Patrick
Active member
Tony Crocker":3izr1wq8 said:Nothing I've read about Los Penitentes suggests that it's a multiday destination. One website commented on "good skiing, especially for beginners and intermediates."
Patrick is correct again. :mrgreen: When are you going to learn to trust my info over a website. :lol: :lol: :lol:
"good skiing, especially for beginners and intermediates." :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I would love to hit this place in winter conditions. Lift access terrain is amazing. This place in-bound terrain is much greater than VN or EC (can't really judge LaParva as I didn't see it long enough).
Okay, this place might not be for everyone. Basically it has 2 useful lifts terrain access wise. One at the lower half of the mountain, the other at the second upper mountain (425m approx). The lift goes along a ridge line, some average to good steeps on each side of that ridge + there is the traversing terrain. People with AT setup can tour for hours. On this point, meet up with an American couple that toured on the 29th. Mentioned that this place was pointed out to them by French skiers they meet at Los Molles (Leñas). Happy they came here. Mentioned that the snow conditions where much better - toured due to Marte.
"good skiing, especially for beginners and intermediates." applies only when you stay on the very very limited groomed stuff. And the grooming isn't in the same planet in quality than places like Valle Nevado, Portillo, etc.
Conditions: Overnight freeze but temps high probably around 15c. Lifts run 10am-5pm, remember that they are only 30km from Portillo, but on a different time zone.
Skied from winterish windblown powder, some smooth buttered slopes...some inconsitent snow surfaces à la Arpa (for Tony). Some corn on the groomed stuff in the afternoon.
Why some people wouldn't like it: groomers are very limited. Lift are slows and long. Yes, it was worth 2 days...lift are too slow. 5200m on the 1st day, maybe 3500m yesterday...quit early. My legs were toasted + wanted to get ready for my 5pm bus.
Talk from the Skipass forum that they will be an expansion in 2010.
More when I get back.