Cerro Bayo, ARG - Sept 7, 08

Patrick

Active member
Septiembre 7, 08

Tony was mentioning car rental. Actually I was thinking about this for this portion of the trip, however I was told from some maggots that it didn't make sense at all. Especially when in Bariloche. If it would have made sense at one point in this trip, it would have been today.

The day started off early with a 7:00 cab ride to the bus station. (10 pesos)
Intercity bus to travel the 120km/90min from Bari ton Villa La Angustura. (14 pesos).
There was no shuttle bus in Villa contrary to what I read. Settled for a cab ride to the ski area (30 pesos).

Total cost: approximately $40 US return.

How much would the gas was been to drive 240km? The bus ride allowed me to sleep, I had seen to part of the road earlier on my trip. Bus in SA make perfect sense and economical (mentally getting ready for the 19 hour bus ride to Buenos Aires tomorrow night.

OKay, was all this cab, bus, cab and cabm bus, city bus worth it to see Cerro Bayo? TOTALLY.

Cerro Bayo is mostly South facing with the upper ridge slightly West oriented. The base of the area is at 1000m and the top of the upper lift is at 1710m. This is the type of area that James would appreciate, small and simple. There are only 21 runs and all the main runs face are below treeline. Above that main face lift, you find all the beginner ropetows and lifts. This is no surprise, as the grass started popping out at the bottom. The pitch is also steeper and not necessarily the best place to have a beginner area.

Above that top plateau (Beginner area), lifts runs toward the Summit Bayo. A mouth watering summit with superstar epic lines easy to hike to from the top of the top double. The area was rope off due to avy danger. It also suggested avy gear. There were a few tracks made today, but I left the avy gear in Bari. There is also a great view of the town and lake far below.

Snow on top mostly consisted of wind blown powder plus the minimal amount received overnight. Had fun skiing in and around the corniches. A few cms of powder were also on the trails below treeline. The snow at the bottom was perfect spring corn. Clouds were moving in and snow started falling at 3ish in the afternoon.

Although this place is small, I had fun skiing all the runs and ride all the lift (well not the beginner tows). Even my 4th and 5th single chair. :mrgreen:

Those lines off the summit will remain in my head. A small area that has a bit of something for everyone. This probably conclude my ski season, I was thinking of maybe going to Catedral tomorrow, but it's unlikely. I want to walk around this beautiful town before I leave Patagonia. No wonder it's called the Lake District of Argentina.

167km return trip to Villa Angostura.
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Ski map
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Lenga lift to the top of the area.
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On the Lenga lift looking back.
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Villa La Angostura seen from close to the top of Cerro Bayo.
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Los Lagos chairlift and lake in the background.
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Looking toward the other direction.
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Summit and lift access slackcoutry
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Trees and off-piste above.
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Bosque chair.
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Base of resort.
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From the base: Left side of the slope didn't have much snow left.
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La Stillita(sp?) chair seen from Principal lift - yes, that chair is a single.
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Principal chairlift.
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La Stillita(sp?) chair, 1 of 2 single at the ski area.
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Single.
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Overall view from above treeline.
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Summit with tracks at end of day.
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Day (whatever I'm at???)

Yesterday was definitely the last day of the ski season for me, I didn't wamt to rush back and have to pack wet stuff for the over 20 hour bus ride ahead of me later today. So I'm packing my ski gear this morning.

Snowed 5 cm yesterday and 4cm overnight at the top of Catedral.

Hostel 41 below is a great place to stay, even if their computer (keyboard & screen) sucks!!! (at least it's free and it's run by a kiwi boarder - cool guy, I didn't even know he was the owner). 8-[
 
Patrick, the lines of the ridge are indeed great but the hike above the lift at La Hoya beat it hands down in my opinion.
 
Thats the ridge there. [Note, these pics are from La Hoya] You came off the top lift to the left and the hike was straight infront of you and was shapped like a horseshoe.

This is looking from the ridge down to the lift with the full hike visible behind the lift as we looked back across...

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Here are our lines....

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q":1bb7gsau said:
Thats the ridge there. You came off the top lift to the left and the hike was straight infront of you and was shapped like a horseshoe.
Yep, saw it, but didn't ski it.

The first day the patrol wouldn't allow people to hike up with their skis (we just went to see the smoking volcano), there was some concern that it would slide.

Of course for those that haven't been paying attention, we aren't talking about Bayo.
 
Septiembre 8: Bariloche

So I used my last day in Patagonia to walk around town. Taking the lonnnnng bus ride to Buenos Aires at the end of the day. Here are a few pics.

Hostal 41 Below
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Hostal's street.
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Administrative building for the National Park.
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One of the numerous Chocolate Stores
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Taking the 5:30pm bus to Bariloche. Arrived over 25 hours later.
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Ruta 40
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Neuquen at around midnight.
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Septiembre 9-10: Buenos Aires

So I arrived in Buenos Aires in the morning. I had 1.5 day in Buenos Aires to walk around and visit before heading back home. Walked a lot...beautiful city. Similar to the great capitals of Europe.

Oh yeah, Buenos Aires is big. 10-12 millions people.

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Plaza San Martín and Memorial for the Malvinas (Falklands) War.
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Torre de los Ingleses.
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9 de Julio Avenue and Obelisk.
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Plaza de Mayo.
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Casa Rosada (the official seat of the executive branch of the Argentine government) et Playa de MAyo.
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Congreso de la Nación Argentina
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Last day in SA.
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That's it folks...
 
I really enjoyed the town of Bariloche when I was there. I thought it was so unusual to have a desert on one side, and literally a rain forest on the other. I also enjoyed Buenos Aires quite a bit. When I was there, the dollar went really far. I went on a spree and ate like a king. It was a really fun town. I think that's the opera house in your second to last picture.
 
Taking the 5:30pm bus to Bariloche. Arrived over 25 hours later.
Masochism in the extreme.

Once again, great pics. la Hoya looks better for skiing. Fans out at the top where the best snow is. Hikes to the goods appear to be much more grunt work at Cerro Bayo than mostly traverses at La Hoya. Are these impressions correct? Nonetheless worth a visit and likely better snow up high than Catedral.
 
Tony Crocker":13edb08t said:
Taking the 5:30pm bus to Bariloche. Arrived over 25 hours later.
Masochism in the extreme.

Actually, it wasn't that bad. I found the bus ride from Santiago to Pucon longer (11 hours). The comfort level on the bus I took was like exclusive-class on a plane. How long is a flight to NZ? Overnight trip, champagne with the supper on board and a few movies.

Tony Crocker":13edb08t said:
Once again, great pics. la Hoya looks better for skiing. Fans out at the top where the best snow is. Hikes to the goods appear to be much more grunt work at Cerro Bayo than mostly traverses at La Hoya. Are these impressions correct? Nonetheless worth a visit and likely better snow up high than Catedral.

The hike to the top isn't long, but you are correct into pointing that La Hoya are mostly traverses and top is larger. Cerro Bayo is a cute area and worth a day if you are staying a while in Bariloche.
 
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