ChrisC is doing a professional job of buzzkilling both this storm and the idea of flying to South America!
South America 2026
- Thread starter ChrisC
- Start date
Portillo and especially Las Lenas, like Alaska, is more about the terrain than the powder. And like Mammoth, the fresh snow has a high probability of being wind affected. Then you throw in the TISA factor that excavating lifts and getting everything open will take longer than in North America or the Alps. The message isn't don't go. The message is wait until August to have some confidence that lifts and terrain will be accessible.
If you are down there now, find something touristy to do for a week+. You could fly off to Easter Island for several days and probably not miss much in the way of skiing.
If you are down there now, find something touristy to do for a week+. You could fly off to Easter Island for several days and probably not miss much in the way of skiing.
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ChrisC
Well-known member
I like to get to reality and then evaluate whether the ski decision (time/$) is worthwhile - especially in comparison to alternatives.
(No-go is always an option, and often the best one. The ski streakers have to go sacrifice/piss away time/$ so select the least worst option.)
Below are the results if you storm-chased: 2 closed days, 0.5 day yesterday, and 1 day. Roads open tomorrow, maybe more mountain? But a rough estimate of costs, low-end: $1k+ airfare, car rental?, lodging (due to holidays, likely $500-1k per night), tickets, food.
Red = 1k vertical lift
Is the above worth a $3-5k or more powder chase?
Alternatively, you could have almost booked 3 days of BC cat-skiing or purchased the full access Ikon Pass.Why not wait - assume the Santiago resorts still need more snow; El Colorado/La Parva only received 100cm+.
Another week or so and:
ChrisC
Well-known member
This is how you present the storm for IG:
This is ADHD when locked down in a blizzard - and without power at times. I have observed this in Alaska.
This is ADHD when locked down in a blizzard - and without power at times. I have observed this in Alaska.
I think this is the parking lot side country.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Yes. So far. Hopefully, the continued snowfall will create bases that will keep traverses to couloirs open for the season. In Portillo, if one loses the traverses, one loses almost half of the expert terrain.
I am interested in how much snow there is in Las Lenas. If one can find lodging, Mendoza is a cheap round-trip from Santiago.
Its expert terrain is easily Global Top 10-20.
How is the drive from Mendoza to Las Lenas?
ChrisC
Well-known member
ChrisC
Well-known member
I should not really suggest that; it's 4-5 hours. Logistics completely suck.
And you are dealing with all the issues of whether Marte will (or will not) be open. This blizzard could even knock it offline. In short, to hedge your bets, you need at least 5 days.
But instead of Buenos Aires, one could utilize Santiago as a gateway and ski its resorts before dealing with the chaos of Las Lenas.
Resort websites today say storm totals are 67 inches at Valle Nevado and 125 inches at Portillo.
I found this third party site for Las Lenas:
I don't know how credible this is. It's plausible. There's no way measure snowfall accurately there other than at the base, due to both chronic high winds and avalanche exposure.
Like ChrisC I've experienced Alaska downtime, also Iceland and Las Lenas.
I found this third party site for Las Lenas:
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I don't know how credible this is. It's plausible. There's no way measure snowfall accurately there other than at the base, due to both chronic high winds and avalanche exposure.
Like ChrisC I've experienced Alaska downtime, also Iceland and Las Lenas.
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snowbird surfer
Member
Following Chris like a hawk for a go/no go signal! 8/14-23 is possible if conditions make sense. Keep the analysis flowing please!I like to get to reality and then evaluate whether the ski decision (time/$) is worthwhile - especially in comparison to alternatives.
(No-go is always an option, and often the best one. The ski streakers have to go sacrifice/piss away time/$ so select the least worst option.)
Below are the results if you storm-chased: 2 closed days, 0.5 day yesterday, and 1 day. Roads open tomorrow, maybe more mountain? But a rough estimate of costs, low-end: $1k+ airfare, car rental?, lodging (due to holidays, likely $500-1k per night), tickets, food.
Red = 1k vertical lift
View attachment 52446
View attachment 52447
Is the above worth a $3-5k or more powder chase?
Why not wait - assume the Santiago resorts still need more snow; El Colorado/La Parva only received 100cm+.
Another week or so and:
View attachment 52448
skiandgolfnut
Active member
Do we think September 12th roughly will be too late? Seems like August got too crazy but Portillo has some more openings in September.
