South America 2026

[Tony Crocker]

This was a well founded result of a legitimate threat of no competition for 90% of Santiago skiers.

Is El Colorado by itself really much competition for Valle Nevado + La Parva?

if investing in 3 additional ski areas.

I suspect MCP was forced to take the decrepit places farther south in order to get El Colorado.

All of the MCP US holdings don't sum up to the total acreage of VN/LP, and it is a radically different operating environment.

I would say the 22,000 acre claim for Chile's three valleys is a significant exaggeration of usable ski terrain. A lot of it is really flat, terrain traps, etc.

Nonetheless most of MCP's North American areas are quite small. Do you know what typical VN/La Parva skier visitation is? It must not be much in a lot of recent seasons. MCP's flagship area Purgatory did about 250-300K skier visits, but nearly all US skier visit data went dark around 2010. I'll bet with snowmaking that AZ Snowbowl might be getting into the 200K+ range now.

it is a radically different operating environment.

Topography and some avalanche exposure, yes. I've always said this investment has severe financial challenges. Their US Southwest climate volatility is high but Chile is worse. MCP is jumping out of the frying pan into the fire with regard to the climate. And both regions can have bad seasons at the same time with La Nina.

On a more positive note, we booked Hotel Portillo Sept. 21-24. Thus is equivalent to Mammoth or LCC around April 10 so not too concerned about timing and there is high upside corn potential. We arrive Sept. 16 and will start at Valle Nevado though have not booked there. When I was in Chile 2007 I got the impression Three Valleys averaged about 3/4 the snowfall of Portillo but this year it's less than 60%. That and La Parva's chronic wind exposure were reasons September 2007 was much better in Portillo and similar is possible this year with the later dates.

I have not booked hotel for Valle Nevado yet, and I suspect no rush is necessary Sept. 16-18. I'm inclined to book just 2 nights and add a third while I'm there if conditions are good. CaseyE can comment on that plan.

This is a bit hectic while I'm in Spain for 4 weeks. But I'm not getting any younger and I'd like to hit Portillo with good coverage while I'm still capable of its advanced off piste.

FYI to ChrisC: The $1100 RT airfare was no bargain, but at least it’s on the LATAM nonstop flights as LATAM became a Delta partner a couple of years ago. I don’t recall if that was true in 2021, but every South America trip 2020 and prior involved a plane change, usually Atlanta.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

US Southwest climate volatility is high but Chile is worse.

Have you provided apples-to-apples stats at some point?

The $1100 RT airfare was no bargain, but at least it’s on the LATAM nonstop flights as LATAM became a Delta partner a couple of years ago.

That fare doesn't trigger cashing in FF miles from your mammoth Delta war chest?

 

[Tony Crocker]

Delta wanted 102K miles. That’s not acceptable vs. $1100. I would also forgo the 9,000 miles I’ll earn by paying for the flights.

Contrast with our flight home from Madrid in 3 days where we are paying 37,600 miles instead of $900.

I think sites like Points Guy typically value a FF mile about 1.4 cents. So you should not pay more than about 75K miles in lieu of an $1,100 ticket.

 

[Skiwild]

Big powder day shaping up for tomorrow and maybe monday. Snowed all day, zero visibility with wet snow turning to colder snow as the day wore on. Stopped around 9pm, with around 25cm in town and probably 40cm up higher. Gonna be a zoo tomorrow,

So how deep was the fresh powder this morning at La Parva base? And how much wind affect? And are chains needed?

By the way, what website numbers are generally most accurate for South America? Onthesnow, snow forecast, Opensnow, freeride, other?

 

[Tony Crocker]

Have you provided apples-to-apples stats at some point?

Post in thread '"Unprecedented" April Snowstorm'

Apr 25, 2025

I still maintain that a majority of snow in the alps comes in exactly this type of storm: humongous. With only some snowfall outside of the huge dumps. eg more Sierra like than Colo or BC like, making pre-booked skiing very much a crap shoot at best.

Review of Western regional standard deviations as percent of season snowfalls:

Northern and Central Colorado 18-25%, Beaver Creek and Winter Park under 20%, A-Basin highest

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C. 18-25%, Okanagan and Revelstoke/Rogers Pass under 20%, Banff areas highest.

