SNOWING MAY 16 IN CHILE!

[squeakygonzalez]

Check out the photo from Valle Nevado base here!

http://www.southamericaski.com/

Espero que sigue nevando.........

[801 jav]

If going down to Chile/ Argentina (first time ever) is a tour good way to go, who's better recommended? CASA or Powderquest? Or just skip the tour and check it all out alone??

[squeakygonzalez]

If short on time but have some $$$ totally recommend tour as get taken to
all the best terrain and local spots in a quick time. Casa and Powderquest are
both good, Powderquest has some really good guides from Whistler that
have been down there for years and speak good Spanish. It depends if
you want/can go full on backcountry or rather just ski alpine.

If long on time and short on money, recommend going it alone and staying
in hostels and either getting a private room if want comfort but still want
to meet others. The most frequeented ski hostels are the following

Las Lenas http://www.laslenasski.com/view.asp?p=678
Portillo (awesome deal) http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=593
3 Valleys (Valle NEvado) http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=591
Termas de Chillan http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=558
(water is very cold here though for showers)
Bariloche http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=158

[Arty50]

BTW, laslenasski/southamericaski are awesome. They've taken unbelievable care of me both times I've been down there. Highly recommended.

Oh and squeaky, I'm adding you to my list of crack dealers. Squirrel is number 1, but you're in a close second now.

[801 jav]

Cool... thanks. That gives some ideas and direction. I dont mind goin alone as the language thing is no problem for me. I agree. It might be worth the extra cash to go the tour the first time. Then come back with the knowledge of where to go and when...

[Squirrel99]

BTW, laslenasski/southamericaski are awesome. They've taken unbelievable care of me both times I've been down there. Highly recommended.

Oh and squeaky, I'm adding you to my list of crack dealers. Squirrel is number 1, but you're in a close second now.

[/crackdealer]Hello, Arty50.

You need to come to South America this year. [end/crackdealer]

[801 jav]

BTW... where can I get on the hill weather reports for Bariloche, Farrellones, Chillan, etc? Aside from the reports from the resorts...

[Yossarian]

I've always had decent luck with snow-forecast.com

[801 jav]

Good call on snow-forecast.com! Resorts are not yet reporting, but at least reports and forecasts are available from nearby areas like Farrellones. Right on... thanks!

[801 jav]

Has anyone stayed at the Inca lodge (better than average hostel?) or Octagon in Portillo or Tres Puntas at Valle Nevado? Checking to see if these are decent, clean digs for the money.

[Mike Pow]

Inca is fine if a bit cramped. Upgrade to the full meal package. It's worth it.

[Dromond]

Inca is fine if a bit cramped. Upgrade to the full meal package. It's worth it.

I can't quite tell, but are the rates listed on the page linked to for a week during the designated period? I think I may be missing something.

[squeakygonzalez]

Octagon in Portillo is worth the more $$$ private bathroom for your room and room and beds way comfier than Inca. Tres Puntas is definitely a good hotel
at Valle Nevado.

[marknieto]

Need your guys' advice.
I'm planning a trip to S. America this summer w/ my buddy. Our first time...so we don't know sh*t.
Need your tips on the following:
#1: Chile vs. Argentina? Pros + cons of each.
#2: Mountains w/ best expert terrain and snow quality (i.e. S. American equivalent to Jackson Hole, Steamboat, Mammoth).
#3: We're not taking a tour. So any travel tips/routes would be greatly appreciated.

We just care about good snow, terrain, and relatively normal conveniences. No need for apres-ski massages or 4 Seasons accomodations. But hot water and good food are definitely nice. You get the idea.

[Dromond]

Need your guys' advice.
I'm planning a trip to S. America this summer w/ my buddy. Our first time...so we don't know sh*t.
Need your tips on the following:
#1: Chile vs. Argentina? Pros + cons of each.
#2: Mountains w/ best expert terrain and snow quality (i.e. S. American equivalent to Jackson Hole, Steamboat, Mammoth).
#3: We're not taking a tour. So any travel tips/routes would be greatly appreciated.

