South America 2026

[Casey E]

La Chimenea is about 30 minutes, La Lengua and Cerro La Parva bowl, 60-90 minutes.

“What is the difference between La Parva listing some slopes as primary vs. secondary - Is that what gets groomed? And some pistes off the Aguilas lift to the looker's left have disappeared?”

That classing of runs is unexplained. “Estadio” would seem to be code for a second packed run, for racers. Some “Primaries” are almost never packed. Go figure.
MCP invented a new nomenclature for their resorts. “Aplanada” became “Fresada”, No Aplanada became “No Fresada” or “Irregular”. They got a hold of some very old Spanish resort signs. I had been waiting for an opp to show these

Slalomer is a word?

The avi hazard is always “notable”

 

[Casey E]

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.


View attachment 52843


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.

View attachment 52844

La Parva faces mostly south west, with the ridges following. The north west side of the ridges gets the low pressure northerlies, and the sun. They are normally mostly bare rock, and the W/SW/S faces accumulate snow. The dryness of the air and low angle of light make for good conditions there even 10-15 days after a snowfall.

There are about 6 mini water sheds in LP. N to S:
Manantiales (technically now out the ski area concession, with no maintenance, back to the way it was in the 70/80/90’s).
Barros Negros
Las Flores
Las Vegas
Valle Amarillo
Fabres

So 6 bare ridge tops. A year like this, they can stay snowed through Sept.

 

[Casey E]

What are the odds for good conditions mid September this year? With a base like this, in my experience, high. I have skied dry powder in October, it only takes a few cold centimeters to bring back a taste of winter, even if it is just for a morning. And as they used to say here “something always falls for the 18”, referring to the Sept national holiday week (sept 12 to 20 this year).

 

[Casey E]

For the weather buffs in here, this precipitation-to-date chart runs from 18 to 55 degrees south. The green markers are of interest to skiers.

El Niño is clearly represented. The desert north from Arica to La Serena shows wild swings from the norm, from +1,900% to -50%, and has meant massive movements of muck and rocks.

The Central Zone now is pretty close to the norm, with the notable exception of Tobalaba, with +49%, the most representative weather station for the 3 Valleys and Portillo.

The patagonia is all negative, from Pto Montt to the Antarctic.

 

[Casey E]

If the new 3 Valleys operator was the same as, say, Frances 3 Valleys, I would be optimistic about expansion plans. As it is, I see no reason to believe MCP will make much of a difference.

Mountain Capital Partners to Acquire 4 More Ski Areas in Chile, Including El Colorado
https://www.stormskiing.com/p/mountain-capital-partners-to-acquire
Transaction would make MCP the largest U.S.-based operator of ski areas outside of North America, set stage for largest ski resort in western and southern hemisphere


A good look at MCP and their “rusty” holdings. The rusting in Chile swallowed $4 million US in “upgrades”, and ran worse than before (2025). There is little evidence of the US$17 million announced for this year either. They backed out of el Colorado as their anticompetitive mitigations were inadequate for the FNE during their review process.

(Copied from TGR)

 

[ChrisC]

As it is, I see no reason to believe MCP will make much of a difference.

MCP remains primarily a regional ski operator in the Southwest USA. They must be somewhat efficient/competent, unless population growth is masking mismanagement. However, I agree they lack the experience and likely the resources to create a South American mega-resort.

Again, they could hire European ski consultants to design a common 3 Valles Ski Pass (LP, EC, VN) for 2+ days, pay out to the ski companies, and invest in an RFID Ticketing System. Not exactly rocket science at his point.

The lift systems aren't all that special: mostly fixed-grip chairlifts or surface lifts -- and a single gondola and high-speed quad.

Basic process

• A skier buys one common pass—like Ski Arlberg or Dolomiti Superski.
• The proceeds enter a centralized clearing pool, minus items such as VAT, card costs, sales commissions, marketing, and administration.
• Every RFID-gate passage records which company’s lift the skier used.
• A settlement formula converts that usage into weighted “transport value.”
• The pool is periodically distributed to the participating lift operators according to their calculated shares.

One ride on a short beginner drag lift is not economically equivalent to a major gondola or cable car.