US Northern Rockies 18-26%, Big Sky, Brundage...

• Tony Crocker

 

[ChrisC]

Is El Colorado by itself really much competition for Valle Nevado + La Parva?

I don't really care whether Mountain Capital Partners owned all 3 resorts or whether El Colorado was independent.

However, they should be able to implement a single (more expensive) pass through a new ticketing system, similar to those in the Alps.

Look at Ski Arlberg ownership of the interconnected area:

This was a well founded result of a legitimate threat of no competition for 90% of Santiago skiers. As well, MCP, the owner of VN since 2023, has had little impact on the operational efficiency there or in La Parva. Breakdowns, closures, lax grooming, bad labor relations, funky information and so on would just be worse with the added burden if investing in 3 additional ski areas. All of the MCP US holdings don't sum up to the total acreage of VN/LP, and it is a radically different operating environment.

And Casey may have a good point.

The Dolomites - Dolomitiski - ski areas were found to be engaged in price-fixing behavior at an individual level.

(By contrast, the Aosta Valley ski areas have lower and different price points despite a similar pass.)

Italy’s antitrust authority alleged that members of Dolomiti Superski coordinated ski-pass pricing, restricting competition between lift operators that otherwise are separate businesses. The Dolomiti Superski network covers about 1,200 km / 745 miles of pistes across 12 ski areas, including Cortina d'Ampezzo. In other words, the concern wasn't that having a Dolomiti Superski pass itself is illegal. It was that independent operators participating in the common pass allegedly coordinated prices in ways that reduced competition.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/italy-ski-pass-operators-pay-30-mln-compensation-skiers-after-antitrust-probe-2026-08-07/

 

[Casey E]

The good adhesive layer of 20cm was topped off with a lighter 15-20cm, and almost no wind. Everywhere was skiable, with flat to almost shadowy light and a flurry or two. north faces were back to skiable.

That is the north face of the Cono in Colorado, from Fabres chair.

La Chimenea Chica

My grandson getting turns on his GS skis

The sun came out for an instant at dusk and the wind picked up.

 

[ChrisC]

FYI to ChrisC: The $1100 RT airfare was no bargain, but at least it’s on the LATAM nonstop flights as LATAM became a Delta partner a couple of years ago. I don’t recall if that was true in 2021, but every South America trip 2020 and prior involved a plane change, usually Atlanta.

I track airfares from the USA to Santiago and Buenos Aires. Recently, Santiago increased by about 20-30%, while Buenos Aires declined by a similar amount. Seems like capacity to Santiago got constricted? United dropped its direct Houston route for a few months?


2023 American Airlines example. They were the last major airline to kill its mileage award map in Spring 2023, but one could find lingering one-way availability.

 

[ChrisC]

As a big deal they are announcing a new lift for next year, “El Paso”, with a whole 90m of vertical, “to provide better access from LP to VN”, but no new terrain, and on the most windswept ridge in La Parva. This would help avoid improving the other lifts that currently provide said access, if they can manage to pull it off.

Assume it's always good to have redundancy and more than one way to connect La Parva to Valle Nevado.


Only 90m of vertical? And starting at 3534m? Very short, specific connector.

That puts it higher than the top of:
Las Águilas (Quad)
Distance: 2.12 km; Vertical: 570m (2961m - 3531m)

And only accessible from:
Piuquenes (Platter)
Distance: 1.14 km; Vertical: 215m (3330m - 3546m)

Something like.....

OR

 

[skiandgolfnut]

Tony, how were you able to book those dates at Portillo? The website only allows mini weeks starting on wednesdays or saturdays which can be a constraint. Maybe that time of year they are more flexible?

 

[ChrisC]

Maybe that time of year they are more flexible?

Call. For the last week of the 2023 season, we asked for one of the ski houses on Lake Inca. However, occupancy was exceptionally low since the season was mediocre until the early/mid-September storm cycle. Essentially, the snow came too late to impact visitation.

Now, has Portillo essentially been closed for the entire season until around August 8th? So they need to extend and promote an extended season.

This year is barely better than the COVID closure years. And no day skiers? Did they even give refunds - or keep cash/deposits for next year?