We just care about good snow, terrain, and relatively normal conveniences. No need for apres-ski massages or 4 Seasons accomodations. But hot water and good food are definitely nice. You get the idea.

search function




JONGGG

[squeakygonzalez]

marknieto, you can pm Me and can forward you a whole resort comparison

[801 jav]

Inca is fine if a bit cramped. Upgrade to the full meal package. It's worth it.

From what I see, it looks like meal upgrades to eat in the hotel while staying in the Inca lodge are $8.00 (I assume daily rate). So that's kinda a no brainer if the food is way better than the Inca cafeteria.

The Octagon rates go up quite a bit... are the communal bathrooms really crap? I wear contacts so I have to at least wash my hands somewhere...

[Split-It]

may 26 and dry in patagonia. the usual heavy rains in april and may have failed to show themselves. chance of snow this wed, thurs, fri. thought they said el nino was coming this year. maybe they were just actually telling me their kid was coming down here. fkrs.

(edit: barilochetrips.com is where it's at down here for bariloche and/or solid info from a great ex-pat friend)

[cj001f]

(edit: is where it's at down here for bariloche and/or solid info from a great ex-pat friend)

at least they aren't as extortionate as casa, still $$ for handholding

[Split-It]

^^^ totally hand holding, i agree. but good solid info doesn't come easy down here. just a little something called the A-factor. argentine's aren't really known for their great customer service, especially if all you speak is gringo.

[marknieto]

What is Las Lenas like when the Marte chair isn't running (inbounds and assuming there's snow on the ground)? Boring?

[squeakygonzalez]

Jay the bahtrooms in the Inca are not that crap, it is just you need to understand it is 5 sinks right next to each other and 5 showers for like 40 guys and you need to walk through the hallway of the building to acess them out in the open. Bring flip flops for sure though as floor is cold and bathrooms are so so clean. The upgrade to dining hall is worth it for the quality of the food and service but to be honest sometimes the ambience of the guests is a bit chi chi. The staff cafeteria is cool to get to know some of the staff for a coupel of days first and then maybe upgrade. The food is ok and decent in the cafeteria except at breakfast the cashiers are anal and only let you take like 1 piece of fruit, but you can pay for extras like more fruit or eggs. To me I would pay for Inca and any money saved do a heli drop or 2 instead.

With regards to Bariloche, I hope it snows down there like the past 2 years
(last year was most epic year in 11 years, see photos, 2 days early August were neck deep) but the reality is it probably won't. After 2 seasons in a row of skiing and snow to the base (which does not normally happen) it is highly unlikely they will have a good season in 2007. Although I hope they do as will
be there for 3 weeks late July to Mid August. Best place to stay in Bariloche is a friend's hostel www.hostel41below.com .

[cj001f]

^^^ totally hand holding, i agree. but good solid info doesn't come easy down here. just a little something called the A-factor. argentine's aren't really known for their great customer service, especially if all you speak is gringo.

I had completely the opposite experience - including the first time when I spoke practically zero spanish. Perhaps things have changed in the past 2 years as the gringo tsunami has struck. It will probably never be as smooth and easy as Europe (which is a good thing!) but it's decidedly not a 3rd world country - hence my incredulity at the number of people paying for the handholding services (not a bad way to make a living I suppose!)

[801 jav]

I had completely the opposite experience - including the first time when I spoke practically zero spanish. Perhaps things have changed in the past 2 years as the gringo tsunami has struck. It will probably never be as smooth and easy as Europe (which is a good thing!) but it's decidedly not a 3rd world country - hence my incredulity at the number of people paying for the handholding services (not a bad way to make a living I suppose!)

Good point... I was thinking the same, with the exception that the handholding may get you to better spots out of bounds, etc ?


SGonzalez---thanks for the Portillo info.

Jav

[Odin]

Airline flights from 690 to chile from lax..... holy cow