Resuming the Patagonia Backcountry Ski Season 2017

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Hello, here some news about the Argentina/ Chile Patagonia ski season. It was one of the best season in the last decade, I think the last good winter was in 2006. Right now still snowing here in Bariloche,  on October 3rd, … yes all the way to the base of the ski area.

First of all thanks to all the skiers clients and friend that had travel all the way to here  to share some good powder times, some trips were good , some in rough storms but happy to see the faces of the Canada, Colorado, New York, California, UK, Swiss and French team.

We got this year at least 80 days of ski guiding in the Andes. Lots to explore , lots to see.  Frey hut was good and rest of the trips as well. New little ski lines. Catedral Alta Patagonia improve a little in their service, things were a bit easier than years before! Seems like the A factor (the Argentinien Factor) was low 🙂

Our team had the oportunity to help the Canadian producers  team in the last chapter of “The book of John Jackson”. As you probably know, today John Jackson is one of the best snowboard riders  and he is working his own Red Bull series,  the last chapter was filmed in Argentina. So dont miss out the continuity of this snowboard adventure in Argentina: Mountain huts, Malbec and steep lines.

Here a bit of how the Redbull series are :

Also one,  of the best days was a good heliski day, which is not an easy thing here in Patagonia. Winds are high, and clear days are not many.

So to have a good heliski day is a bless. Seems like for next year will be a steady operation of Heliski in Bariloche, Argentina. This is a product that have been trying to be developed for a decade, but never was easy. Lets see if the young enthusiast can make it happen in 2018

Here few pictures (thanks Maxi Artoni, photographer)

Excellent trip skiing Argentina Backcountry in August

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Here a little story , written from Rob, fanatic backcountry skier of our recent trip in Bariloche, Argentina. Thanks for the post

“My week in Patagonia

I live on the east coast of the US, so I’ve been quite fortunate to ski 7 of the past 9 months across Canada, the US and now Argentina.

It was a great winter for snow in the northern hemisphere this year, and when I saw the storms rolling into Patagonia, I knew I had to keep it going. I spoke with Jorge and 5 days later I was en route to Bariloche, ski touring gear packed and no idea what to expect. I’ll I knew was he had a group of 6 people, from all over, who loved adventure and were willing to fly half way around the world just to slide down snow covered mountains. Exactly the type of crew I wanted to spend a week with. There was no way this couldn’t be great.

22 hours of travel later, I walked into my hostel, and Charles from our group had a bottle of wine open, was checking gear and smiling ear to ear. I was most definitely in the right place. From here, the first 3 of us to arrive set out to Bagaules with Jorge. No small feat with 2hrs of driving complete with dirt roads, river and creek crossings and a snow mobile ride. I knew we were in for something special as we turned off the asphalt and headed toward the snow capped peaks and the rain turned to snow. The next two days were incredible Ski Touring and skiing great lines, drinking wine and eating amazing food. There was so much good energy shared by everyone. Hanging by the fire, drinking wine and playing guitar after a hard day’s ski was perfect.

From Bagaules, we headed into town, synced up with the rest of our group and then headed to the Frey Hut. I didn’t think we’d be able to top the few days we’d already spent at Baguales, but the 4 days we spent at Frey ended up being some of the best days I’ve ever spent skiing.

At dinner with our team the night before we set out to Frey, it became clear that we had an amazing group with so much positive energy. The trip was no longer just about the skiing, but the people and our common bond. We stayed up late, drank lots of wine, traded adventure stories and laughed non-stop.

During our week together, we became like a family. We ate together, slept together, and skied together. Late night dinners and card games till midnight, sleeping side by side in sleeping bags and touring up and descending steep faces, all as a team.

Our 2nd to last day at Frey, we ripped a huge line that brought everyone’s energy level to another level. The snow was deep and light, the clouds broke, and we were surrounded by huge granite spires and walls during our descent, with the hut just barely visible at the base. Everyone was cheering, laughing and smiling non stop when we regrouped. I don’t think my face has ever hurt so bad from smiling and laughing so hard, both while skiing and hanging with the crew at the hut.

The bonds we formed will last a lifetime, and somehow it happened in only a week. It was like time stood still at the Frey Hut and we all spent a week truly living in the moment. I’m so fortunate for my time there and the connections I formed, both with the Andes Backcountry and with the group.

Missing everyone and the Andes already, but excited for our next adventure, as I know we all see each other again.

