Summer Skiing in S.A.

[GGreen]

Well, this season I'm going to finally book a trip to South America in August and I can't wait. I figure I deserve it considering the slow season we've had in the east. So far, I've been favoring Las Lenas in Argentina although i read stories about them closing lifts and hit-or-miss conditions.

Does anyone have any advice?

 

[Vortex]

I have no experience, but would love to lean and maybe do this in the future.

 

[AdironRider]

Las Lenas is supposed to be epic when the marte lift is open. Arguably the best lift serviced big mt skiing in the entire world when that bad boy runs. Be flexible with your trip dates and make sure theyve got the snow and you should be golden.

 

[JimG.]

Well, this season I'm going to finally book a trip to South America in August and I can't wait. I figure I deserve it considering the slow season we've had in the east. So far, I've been favoring Las Lenas in Argentina although i read stories about them closing lifts and hit-or-miss conditions.

Does anyone have any advice?

I've been to Las Lenas in Argentina and Portillo in Chile.

Las Lenas: BIG!! Really big. If I were to return, it would be with a guided group (Extremely Canadian is an outfit that runs trips there). I spent a week hiking and skiing and felt that I barely scratched the surface of what's available. There are alot of wealthy South Americans who go there, the vibe is kind of disco/casino...alot of late night partying.

Check out this recent trip report:

http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1164

Portillo: the resort is small...the hotel is pretty much it. But there's alot there. A very old european vibe that I liked alot. Everyone eats meals together so you get to know alot of fellow skiers. Lot's of hike to terrain, lots of scary steep hiking and skiing. There's a helicopter on standby to rent; your guides are patrollers and there are many first descents available. You are in the middle of the Andes and the scenery is breathtaking.

Both places are very remote and both have alot to offer. I spoke more about Portillo because the trip report for Las Lenas says alot. Be prepared for long travel days there and back.

Either is totally worth the time and money.

 

[kcyanks1]

Well, this season I'm going to finally book a trip to South America in August and I can't wait. I figure I deserve it considering the slow season we've had in the east. So far, I've been favoring Las Lenas in Argentina although i read stories about them closing lifts and hit-or-miss conditions.

Does anyone have any advice?

I just booked a trip to Portillo for 8/5-8/12. It's my first time, so I don't have any advice, I could just tell you what I did. I didn't research too much. I had a friend who went to Portillo a few years ago and loved it, so I decided to go for it.

 

[andyzee]

I just booked a trip to Portillo for 8/5-8/12. It's my first time, so I don't have any advice, I could just tell you what I did. I didn't research too much. I had a friend who went to Portillo a few years ago and loved it, so I decided to go for it.

What kind of prices were you able to find on airline tix?

 

[skiadikt]

What kind of prices were you able to find on airline tix?

i've been researching and spoke to rick from the basin who goes every year. flights from nyc are about $1130 round trip. you can do under a grand with more stops.

rick says portillo is a bit of a haul to get to and has recommended valle nevado for first timers to south america. they start low season 8/25 so we're thinking about that.

we did new zealand about 8-9 years and had the time of lives.

 

[salida]

I just booked a trip to Portillo for 8/5-8/12. It's my first time, so I don't have any advice, I could just tell you what I did. I didn't research too much. I had a friend who went to Portillo a few years ago and loved it, so I decided to go for it.

Hey hey, I'll be in Portillo the same dates as above. Should be a sweet time, I'm really looking forward to some summer pow, and turns south of the Equator. I can't wait. I heard its the annual wine festival during that week at Portillo, should be interesting.

I'll be on orange Atomic Stomps with Fritschi bindings. Say hello.

-Porter

 

[dmc]

I've been to Las Lenas... It's amazing.. Like JimG said - it's pretty big...

Take a chair up Tia Marte' (A sweet chute) to the top of the plateu and just head off and pick a chute...
Great skiing - absoluely NO trees anywhere.. Great cornices... Awesome steeps.. Great airs...

 

[kcyanks1]

What kind of prices were you able to find on airline tix?

$1213 I think including taxes. AA from Newark, NJ to Santiago, Chile, one stop each way. Both nights are overnight, and the stops aren't long - 1.5 hours one way and 2.5 the other way. I was hoping the total would be more like $1000. I just booked the flight yesterday (booked the trip a couple weeks ago). I then heard today that airline prices will be going up a lot because of gas, so I guess I may have made out well.

