations and even our old stuff is newer than what a lot of folks ski on in SA.

[powderwhore]

Im going to try to go this year, but I'm buying a house around that time so it may not work out.

[splat]

What is the likelihood of sucessfully shipping ski gear back to the State once I'm done skiing? Unlikely any South American hot dogs are going to want beat up tele gear.

Wanna brighten some poor Argentinians day? Give him or her your beater equipment. I'll even tell you how to get to the southernmost refugio in the world where that gear will get you free lodging and endless appreciation.
Oh, and you'll never want to leave, either. Cause it's that cool.

[Mike Pow]

Heading down to Santiago on 20 August for my fourth summer trip south of the equator (fifth including a trip to NZ).

Headed down at this time on my previous three visits and had excellent powder in Portillo (2002), Las Lenas and Termas (2003) and Chapelco (2004).

Going the car hire route this time (travelling with 3 mates) to get the goods.

Will be there until 11 September and hoping to hit some or all of the following:

Valle Nevado - never been
Portillo - been twice before and had pow and great corn
Penitentes - never been
Las Lenas - as good as everyone says, but average when the Marte is closed
Caviahue - deserted, great terrain, superb hiking
Batea Mahuida - never been
Chapelco - had a great time in San Martin and Chapelco last summer. Very underrated resort with some sweet tree skiing
Catederal - never been
La Hoya - never been
Antillanca - never been
Pucon - never been
Termas - had a brilliant time here in 2003. Stayed in Las Trancas where I enjoyed a great Independence Day at Oliver's. Then skied pow for the next 3 days

Can't wait

This is a good site for info on S American skiing/riding Inter Patagonia

[Yossarian]

you must have been at Termas when we were there... you weren't with one other buddy perhaps? hooked up with 3 americanos with a video cam for the first bluebird day of the storm, did you? Cause if so, I still have some shots of you guys around somewhere. I think I still even have your email address somewhere too. Hell, even if you're not that those guys, maybe I should write them, eh?

[Mike Pow]

Not me. I was out there with two mates. All three of us from the UK (1 boarder, Rich, and 2 skiers, Paul and I).

First day we were there it was snowing and blowing a gale up top. Did well to stay on the t-bar at times!

Got back to Las Trancas early afternoon and it was raining, so we decided to have a late lunch and a couple of bottles of vino at Oliver's.

During the course of our meal the rain turned to big fat flakes, so we tied one on early outside under the canopy enjoying a great lamb roast and dancing.

Bed by 9 and up for first tracks the next morning. Bluebird, light, untracked and mid-thigh deep. Classic.

PS how do you post images? Can I upload from my hard drive or does it have to be via a web site?

[Mike Pow]

Me at Oliver's restaurant on Chilean Independence Day 2003

Paul having hiked above the slow 2-man and dropped in headed back to base via the valley beside the river and hot springs.

Me headed back to base from Tres Marias

[up an down]

i think i have posted this info before in a thread last year, but for those who don't bother to search , here it is again.... my lodging connection for las lenas is
Sebastian Luna
E-mail Address(es):
yayaluna@hotmail.com

he was introduced to me as yaya, not sure what that nickname means in spanish.. anyway, he got me a bed in an apartment in the buildings where a lot of the employees/ locals live for $12 a night. the bedrooms have 1 or 2 bunkbeds each, and there is a small kitchen/living room. you get a chance to make some new friends and the price could not be beat by any other place close to the lifts. i think i may have received a discounted rate cause yaya is a friend of a friend, and i don't know what yaya is charging this year (yaya rents an apartment or 2 or 3 each season, then rents out beds by the month/week/night), but regardless, if you want a cheap bed you should contact him.
and, if anyone is wanting to stay in mendoza and wants a local contact, the friend of mine that introduced me to yaya is fede de lucia..
deluja@impsat1.com .. fede is a decent skier and works/lives in mendoza. he gets to las lenas as often as he can get away from work (he's an architect). i got in contact with him via another skiing site, met him in person my first night in las lenas in 2002. and by happy circumstance he was having a party that night.. one hell of a good time and many new friends were had/made that night,and it set the tone for a wonderful vacation.