Also, if you are a skier and vaguely paying attention to summer skiing, you should know that Chile has received some great snow. A week ago, the closing date was either September 20th (maybe 27th?)

But with forecasted storms, Portillo might pass 1000cm / 400inches YTD snowfall by September 1st.

Looks really nice out there with 100cm / 40inches this week!

 

[Tony Crocker]

I called. Inca Lodge was available Sept. 16-19 but we want the hotel for the dining room and not primitive shared bathrooms.

The schedule must not be for set dates after Sept. 19 because of course I asked if we could start then, but they said full until the 21st.

I’m more concerned about snow deterioration at VN and La Parva Sept. 16-19, not even sure I should reserve those dates much in advance. Anyone think that is necessary?

 

[ChrisC]

Everywhere in South America looks great this week!

Big bases, new snow, calm weather, sun/powder!

Las Lenas deserves a special shout out since Marte is and will be open most of the week with 300cm base, avy rating of 2/5 and big lines all skiable.

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[Casey E]

Missed monday but got tuesday in LP, probably the best day this year. Aside from a couple lift breakdowns, and just one run packed per lift, conditions on and off piste were primo. The heat hit monday for a bit, leaving the north faces crusty, but south faces were still 30-40 cm of fluff. Now the heat has weathered most slopes under 3,000m.

 

[Casey E]

Racers out early

To the right, an unskied north face

An unskied nook

The hoofers were out in force

These guys walked back to the base

 

[ChrisC]

The hoofers were out in force

How long are the typical hikes at La Parva, specifically to the terrain above or to La Chimenea?

I didn’t even attempt any bootpacks during my single ski day in August. With 4–6 inches of new snow, the long vertical stretches on the leeward sides of La Parva's faces skied incredibly well. Overall, I found it to have the best terrain of the Three Valleys, largely due to its superior vertical, as Valle Nevado’s backside slopes feel quite short by comparison.

Aside from a couple lift breakdowns, and just one run packed per lift, conditions on and off piste were primo.

Could you clarify how La Parva categorizes slopes as primary versus secondary? Is this distinction based on grooming priority? Also, are some of the pistes on the looker's left of the Aguilas lift being decommissioned or permanently removed?

 

[Casey E]

And the moto boys are out where they shouldn't be, Here a shot of la Lengua (top, buried), La Chimenea ridge, and Manantiales area, all skied out. Spot the sled tracks on the right of the skier tracks on La Lengua, and elsewhere (all ilegal):

And for comparsion, late June shots of the same area. Spot the bunny in formation, As in la Lengua

Now spot the new road going up beside la Lengua. A potential source of conflict for MCP.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Overall, I found it to have the best terrain of the Three Valleys,

Agree.

leeward side of La Parva

What leeward side? Predominant exposure is west which I saw so much wind effect in Sept. 2007. One sheltered steep pitch off Tortola was the only chalky off piste I recall. I’m hoping the spring corn cycle will dominate when I’m there this time, similar to Mt. Bachelor.

 

[ChrisC]

And the moto boys are out where they shouldn't be, Here a shot of la Lengua (top, buried), La Chimenea ridge, and Manantiales area, all skied out. Spot the sled tracks on the right of the skier tracks on La Lengua, and elsewhere (all ilegal):

Interesting. My Instagram feed is all the 'sled' guys showing off their exploits in Chile - many from this vicinity.

Looks phenomenal, though!

 

[ChrisC]

What leeward side? Predominant exposure is west which I saw so much wind effect in Sept. 2007.

I am not sure how clockwise-rotating, low-pressure systems drive winds and snow into the Andes, specifically La Parva. Likely more complex than simple westerlies or western exposure. It looks like storms have a strong North-wind component.

I’ve observed that many of the off-piste areas (PURPLE) seem to hold snow exceptionally well, and I’m assuming this is because they are situated on the leeward, wind-deposited side of ridges. Again, it appears snow gets deposited on the south-facing sides due to northerly winds.

You can see wind-deposited snow on the south sides in Casey's early-season photos. Yes, La Parva faces west, but snow deposition favors the south-facing aspects. The north-facing sides are more wind-scoured.