Therefore, the Third Party Experts/Consultants create the formulas that can weight passages using factors such as:

• Published or internal value of that lift journey
• Lift length and vertical rise
• Type of installation
• Transport capacity or operating cost
• Whether it is an essential connecting lift
• Number of passages or calculated skier transport
• Special negotiated minimums or adjustments

Seems like a no-brainer to attract foreign tourists, and benefit season pass holders. However, this has yet to be implemented in 40 years since Valle Nevado's creation.

 

[Casey E]

Good analysis. It should be easy. Do note that the RFID gates have not been used on some lifts (Nevada, Piuquenes, Franciscano en LP), or for some reason are often inoperable, and blocked with an uncontrolled side entrance (the 4 upper surface lifts in VN (see photo above), or the 3 in El Colorado). So they would also have to get their operations up to standard, and rip down all those fences El Colorado put up at the top. There have been dividing line disputes too.

Cooperation, unfortunately, is not part of the local custom.

 

[Casey E]

This just in from LP, contemplating a Oct 18 closing date, and better than usual holiday events for September.

 

[Casey E]

Another few days of snow are coming next week, but first we must deal with rain, at least at the beginning. Note the difs in forecasts between ski area bases (first) and tops (second), which are about triple in the north central areas and about double in the south. A lot of redlining there. If the last time is an indicator, it could be best for some wet to come first as long as it is followed by dry and hopefully windless snow. The off piste needs a good refresh.

 

[ChrisC]

Another few days of snow are coming next week, but first we must deal with rain, at least at the beginning.

How often do Portillo or the Santiago resorts receive rain during a normal winter? I thought their bases were high enough that it is not a normal occurrence. Or is it dependent on the type of storm? We have Pineapple Express-type storms, which carry warmer air into the Pacific Northwest or the California Sierra; this can cause rain in the alpine at Whistler, Mt. Bachelor, and Palisades Tahoe, which mostly avoid liquid precipitation during the winter over most of the mountain.

I know the Southern Chile resorts/volcanoes can have freezing lines that bounce around a bit more regularly, like our Pacific Northwest mountains, Mt. Baker, Crystal, Mt. Hood, etc.

 

[Casey E]

Like everywhere, snowlines are creeping up year by year, which means rain is more likely. That said, around Santiago it is still a rare occurrence, and almost always below 3,000m. The south is more rain prone. Cold dry powder can fall right into October, but is also increasingly rare.

 

[Tony Crocker]

snowlines are creeping up year by year

It doesn't really work that way. In terms of climate change we would expect that the 1C temperature increase over the past 50 years would have raised the average rain/snow line by a modest 150 meters/500 feet.

But of course every storm is individual and certain seasons can lock into a pattern of storms with unusually high rain snow lines. 2015 and 2026 in western North America were the most extreme examples I have seen. El Nino also tends to make overall weather warmer, so surely that's a factor in South America right now. But for the Santiago areas, the positive of more northerly storm tracks in El Nino years far outweighs the rain risk given their altitudes.

 

[Casey E]

News from Portillo

“
The road is open this Saturday and Sunday!

Access to #Portillo and the border crossing will be open to all vehicles — hotel guests, skiers and day visitors alike.

We can't wait to see you all up here. The #snow is incredible. ”

 

[Sbooker]

So we’re pretty confident that there’ll be plenty to slide on in the week commencing September 14th?
Is three days around Valle Nevado and two days at Portillo is about right? Is Santiago itself worth checking out for a couple of days?

 

[Tony Crocker]

So we’re pretty confident that there’ll be plenty to slide on in the week commencing September 14th?

Enough that we have committed to Sept. 16-24.

Is Santiago itself worth checking out for a couple of days?

Sure, especially if you consider Valparaiso too.

Is three days around Valle Nevado and two days at Portillo is about right?

If limited to 5 days I'd go 3-2 the other way. Why?
1) Portillo has a deeper snowpack and is also less vulnerable to wind messing up the off piste.
2) Portillo overall has better terrain quality even though it has less acreage.
3) The Roca Jack/Juncalillo side of Portillo gets the morning sun for corn. There is very little east facing at VN/La Parva so it may take some time for spring snow to soften.
4) The commute from Los Andes to Portillo is easier than the commute from Santiago to Valle Nevado.