Rob” Video Aug 11, 2 25 34 PM

Amazing Ski Season in Argentina

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Hello guys, I dont know if is casualty or not, but we are having the best ski season in Argentina since 2007. Since I remember the best seasons have been in 1984, then eleven years later in 1995, then eleven years later in 2006 and 2007. And now in 2017 (again eleven years later) Maybe is just random casualty, but maybe there is something running in cycles. Anyway! Just nice to think that even if Global Warming is happenning still some ilusion in keep living long winters! Who cares! Present and Now, is now! It is  hard to seat in front of computer for so many hours, looking through the window and watching so much snow out there.   Hard to be in front of the desk to organize the busy schedule of this winter with all this powder out there.

Best skiing in a long long time down here in Southern Hemisphere.

Here some pics to share from the last few days!

Our Schedule here if you are interested in coming down to Southamerica. Ski, Climb and get some summits with us:

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=cac8ed3c-d26f-4d27-bdd7-b81c10517ac0&preview=true&m=1103350944772&id=preview

 

 

Quick Patagonia travel guide for trekking, climbing and Ski trips

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I already placed a good handful information about getting to Argentina, Chile, currencies, airport and more

in our FAQ and in Our Patagonia Trip Notes 

When to travel and visit Patagonia? What is the best time of year to visit Patagonia?

For skiing july through all October, for climbing December to April

Travel adventures in patagonia:

Skiing in the Lake Districts and Volcanoes in Chile, this is well explained in the links above.

For hiking and trekking in Fitz Roy area and Torres del Paine, come early december (less people) avoid January

For climbing  moderate alpine, best Refugio Frey, Cochamo, Cerro Lopez.

For climbing the big leagues , get to Chalten, and you have the Fitz roy range

Kayak, rafting and soft adventures, Bariloche is the best spot. But is pioneering and developing well in southern patagonia

Wild travel destinations 

Cerro Castillo, excellent to find the solitude that Southern Patagonia had once. Smaller peaks but very wild

Travel agencies patagonia argentina 

Look for certified guides, check this  explanation here

Biking, cycling and mountain bike trips

Many options! very scenic to travel through lake districts, check the volcanoes in chile, the ocean, the northern patagonia lakes and mountains.

For long trips road 40 is wild and very very windy!

Ushuaia is very nice for doing a multiday bike tour, but best area I would say is Lake districts, volcan llaima, lonquimay, osorno, villarica. Pucon town, Bariloche, San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes tour.

How to get to Patagonia? Where do you fly into for Patagonia? How long is the flight from USA to Patagonia?

Explained in the first 2 links, but EZE in Buenos Aires, then connect to BRC for Lake Districts, and to FTE for Southern Patagonia

Takes only a one overnight flight of 10-12 hours to get to Buenos Aires, then an internal connection of 2-3 hours
 
Is Patagonia in Argentina? Where is Patagonia?
Patagonia is the southern tip of Southamerica,

 starts in the parallel 40 towards south until meets Cape Horn
 yes, and in Chile too,
Image result for patagonia argentina map

Tips to Ski in Patagonia, Argentina & Chile, Southamerica

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Skiing in Argentina had become a popular and wild destination for fanatic skiers who want to avoid the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere and come down south to Ski the Andes. The Andes is the second largest chain of mountains in the world after the Himalayas

There are plenty of options to plan your Andes Ski Vacation, but mainly, Argentina Ski destinations  are divided in two main regions to explore and spend your ski holidays in Southamerica:

  1. The Northern Patagonia region, which is the one I recommend, because  infrastructure, beauty of lakes and forest.  The Patagonian region is scenic and lots to see and explore. Mountain in this area are around 2200 meters avarage and even if the ski lines are shorter than the higher Andes, you can still ski from 300-600 meteres runs.  The Higher iconic peaks as Mount Tronador and Volcan Lanin  are in between 3500 and 4000 meters and offers amazing 2000 meters runs (specially Volcan Lanin). I recommend to base yourself in Bariloche, from here you can easy access to La Hoya Ski Resort in Esquel, to Cerro Catedral Ski Resort and Refugio Frey hut backcountry, to Cerro Bayo, Villa La Angostura. Also facilitates the access to Volcanoes in Chile, and you can fly directly to BRC or Osorno in Chile (this days flights to chile are cheaper). So even if the weather could be tricky,  if you get bad weather there is good tree skiing and the  town of Bariloche to hang out.
  2. The High Andes of Mendoza, where Aconcagua and other big peaks are. The Mountains in Mendoza region surrounds the 5000-6000 meters with Aconcagua of 6959 meters being the highest of the Whole Americas. It is very nice to Ski Las Lenas when is good and sun and snow are there,. World Class Ski Athletes goes there every year to pick their steep lines  and the terrain is huge.  But when weather is bad  you get stuck in a little ski resort with no trees. So tree skiing is not an option, which saves a lot of days when you are a fanatic backcountry skier. You can stay in Las Molles where is a bit lower down the valley and explore some backcountry from there. Also Mendoza are offers Cajon Grande, a hut runned by some french guys, hot springs and all the show!