 

[kcyanks1]

Hey hey, I'll be in Portillo the same dates as above. Should be a sweet time, I'm really looking forward to some summer pow, and turns south of the Equator. I can't wait. I heard its the annual wine festival during that week at Portillo, should be interesting.

I'll be on orange Atomic Stomps with Fritschi bindings. Say hello.

-Porter

Oh, cool! We should definitely get in touch if you have some time while you are down there. I also heard about the wine festival. I'll send a PM with my contact info.

 

[awf170]

I'll be on orange Atomic Stomps with Fritschi bindings. Say hello

What happened to telemarking?

 

[JimG.]

Take a chair up Tia Marte' (A sweet chute) to the top of the plateu and just head off and pick a chute...
Great skiing - absoluely NO trees anywhere.. Great cornices... Awesome steeps.. Great airs...

When I was there, ski patrol was pretty determined to make sure you signed out with them before skiing any of those chutes off the Marte plateau and those chutes overlooking the Vulcano chair.

After our first foray in the chutes over the Vulcano lift 2 patrollers stopped me and asked me to do so next time I wanted to ski up there. No big deal and I was happy to oblige them.

 

[saabski]

South America 2006 (and 2005)

so, I had a GREAT trip to Portillo the 2nd week of September, 2005. If you want to see pics click http://cahill.smugmug.com/gallery/849906/1/38208832
I flew Delta PVD-ATL, ATL-SCL flights are overnight both ways, NO time zone changes so the travel is amazingly pain-free.
Seriously fantastic weather, they had Loads of snow last year, had the place to myself. It was "regular season" so fairly pricey but worth every penny ......

while I had thought it QUITE unlikely that I could swing it again this year, after getting my final 'fix' at Sugarbush in 4/30, I've spent hours on line trying to put together another S.A. trip for '06!!!!
Much as I would love to swing Portillo again, I have too many conficts mid-late September (value season) so am looking Valle Nevado for the last week of Aug. Which for some reason is 'value season' then it flips back to "regular season for the 1st week of September. Can I afford it? not really, but next November is a LONG way away. Haven't booked yet, but it's a 90 percent probability at this point!

 

[salida]

What happened to telemarking?

The knee thats my ACL has been "fixed" in a few times couldn't handle it. I figured I'd rather rip on alpine than work my tender knee over trying to get experience teleing...

Speaking of. Does anyone know where you can find the Salomon E2 boot. It is an alpine boot that has a walk mode and thus can be used for AT. I'm looking into the Garmont Adrenelines but am not sure I'll like them as an everyday boot.

-Porter

 

[andyzee]

i've been researching and spoke to rick from the basin who goes every year. flights from nyc are about $1130 round trip. you can do under a grand with more stops.

Yeah, I was doing some searching last week and that's the kind of prices I was finding 1100-1300. Bit much for me, I'll pass for now

 

[salida]

I booked a month and a half ago and got 930 from Boston... one stop in Atlanta for that early August block.

 

[awf170]

Speaking of. Does anyone know where you can find the Salomon E2 boot. It is an alpine boot that has a walk mode and thus can be used for AT. I'm looking into the Garmont Adrenelines but am not sure I'll like them as an everyday boot.

Those boots are a great mystery. You hear about but never see them in any catalogs or on any websites. I'm not even sure if it is meant to be AT boot, I've heard that it was for begginers or AT skiers, wierd. Whats the sole like, from the looks of it they don't look like vibram, and without a vibram sole I don't think I would want them. Also kind of stinks not to have a rocker sole. They are probably good for skinning but when you have to hike before skinning and some times scrabble rocks on the ridge(both which you will do on Mt. Washington) they just wouldn't work IMO.

 

[cyrk007]

you all go south.. i go north.. story of my life

 

[salida]

I went north to Baffin Island last year... there was plenty of snow there.

The likes of this http://ecampus.bentley.edu/org/skiclub/websummer/image011.jpg

Despite the looks of that picture it was pretty effing steep.

As for the E2, davenport has been using it on his ski the www.skithe14ers.com project. I'd imagine if he is booting in crampons with those things they'd be fine for me.

-Porter