Patrick
Active member
Full corn cycle in Pucon today, unfortunately the liftserved today lacked anykind of slope. Only lift 1,2, 7 and 9. Sin por numero 3 although it was running yesterday according to someone. At least it was bright and sunny so I could actually see the volcano this time (see Agosto 30 2008 TR). The fact that I didn't use that rain day and skied instead at Cerro Bayo was a great decision. The views on that pass (same as when I crossed over at the start of this trip) are impressive. This part of Chile is great for anyone with volcano fetishes. Anyway I left VLA in previous afternoon with a transfer in Osorno to finally arrived in Pucon at 11pm.
The terrain which could be liftserved would add some zing and fun, unfortunately it would seem that Ski Pucon caters to beginners and intermediates. There is the lift 5 which would access some excellent terrain, unfortunately it is sometimes used in September. The top station needs to be digged out and there is the issue that there isn't any safety bars which is apparently a problem. Further to the left (lookers) that is the remaining towers of a lift that hasn't been used in years. Just adding these two lifts would turns Ski Pucon (the ski area) into a simple curiousity of skiing on a smoking volcano to a place which would actually make in fun to comeback.
Nevertheless, I had a great time. I skied a few runs with a girl from France that was skiing a bunch of Chilean ski areas that are totally off the map like the other area on Volcano Villarrica. The excursion group that we were dealing with to get at the hill weren't even sure if it was running in the Winter time? They thought it was only in Summer and would be extremely flat. That what that girl was going to find out.
Trying to tag for a volcan skin, however I might have to forkout mucho pesos. I'll see how I feel tomorrow, off pista was soupa today. Temps were around 10c. Same temps tomorrow, clear blue skies.
Busing out tomorrow night...Flying out Wednesday.
The terrain which could be liftserved would add some zing and fun, unfortunately it would seem that Ski Pucon caters to beginners and intermediates. There is the lift 5 which would access some excellent terrain, unfortunately it is sometimes used in September. The top station needs to be digged out and there is the issue that there isn't any safety bars which is apparently a problem. Further to the left (lookers) that is the remaining towers of a lift that hasn't been used in years. Just adding these two lifts would turns Ski Pucon (the ski area) into a simple curiousity of skiing on a smoking volcano to a place which would actually make in fun to comeback.
Nevertheless, I had a great time. I skied a few runs with a girl from France that was skiing a bunch of Chilean ski areas that are totally off the map like the other area on Volcano Villarrica. The excursion group that we were dealing with to get at the hill weren't even sure if it was running in the Winter time? They thought it was only in Summer and would be extremely flat. That what that girl was going to find out.
Trying to tag for a volcan skin, however I might have to forkout mucho pesos. I'll see how I feel tomorrow, off pista was soupa today. Temps were around 10c. Same temps tomorrow, clear blue skies.
Busing out tomorrow night...Flying out Wednesday.