Ski Chile 2024 sputter sputter

[Casey E]

Anywhere from Maule south will be good tomorrow.







Then zippo

[Casey E]

Oh la la! for Andes Touring

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAlru..._web_copy_link

[QUOTEWe keep finding incredible conditions...

This time we hit the Corralco backcountry in Malalcahuello. We started before dawn, right after a cold snowfall that left the most perfect powder overnight ????????????. A local classic: the East face, visible from the ski resort, accessed by walking to the left (West) from the parking lot. They call it “El Coloradito.” Just about an hour from the car (at a good pace) and you’re at the top of this feast.

We’ll soon be announcing the date for our ski touring meetup, likely for the long weekend of November 1st. DM us if you want to reserve your spot now!][/QUOTE]

A snippet

[Casey E]

Got up to Pillan Centro de Montaña today, to ski slurpies.



The “number 3” chair was open, adding a few vertical meters to the meager offering.



I scouted the best lift served terrain available



And got a brief run in before bailing to the hot springs.



Somewhere off to the right here



Limitless hot and cold thermal waters here

[Casey E]

Something moving in on Corralco

[Casey E]

The Thursday storm at Corralco was rain to 1,700m, and varying kinds of wet and blown snow above.

Looked nice when we arrived Friday



The high speed quad was inaugurated today, looking like a few towers were a bit low, so snow was removed



Certainly makes life easier getting uphill, and runs parallel to the old double, just a bit higher.



A stupendous day for selfies



Cruising the groomers and corn



And getting air



I ventured off to the southeast bowl looking for untracked, and found drifts on the ridge



A more southern exposure



And the main bowl, with evidence of an odd slide

[m2711c]

^^^ i approve of this message...^^^

[byates1]

Good stuff as always!

[Casey E]

Today was also great skiing, with in flight entertainment snowboarders jumping the only feature available.




I ventured off to the northeastern side, spot the skier going up (middle)



There were several tracks from the top



Then I skinned up a couple of knolls looking for that right exposure on a warming day



Another volcanic playground, V Tolhuaca to the northwest








And the final lap of the season, so much white the tracks were hidden



Meanwhile, the Araucarias were standing firm

[Casey E]

The fat lady hasn´t sung until Slava says so

Cristo Redentor on the border of Argentina east of Portillo (old pass before the tunnel)








Then there was my oldest, feaking out on Volcan San Jose





So there is more skiing out there

[riff]

If anyone is going to be in the BioBio or Araucania regions November 1-17 and wants to get on volcanoes, hit me up. I caved and scored a cheapish ticket to Concepcion- very stoked to finally be visiting that area.


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[kamtron]

If anyone is going to be in the BioBio or Araucania regions November 1-17 and wants to get on volcanoes, hit me up. I caved and scored a cheapish ticket to Concepcion- very stoked to finally be visiting that area.


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Buena, Riff. Disfruta

[Casey E]

The beat goes on

https://www.andestouring.com/encuentro-randoneros-2024/

Laguna del Maule Nov 1-3 for “Randoneros”

[Casey E]

V Villarrica gets downgraded to green, so the crater can now be accessed. The ski area is closed, and the road is in rough shape




While V Copahue, 180km north, acts up enough to get a yellow

https://rnvv.sernageomin.cl/rnvv/TI_...00_Copahue.pdf

Too bad the webcams are so fuzzy



Piroclastics falling up to 3km from the crater and SO2 pumping out. Poor Caviahue…

The neighboring V Callaqui looks nice



Further south, Complejo Volcánico Puyehue-Cordón Caulle stays yellow as its “inflationary process” continues.

https://rnvv.sernageomin.cl/rnvv/TI_...osRios_v19.pdf

[Casey E]

So my oldest couldn’t miss a shot at the crater and had a great day on Villarrica





Dirty snow at the top reflects minor events from earlier in the winter, and the hot temps lately. Good snow further down





The heat is on though, +34C expected for Stgo tomorrow.

