Ski Chile 2024 sputter sputter

[nest]

When we skied there we stayed in los Andes. Cheap and easy drive up but roads were dry. I could see it be a cluster getting up there in a decent snowstorm. Definitely hit the super C if possible

Really enjoyed a couple days on the coast. Valparaiso - a super funky/gritty art centric city and Zapallar- picturesque coastal town both are definitely worth visiting.

[Casey E]

Commuting to Portillo, remember to check

https://x.com/hashtag/upfinforma?src=hashtag_click

for road closures. Seems every time there is a bit of snow or wind, the road closes. Major issue last year. This a joint decision between Argentina and Chile. Portillo is less than 1km from Chilean customs.





Trucks in Argentina waiting to cross in May

[Buster Highmen]

Well, shit.
At $500/night for the bunks, is there a heli service from Los Andes or further down valley?

[Snow Dog]

We stayed in Santiago and used a local service - Ski Chile - to shuttle us to the various ski hills including Portillo. They rent ski gear (including clothes) too. Be prepared to adjust your own bindings. This was 2000.

That road to Portillo made me nauseous.

[Casey E]

Well, shit.
At $500/night for the bunks, is there a heli service from Los Andes or further down valley?

The service exists, not sure how much or if they only fly from Santiago.

https://helitour.cl/tours/chile-santiago-ski-portillo/

I know these guys have flown La Parva to Portillo with a ski break along the way.

https://andesheliboarding.com/heliski-andes

And while we are on the subject, dostiempos is now offering heli services out of Lo Valdes near Valle Arenas in el Cajon del Maipo. As well as sled access and “high mountain camping”.

https://www.dostiempos.cl/

Aerotoscana flies mostly out of Los Queñes, across from Las Leñas, in Chile.

https://www.dostiempos.cl/

There are more, like powder south.

https://heliskiguides.com/ is

[Casey E]

V Lonquimay shows its newly ugly face

[byates1]

How much are rental SUVs or vans? Thx

[Buster Highmen]

The service exists, not sure how much or if they only fly from Santiago.

https://helitour.cl/tours/chile-santiago-ski-portillo/

I know these guys have flown La Parva to Portillo with a ski break along the way.

https://andesheliboarding.com/heliski-andes

And while we are on the subject, dostiempos is now offering heli services out of Lo Valdes near Valle Arenas in el Cajon del Maipo. As well as sled access and “high mountain camping”.

https://www.dostiempos.cl/

Aerotoscana flies mostly out of Los Queñes, across from Las Leñas, in Chile.

https://www.dostiempos.cl/

There are more, like powder hounds.

https://heliskiguides.com/

Thank you! I'll assemble some prices for this stuff.

[rideit]

When we skied there we stayed in los Andes. Cheap and easy drive up but roads were dry. I could see it be a cluster getting up there in a decent snowstorm. Definitely hit the super C if possible

Really enjoyed a couple days on the coast. Valparaiso - a super funky/gritty art centric city and Zapallar- picturesque coastal town both are definitely worth visiting.

Haha, my wife and I were relieved of $400. Cash during breakfast at a swanky hotel in Zapallar. Turns out they were trying a new head chef. Turns out he was a raging coke addict. It was interesting that they shared that with us, but it certainly didn’t get us our cash back!

[byates1]

^ so the chef held you at gunpoint in the restaurant and took your cash?

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

[Casey E]

Well the Big Bang was a bluff, too much work, 2 weeks of weathering, and no skiers. La Parva had 4 lifts to ski and 5 runs prepared. No access to Valle Nevado, cause Tortolas was closed. Supposedly more will open after the next snowfall.

Skiable to the base



It was a rip-the-corduroy day



The ski school was out in clusters, and all of 35 other skiers had tickets.





Where the wind left a skiers track naked.



The 3,200m rule rules. Above that the wind rarely doesn’t eventually wreck things with much of a nor-westerly exposure.

In other news,

[Casey E]

Here we go again, hope this pans out

[Casey E]

Tío Bob’s under attack

[Buster Highmen]

Here's a quote on the Santiago<->Portillo heli transport:

- Airbus H125 (Single engine) capacity for 5 passengers, US$2,770
- Airbus H130 (Single engine) capacity for 6 passengers. US$2,770


Staying slopeside is likely cheaper but complicated by minimum night restrictions.

But damn this looks like a good year to go.

[Casey E]

As for the coming months, the folks at meteochile are even more sure of an imminent niña. They say

Las regiones comprendidas entre Atacama y Los Lagos, existe una alta probabilidad de que el trimestre presente una condición Bajo lo Normal. Por ejemplo, en Santiago se espera
que acumule durante estos 3 meses menos de 121 mm, en Chillán menos de 399 mm y en Valdivia menos de 698 mm.

In colors -



My observation would be that June is going to end up about double their forecast, with over 100mm forecast for the next nine days alone in Santiago. So we may be surprised.

This is from today, El Colorado from a friend

[wordbird]

Stoked for you guys! I definitely need to visit Portillo and ski the long chute after hitting Las Lenas last year. Sad I can't do it this season but haven't really expected such coverage in La Nina. Maybe next season, shouldn't be too hard to find a last minute vacation window with a remote job(I'll probably relocate to Mendoza for two-three months).

[Casey E]

More flat light today, and heavy powder off piste. Strong wind gusts.

High noon in a ghost ski area



Cornices above Barros Negros



Santiago 3,000m below



Hard to take pics of skiers cause there weren’t any. Until I spotted this trio skiing Falso Parva









Then they were off to brave La Chimenea.

[Casey E]

More tremors in the ski area biz

“Fondo dueño de La Parva y Valle Nevado pone sobre la mesa $ 6 mil millones para quedarse con el control de Parque Farellones y el Colorado”

https://www.df.cl/empresas/industria...obre-la-mesa-6

Toss in Pillan and Osorno, and we have a budding monopoly.

[TonyC]

the folks at meteochile are even more sure of an imminent niña.

These predictions should always be taken with a grain of salt. We are currently still in moderate El Nino:
https://origin.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/pro...uff/ONI_v5.php
Yes the trend is down, but +0.7 is still significant.

[TonyC]

the folks at meteochile are even more sure of an imminent niña.

These predictions should always be taken with a grain of salt. We are currently still in moderate El Nino:
https://origin.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/pro...uff/ONI_v5.php
Yes the trend is down, but +0.7 is still significant.

My guess is that it might be neutral by September, but I'd be very surprised if there is signifcant La Nina before the northern winter.

[Casey E]

Well anormal is the new normal. Short term, things are looking good, with up to 1 meter expected thurs/friday. Hope the wind doesn´t trash the hill.

This is probably exaggerated.

[Casey E]

More instability today, with wettish showers and wind gusts, chairs stopped and whiteouts.








Of course it all calmed down for a lovely sunset

Untouched iPhone

[byates1]

Thank God the forums are surfable again. This thread is the summer Best.

[tintin5]

Thanks Casey for posting !

[Casey E]

Bio Bio region declared a catastrophe, floods, slides, people isolated etc. Moving north over the next 2 days, to do the same to the next 5 regions.

https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacion...a-frontal.html

At least the freezing level will lower.