Snow in SA in September? Where?

[Meathelmet]

Soo.

I might be overly optimistic here but i am hoping that i would have recuperated enough for skiing in september.

So, that in mind i am setting my eyes for the south america,again.

So for me things that would matter:
-Purty terrain.
-Skinnable stuff.
-Other skiers to tour with,since i travel alone.
-And most importantly : Good Base.


Last year i was in Las leans in july/august and the snow was good.Weather wasnt.Now thinking if i would head there in the start of september, what places would most propably have snow at that time? I searched the old threads about this, but i didnt get a definite answer for that.

I was mainly thinking if i would go to Chile, since last summer i was in argentina,but i havent ruled anything out yet.Especially the souther Tierra Del fuego area, where popping to chile would be an option.
And since i dont think i would be in any serious hucking condition, i would be on my AT stuff anyway.But,having lifts would be nice,though.


So,was thinking something along theese lines :

Cerro Castor (ARG: Tierra del fuego)
Portillo (CHI)
Bariloche (ARG)



So, is there hope, is there snow?

[hemas]

All I can say is that: I FREAKIN' HATE YOU

Now heal up / Good luck with the operation!

[Meathelmet]

All I can say is that: I FREAKIN' HATE YOU.

Now heal up / Good luck with the operation!

Maan!
Went through the op allready! I have been up and gimping now for 1 1/2 weeks. Walking 10-15k´s a day,while watching hot chicks on the streets of our lovely capital.
Aaah! Not the worst kind of re-hab.

[hemas]

Maan!
Went through the op allready! I have been up and gimping now for 1 1/2 weeks. Walking 10-15k´s a day,while watching hot chicks on the streets of our lovely capital.
Aaah! Not the worst kind of re-hab.

Doesn't sound too bad... But I have to say that the chicks are better looking here in NL than they were in FIN...

[Meathelmet]

Blah blah blah...whale watching...blah..blah..blah..

Yes, maybe that would be more appropriate.

[Squirrel99]

the earlier in September, the better. I'd shoot for either 1st & 2nd week. I've had good luck with conditions the past few years.

if it's an average year- the snow starts melting pretty quick between the 2nd and 3rd week. and most the resorts close between the those weeks. a couple others may be open longer (portillo?)- but you'd need to verify that.

personally, I wouldn't want to plan on anything after the 2nd/3rd week. snow down there is 'variable' reliability. if you can wait it out until mid-August and then decide, you might be better off once conditions can give better beta.

[Meathelmet]

Aww shite..

Squirrel,do you mean that even the high mountains gets completely bare or that there is no "winter pow conditions"?

I checked out the Cerro Castor and they said that their seson continues to october 16th, but how is the snow situation down south?
I mean, it is south (better) but it is closer to the sea (worse) but it can get more snow being maritime (better)??


Werent somebody around touring/skiing around Bariloche last season?
Just cant find whom...greydon..buster...yossarian...?


Hopefully the season continues as well as it started!

[Squirrel99]

Aww shite..

Squirrel,do you mean that even the high mountains gets completely bare or that there is no "winter pow conditions"?

I checked out the Cerro Castor and they said that their seson continues to october 16th, but how is the snow situation down south?
I mean, it is south (better) but it is closer to the sea (worse) but it can get more snow being maritime (better)??


Werent somebody around touring/skiing around Bariloche last season?
Just cant find whom...greydon..buster...yossarian...?


Hopefully the season continues as well as it started!

I'm not sure of the closing dates- but Cerro Castor & Portillo I believe are open until October, conditions permitting. Not sure about the Bariloche areas. I think Valle Nevado is open until late September, but it's all condition dependant.

Lenas has been open until October in the past, but the last couple of years closing days have been around September 21. Problem in Lenas is that the snow on the lower mountain melts so they lose the base on the necessary beginner/intermediate terrain to attract local skiers. September is a great time to go- I'd rather bank on Corn vs. Powder. Conditions are more favorable with corn to ski more terrain. As you know, powder can also be a burden in SA- with lifts shut down for days during a major storm.

Good Luck!

[Meathelmet]

As you know, powder can also be a burden in SA- with lifts shut down for days during a major storm.

Good Luck!

No shit,sherlock!! Been there,done that..


Yup, this time i think i will focus on the corn and decent weather. Although i know that going to ushuaia would be a bit pushing the envelope.
The problem is just that i wont be able to leave before the start of september due to work.
So now it´s just to find a decent place to ski(n) after that.

But thanks,again, for the info,squirrel!

[Meathelmet]

Bumpah!


Got some decent deals on flights to santiago...must...resist...

Anyone?

[sea2ski]

In 2004, Cerro Castor in early September wasn't all that great on the lower part of the mountain since the base is at pretty low attitude. Now I know 2004 was a generally bad snow year in Argentina. However, another problem with Cerro Castor seems to be like a lot of South American resorts, the top of the mountain seemingly gets closed a lot due to the wind. If the top of Cerro Castor is closed there's not a lot of terrain anyone but a gaper would want to ski. I would choose Las Lenas over Cerro Castor personally but it may have been that I hit LL after a big storm in 2004 and so it's not a fair comparison.

[covert]

want corn eh? volcan lanin, volcan villarica, volcan llaima, volcan lonquimay and volcan osorno all typically ski well through september and into october. descents range from 4000-8000' of vert. cheap too...

[Mudfoot]

Covert:

A few years back I moutained biked around and up over a shoulder of Osorno. I remember some evidence of a ski lift, but not a real resort. Do you know anything about lift served skiing there?

[covert]

Covert:

A few years back I moutained biked around and up over a shoulder of Osorno. I remember some evidence of a ski lift, but not a real resort. Do you know anything about lift served skiing there?

i'm pretty sure the tiny mom and pop style ski area is still operating there. i think they even have dorm style accomodations at the base. not sure on the quality of lift access. those kind of operations don't typically have lifts that take you anywhere useful.

[Mudfoot]

Thanks Covert:

After biking around Osurno my wife had an accident and I spent a couple weeks in a hospital room in Puerto Mont staring out the window at the volcan everyday. I still dream about skiing it.