You expectation should be like mid-April in the Cottonwood Canyons but with no new snow recently. Probably similar to what Adam, Patrick, Richard and I skied Sept. 6-7, 2007. We also skied Arpa Snowcat Sept. 8-9, Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado Sept. 11-13. Portillo was the best of that trip for smooth corn snow but the traverse to the long chutes skier's right of Roca Jack had burned off. However the El Caracara slingshot lift has been added in that area since we were there.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Looks like everything is closed again, after a brief opening yesterday.
I am cautious about these Pacific Atmospheric River-type storms because this scenario plays out in Lake Tahoe every other year; inevitably, a storm is forecast to dump 6-10 ft in a matter of days. Sounds great in theory, but it plays out differently in reality. Too often you see some non-local skiers chase this (or even less experienced CA locals), and they end up in just traffic, and little skiing over 3-4 days.
Mammoth skiers know this, but they have some advantages: an easier/less hazardous drive (?) and a lower-mountain lift network that is extensive and less prone to wind. Palisades and Heavenly have a much smaller lower-mountain footprint, and if their upper lifts close due to wind (typically 100 mph+ gusts), most of the terrain closes for days. One can have a decent trip skiing powder on only Red Dog at Palisades or Roundhouse at Alpine plus Northstar or Homewood trees, but you need to set your expectations appropriately. @tseeb could give better advice in the South Tahoe area.
Chile (Andes) takes all the above to the next level:
- Zero Trees. Nowhere to hide on storm days. Totally exposed to the elements: wind, snow, resulting in vertigo and closures.
- The drive to resorts.
- Santiago sits at an average elevation of 567 meters (1,860 ft). Traveling to Valle Nevado involves ascending a winding mountain route to a resort base elevation of 2,987 meters (9,800 ft). The roads are terrible! Portillo's is better (international route) but still difficult.
- LCC is almost a superhighway by comparison.
- Tahoe is only foothills to Donner Pass (7,056 ft) on well-maintained I-80.
- Slower Management Response for opening terrain. Skiers complain about Vail or Palisades?
ChrisC
Well-known member
I went around that time in 2023, on September 15th. However, it was the tail end of a 2-week, 10 ft storm cycle, so surface conditions were excellent. And I waited until post-Labor Day to book.
But it looks like this storm cycle or pattern will continue. The most impressive snow photos and totals look like they are coming out of Portillo so far. (370 cm / 145 inches so far)
The more relevant question: would you ski Lake Tahoe in March (September) after potentially no snow for 2-4 weeks, but a 100-200-inch base and temps (Low 20s, Highs 50s) at an area like Sugar Bowl or Alpine Meadows? With some of the best corn snow? Some south-facing chutes might preserve surface conditions well, but most terrain will require following the sun.
I have had friends visit, and we ski Tahoe in March after weeks without snow. You can have a great time and follow the sun.
Portillo's terrain often faces southeast or southwest, with some due South for preservation. It's obvious what to do - and you have been there.
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ChrisC
Well-known member
Again, a totally successful trip for Luke Stone—> Good Morning America placement. 
However, his buddy & family left via helicopter today when roads shut again/round 2 snow started.
Reality: Ski days were a part of a Sunday and half of a Monday on less than 1000 vertical feet out of five. So maybe 1.25 out of 5 days, but got the hotel sidecountry images needed.
By Winter 2026/27, he will get these trips paid for by Delta/United/AA, Mountain Collective/Ikon, etc. Plus other collabs. A Jim Cantore career track is a good model.
However, his buddy & family left via helicopter today when roads shut again/round 2 snow started.
Reality: Ski days were a part of a Sunday and half of a Monday on less than 1000 vertical feet out of five. So maybe 1.25 out of 5 days, but got the hotel sidecountry images needed.
By Winter 2026/27, he will get these trips paid for by Delta/United/AA, Mountain Collective/Ikon, etc. Plus other collabs. A Jim Cantore career track is a good model.
Now if could only spend a little more time working on his OpenSnow forecasting.Again, a totally successful trip for Luke Stone—> Good Morning America placement.
However, his buddy & family left via helicopter today when roads shut again/round 2 snow started.
Reality: Ski days were a part of a Sunday and half of a Monday on less than 1000 vertical feet out of five. So maybe 1.25 out of 5 days, but got the hotel sidecountry images needed.
By Winter 2026/27, he will get these trips paid for by Delta/United/AA, Mountain Collective/Ikon, etc. Plus other collabs. A Jim Cantore career track is a good model.
View attachment 52458