Is Kylie going with you on this trip? If solo, the Inca Lodge dorm at Portillo was available starting Sept. 16, but that means cramped bunk bed lodging, shared bathroom and cafeteria vs. Hotel Portillo dining room. That's why we delayed until Sept. 21.

The hotels at Portillo and Valle Nevado are very expensive. By reputation and recent reviews the Hotel Portillo is worth it but the Valle Nevado hotels are not. Thus we are staying half board at Hotel Valluga in Farallones for less than half the price of Valle Nevado. It's also a plus that Farallones is at 7,900 feet vs. 9,900 at Valle Nevado. Given the reputation of the road up from Santiago, I'd recommend staying in Farallones for the night(s) between your ski days in Three Valleys.

 

[Sbooker]

Enough that we have committed to Sept. 16-24.

Sure, especially if you consider Valparaiso too.

If limited to 5 days I'd go 3-2 the other way. Why?
1) Portillo has a deeper snowpack and is also less vulnerable to wind messing up the off piste.
2) Portillo overall has better terrain quality even though it has less acreage.
3) The Roca Jack/Juncalillo side of Portillo gets the morning sun for corn. There is very little east facing at VN/La Parva so it may take some time for spring snow to soften.
4) The commute from Los Andes to Portillo is easier than the commute from Santiago to Valle Nevado.

Is Kylie going with you on this trip? If solo, the Inca Lodge dorm at Portillo was available starting Sept. 16, but that means cramped bunk bed lodging, shared bathroom and cafeteria vs. Hotel Portillo dining room. That's why we delayed until Sept. 21.

The hotels at Portillo and Valle Nevado are very expensive. By reputation and recent reviews the Hotel Portillo is worth it but the Valle Nevado hotels are not. Thus we are staying half board at Hotel Valluga in Farallones for less than half the price of Valle Nevado. It's also a plus that Farallones is at 7,900 feet vs. 9,900 at Valle Nevado. Given the reputation of the road up from Santiago, I'd recommend staying in Farallones for the night(s) between your ski days in Three Valleys.

Kylie will be coming. We’ll arrive on Sunday 14th. I was thinking it might be best to ski the mid week and check out Santiago on the weekend and Monday. We’ll leave on the Tuesday to come back.
I was thinking of staying in Farellones and driving up to the resorts.

 

[Casey E]

Take note 3 Valley excursionists, of the road restrictions from 8am-10pm. An extract:

"Restricción de tránsito en el Camino a Farellones para todos los días de la semana, medida que permanecerá vigente hasta el 30 de septiembre de 2026.

La operación de la vía se desarrollará de la siguiente manera:

UP - Subida exclusiva hacia los centros invernales: entre las 08:00 y las 13:00 horas.
CLOSED - Restricción de circulación en ambos sentidos: entre las 13:00 y las 15:00 horas.
DOWN - Bajada exclusiva desde los centros invernales: entre las 15:00 y las 20:00 horas.

They do occasionally allow traffic going against the grain, often in a group led by a municipal vehicle. Going down before 8am means going against a steady flow of traffic, starting around 6am. The municipality does the announcements, here

Lo Barnechea Farellones

Or here

Barnechea instagram

 

[Tony Crocker]

I was thinking of staying in Farellones and driving up to the resorts.

We are staying in Farallones the nights of Sept. 16-18 if you want to meet up. You should look into that Hotel Valluga as it's the best rated hotel there. Are you there only one week and leaving Sept. 21 when we go into Portillo?

 

[Sbooker]

We are staying in Farallones the nights of Sept. 16-18 if you want to meet up. You should look into that Hotel Valluga as it's the best rated hotel there. Are you there only one week and leaving Sept. 21 when we go into Portillo?

I’m booking the flights this morning. In on the 14th is set. I’ll see if we can leave on the 23rd. Looks like we’ll cross paths 16th to 18th.

Is the advanced terrain at Portillo above my pay grade and do I need a guide? Are guides easy to source in Chile?

 

[Sbooker]

What’s the deal with snow chains? Are they automatically in the boot as in Italy? Or I’ve got to rent them specifically?