When can you ski & snowboard in Argentina? When can you ski in South America?

The best time to ski in Argentina & Chile, is from late july to end of September, regarding ski resorts access and lower elevation mountains.

Backcountry ski huts in Patagonia gets their best ski period from mid july to late septebmer.

If you want to ski the volcanoes best season is from mid september and all october, depending on the year. The volcanoes in Chile and Argentina goes in between 2400 meters and 3777 meters, being Volcan Lanin,  a ski jewell. The reason to ski the volcanoes later in the season, is because you get the snow to “corn up”, in july and august even if is possible, you will ski bear ice on the top parts and also days are shorter!

Where is the best place to backcountry ski and  snowboard in Argentina, Chile, Patagonia South America?

From my point of view, the best place to be based for Ski Season in the Andes is San Carlos de Bariloche, from here you have easy access to Chile, to Cerro Bayo Ski Resort, to Cerro Catedral Alta patagonia Ski resort lifts (What provides easy access to Nahuel Huapi National park mountains, Frey hut, Monte Tronador). Also you can easy travel to Esquel , to ski La Hoya Ski Resort, To Ski resort Chapelco in San Martin de los Andes. The city provides amenities for bad weather days and easy to travel in and out.

Then, if you want to visit el Chalten, Calafate, Fitz Roy area, you can fly to El Calafate or drive through Ruta 40 and get to down south.

Tips to ski Travel Vacation in Patagonia, Ski Resorts in Argentina and Chile. 

Portillo Ski Resort: Based on the Chilean side, right in the border with Argentina, close to Aconcagua. It is a hotel in middle of the Andes, with lift and backcountry access. World class skiing when is good, but gets tricky if weather stays in the alpine. High alpine terrain.

Las Lenas Ski Resort: Based 200 km from Mendoza city. Works perfect when the lifts are open, since you access fast to high excellent ski terrain. When weather is bad, is tough since all skiing in in the alpine

Chapelco Ski Resort: Excellent place to be, good tree skiing nearby of the town of San Martin de Los Andes, good access to the backcountry and no crowds. Good couloirs, good scenery, lakes. And a nice town to spend your vacation and is a town not a city

Cerro Bayo Ski Resort, Villa La Angostura: Small boutique Ski Resort in Patagonia, very small, cozy, handful of people. Excellent backcountry skiing with easy lift access.

Cerro Catedral, Alta Patagonia Ski Resort, Bariloche: The most modern, European style ski resort. Fast lifts, excellent access to the backcountry. Nice atmosphere, good tree skiing, good resort overall. Easy to travel to other places. Good to be base at. 17 lifts and access to good terrain. Excellent to access the backcountry. You will find good couloir, chutes terrain and backcountry ski huts dispersed in the whole area. Day ski touring trips, breweries and overall fun town to be! It is a city but doesnt feel like it, it is well spread out.

La Hoya Ski Resort, Esquel: A small, remote, gaucho style town with a nice little ski resort. Worth to visit from Bariloche 2/3 days but no more than that I would say!

There are other variants, you can also ski in Cerro Castillo in Central Patagonia, but I recommend this as an option for your second visit to Ski Patagonia.

Anyway , I placed more information about this area here.

You can check a very good article about skiing the backcountry of  Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina . Also, Aaron Rice, that committed to ascent 2.500.000 vertical feet in a year spent a lot of time down here and wrote a good descripted article of the Access to Bariloche Backcountry.

Have a good day and come to visit!

 

The Antarctic Ski Guide bug

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Few thoughts of Skiing in Antarctica with world-class ski guides and athletes.
Once the bug bites you… Join us this late October to Explore the Antarctic continent

Read more

Just back from a week on the 4000s in the Berner Oberland, big glaciers, nice huts and good company

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Even if Europe season was not as good as others in terms of snow, was a very good season for us. We managed to do three beautiful classic trips in the Alps as Haute Route Chamonix Zermatt, Ski trip in the Berner Oberland skiing close to the 4000 peaks as Fischerhorn, Finsteraarnhorn, Abeni Flue and other satellites of one of the most impressive glaciated terrain in the Alps. We also had a very nice tour in La Meije completing a classic traverse to Glacier de la Selle and around the North aspect of La Meije ending in refugio Aigle to continue to Glacier de Hommes. Season is over and we are thankful for the weather and snow Gods, our partners in crime and hope we repeat such a good season