[Casey E]

Clarification on the V Villarrica access - it seems the green status was not accompanied by a new access restriction, and thus the park guards can still give out fines. I learned they have high powered binoculars and can track people going above the "Pinguinera", or 1 km below the crater.

https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/...llarrica.shtml

So in two weeks there will be a protocol for reaching the crater, legally, so tours can make it there. Individuals can go at there own risk. There is still danger of a minor eruption, and the park guards, who are stretched already with the wild west attitude of a lot of locals (dirt bikes, sleds, drones, lost trekkers/skiers, etc.), do not want any more accidents.

" En estas conversaciones interviene además el Senapred Araucanía, a través de su directora regional, Janet Medrano, estimándose que las medidas y resultados de este trabajo estarán listos en dos semanas. Permitiendo reactivar una actividad turística emblemática para la región, asegurando que el retorno se realice con el máximo resguardo para la seguridad de los visitantes y los guías locales"

https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/...llarrica.shtml

[Casey E]

Time to wrap up the season with a chart from the Tobalaba eastern weather station in Santiago



Several atmospheric rivers made this season the best of recent years, mainly in May and June, with a disastrous outlier in early August. July and September were pure sputter, but overall, precipitation was 80% above normal. I was tempted to change the title of this thread in June, but held out based on numerous la Niña forecasts.

Further south, in Temuco, things were more normal, albeit with some big swings



On the merger of La Parva and Valle Nevado, they now officially have one budget to share. We will see if Valle Nevado sucks up most of the lift maintenance portion, as they had the most operational problems this last year. I doubt any new lifts will be going in soon, but I would love to be proven wrong.

As MCP, the gringo purchaser, is under an antitrust investigation for their purchase of La Parva this year (their very good lawyers say no problemo), the offer for El Colorado got stuck, and apparently they are just buying a minor share from the owners, Andacor. No budget for improvements there, Villarrica or Osorno so far. Time will tell.

Prices in Valle Nevado and La Parva have been rearranged, with more age-based seasons pass pricing, and day pass packages. Seasons passes are now almost free for under 12's and over 74´s (not there yet).

Corralco got their new high speed quad up and running in October, and it remains to be seen if they have the bucks to move the old lift somewhere useful.

Hope to see you all here next year

[m2711c]

thanks for all the updates, casey... they defiantly motivated me to finally get off my ass and go skiing in chile.






totally worth the trip.


fact.

[byates1]

Good stuff as always Casey. Come on up narth and ski w some mags

[riff]

Here’s a few pics of my recent outings, I’m definitely having a terrific time corn harvesting and dodging weather- first up, three days posted up on Antuco and Sierra Velluda, straight from the airport in Concepcion…. there was a windy 10” storm, so the pics are obviously when i wasn’t hunkered down hoping the tent would hold up.


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[riff]

I just left Volcan Llaima- definitely a fine choice. Lovely camping in the ski area parking lot; an Araucaria grove with parrots running around to top it off. Unreal corn cycle, the storm snow is cooking down nicely. Summited day one, then just skied the best aspects the second day and enjoyed the genuinely nice folks coming and going the parking lot. A friendly place- in fact, on the second day I ran into some folks i had met two years ago and we had a couple of laps together in the sun!


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[riff]

There’s 2” of rain forecast in the next 36 hours so I’m going easy on myself for this one and not tenting at 6k for it. Having a casual day in Pucon, then heading to wherever the weather looks best after that.


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[kamtron]

Awesome, Riff, keep it coming

[byates1]

FKNA riff.

[Casey E]

Good stuff Riff, thanks.

Bonus track - an amateur attempt at a 2024 season video compilation, to some Horacio Salinas tunes

https://youtu.be/aEYXLJ318tU?si=20r4Baraiiyj55WF

[riff]

So fellas- things are wrapping up for me down here, time to head home for NA winter- should i put a few more photos up, or do a proper trip report ?


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