Catedral/La Hoya/Cerro Bayo/Chapelco ?

Hiya FRIENDS!!! Maybe, maybe South America last week August and 1st week September. Read all TR and reviews, so, to get this rolling, here goes: A review from TGR:

Cathedral - We hit it after a big storm, so boot deep fresh on the first day in August When we had no ski fitness... Barilloche is a nice wee town and Catedral is a pretty decent resort, if a little big and commercial.

Cero Bayo - My favourite resort that we visited. Pretty small but great off piste bowl easily accesable from the top of the chair. Cheap lift passes and great views. Not one that you hear people talking about - but there must be loads of wee resorts like this in South America. (Antillantca & Los Pentes are others I have heard are good).

Chapelco - Flat and boring. Avoid at all costs !! Not only is it miles out the way buts it expensive, and the terrain is flat.

Let the learned comments begin! Gracias!

Gpaul":18jbdjfr said:

Hiya FRIENDS!!! Maybe, maybe South America last week August and 1st week September. Read all TR and reviews

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Did you read my TR on FTO? There is, if I recall, a great discussion on type of areas these places are. The TGR summary isn't far from the mark. I didn't get to really ski Chapelco, I skied 3 runs in the biggest powder day of my life before the power went out. Visibility was extremely limited and the upper mountain abover treeline was closed of course, so I cannot confirm the "flat and boring" statement.

Based on what you have told us before, I would say Catedral is the closest area to give you steep groomers. Cerro Bayo, there are a few groomers, but I wouldn't call them steep. Nice area, small and cute with interesting easy out-of-bounds access. As for La Hoya, not sure that you'll find many groomed runs here. There might be a few, but it's the off or slack country that is the major attraction.

Of course I read your report, more than once! Great TR, tks.

I'll contact Hoya directly for their take on groomers, all others I agree with your advice. Itinerary probably like this:

7 days Catedral (and rentals for entire trip, gear and car).
Then down to Hoya 3 days
Next, 3 days Bayo
Finally 3 days Chapelco (more to hang out in San Martin de los Andes)
Drive back to Bariloche VIA Bayo (shorter than straight shot down???)

Just thought about ditching all but Catedral and heading to Ushuaia, this may be my only time down there....

Gracias!

I have to believe that the Valle Nevado group has the most groomers in the Southern Hemisphere. I've criticized the overall pitch of these areas, especially with regard to lift layout, but there are quite a few groomers with enough slope for GPaul to enjoy. The Tres Puntas poma at Valle Nevado and the Aguilas chair at La Parva in particular.

One should also remember that the grooming in SA may not be to the manicured level that we see in many resorts here.

Tony Crocker":rdhsybu6 said:

I have to believe that the Valle Nevado group has the most groomers in the Southern Hemisphere. (...)
One should also remember that the grooming in SA may not be to the manicured level that we see in many resorts here.

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Groomers ratio, maybe, but Catedral had the most interesting runs (groomers and not) than the VN group.

Gpaul":rdhsybu6 said:

Of course I read your report, more than once! Great TR, tks.

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Gracias.

Gpaul":rdhsybu6 said:

I'll contact Hoya directly for their take on groomers, all others I agree with your advice.

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Good luck on that, SA factor is full play and La Hoya is very SA. I was trying to see if the ski area was open, nothing on the website last summer. Groomed stuff would be fairly limited period as it's not in the same league has the bigger resorts.

Gpaul":rdhsybu6 said:

Finally 3 days Chapelco (more to hang out in San Martin de los Andes)
Drive back to Bariloche VIA Bayo (shorter than straight shot down???)

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I know the bus didn't use that direct route and went around for San Martin to Villa Angostura. I'm not sure I would recommend that road in Winter, even if it's seems direct. Read this post for the lowdown on that short road.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/show ... post875504

Gpaul":rdhsybu6 said:

Just thought about ditching all but Catedral and heading to Ushuaia, this may be my only time down there....

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I believe you'll find at least a few groomers at Cerro Castor, unfortunately I don't have first hand knowledge, maybe next year. :shock: :mrgreen:

Gpaul":2ns3r0l2 said:

7 days Catedral (and rentals for entire trip, gear and car).

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The typical rental fleet in South America is pathetic. I suggest a wheeled double ski bag.

Thanks for great thread at TG! And that road, it seems worth the hassle if its a nice day.

Geoff, hopefully they bought new stuff....

Go SA!