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Bariloche

JordanManley — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:29:36 -0400

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I have made it down to Bariloche, Argentina, my latest stop on a whirl-wind trip of South America ski destinations, accompanied by my Norwegian travel contingent. We have seen blue bird pow conditions in El Colorado, above the smog of Santiago, more of the same at South America's only cat skiing operation, Ski Arpa Snowcats. I happened upon my brother Les there, high in the Andes, an odd circumstance.

After the border re-opened between Chile and Argentina, we ventured near Las Lenas, to a horse assisted hut. Except the horses never showed, or our guide. Long story short, we spent 24hrs on 1 granolar bar each, forcefully entered a vacant ranch stone hut and slept there for the evening, and reaching the real hut the following day on empty stomachs. Skied some very interesting terrain stratling the border between Argentina and Chile, on marginal snow.

I will spend a few more days in Bariloche, before parting ways with my Norwegian friends, and experiencing what Las Lenas has to offer. Below, a Even Ofstad is pictured during today's brief ski session before the lifts closed due to high winds.

South America Snow Sessions New Podcast #1

SASS — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:48:08 -0400

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Lost: Not just another great B.A party spot

Les Manley — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:15:35 -0500

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Montanita, Ecuador - Travel is a powerful drug. It can make you love places you never knew, miss people you never knew existed, and do things you never thought you'd do. It will change you forever. It's a one way street to new and varied experience that is not without it's emotional strain, and diversity. For many travel is a way to open the mind, to raise the blindfold on the vista of life. We do this, we travellers, to better understand experience and interaction. We do it to better understand the world and the human form. It is an act that bridges ignorance and amplifies consciousness. By doing this one reaches a higher plane.

Does travel bring you closer to god? To travel is to be lost, to be immersed in the unknown - to know god is to know the unknown. I have seen god in the eyes of a street kid in Villa 31 near Retiro, Buenos Aires, Argentina; covered in dirt, eyes blazing white, moving like an animal. I have seen god in the storms of tremendous power that brutalize the Andes every ski season here. I have felt god in the blinding heat of Guaylaquil, Ecuador.

" It is all a dream to me now. If we're lost, we are lost together" sang Blue Rodeo and they were right we travellers are lost, but we are "lost together" both with the new experiences we have and the old ones we bring from home, amongst these we are hopelessly dislocated. Travelling may be an attractive pursuit but one must be prepared to be irreconcilably estranged from their past. They must be ready to feel what we call "lost".

montanita: the beach

Argentina Stole Our Winter

J Dogg — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 13:18:14 -0400

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No wonder winter hasn't started yet up in the Pacific Northwest. Our winter has been stolen! Yep, that's right. Cold handed theft, from non other than our favourite South American neighbour, Las Lenas. Mark Lasseter wrote in an email today from down there...

"Ah, it is puking snow in town now. While the resort officially closed 2 weeks ago, the sexotuple and lynch chairs are open and a pass is 25 p. You know we're going to be tapping that this week!"

What's with that? It's still snowing in Argentina and it's almost November? Regardless, mother nature will get bored of the steak, wine and women sooner or later, and then we'll see her up here for a Pacific North-west binge fest.

Argentina: hitchhiking helicopters

Tobin Seagel — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:01:32 -0400

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Sometimes hair-brained ideas really do work. Adrenalina had been staring at me through my front window since I arrived in Lenas; a 6000ft couloir starting at 13,070 ft. with a 48-50 degree entrance. I knew I wanted to ski it before coming to Argentina, but finding a partner to climb the thing hadn't proven easy. With only a few days left down here and a storm system looming, my opportunity looked to have passed.

Chris and I were about to drop into Lido, an aesthetic line just outside of Lenas, when the inevitable ball dropped: "I wish we could just take the heli up there tomorrow, to keep our legs fresh for pow thats on its way". I didnt really put much more thought into it until later that night when the idea was dropped again. It was mentioned to the operator that some Canadians wanted a drop on Adrenalina, and the response was far from positive...a heli-drop up there had never been done before... but he said we could stop by the helipad the next day and talk about it.

In the morning Marcus, Les, Chris and I wondered over to the helipad, skeptical that such an idea could actualy pan out. Gringo Mike turned up offering to "guide us"....I think that's spanish for "stow away", but who cares the more the merrier. When the heli showed up, a total junkshow unfolded where it was generally determined that flying up to 13000ft with 5 skiers, and heavy skis would be bad. But the pilot had a different idea..... So he told Les and I that we should get our gear in the heli, and we'd try...I only found out afterwards that the owner of the operation had not given permission for us to go up there.

Yes, that's an oxygen mask our pilot is sporting.....what?

Our pilot did everything he could to land us right where we'd drop in from, but (thank god) it was deemed better to land on a shoulder a few hundred feet below the summit. Having circled the peak 3-4 times, with some gages flirting in the red zone, we were all pretty stoked to have landed. As we got out of the heli, more unconventional behaviour...instead of crouching over our gear, we were to lie as flat as possible.....hmmm....reassuring.

Skiing corn out of the exit from Adrenalina.

The entarnce to Adrenalina had some good snow in it, and the skiing went off without a hitch. There was plenty of room for us all to have a line.

Thus begins a new chapter in Las Lenas....high altitude heli-access skiing.

Argentina: calm before the storm

Tobin Seagel — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:08:32 -0400

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Well, after last week's storm cycle, I think we all thought it was time to ski corn for the rest of the season. Gringos jumped ship and left town en masse today. But it looks as though there's another dump on its way Monday. The picture is of Riley enjoying semi-spring conditions in Sans_Nom. Adrenalina looms in the background.

Skier: Riley
Photo: Tobin

sans nom

Tobin Seagel — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:04:02 -0400

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Argentina: gaper-iffic

Tobin Seagel — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:02:32 -0400

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Sometimes I think that the gaper factor is so prevalent in Argentina that I'm beoming desencitized to it. Then these three dudes showed up....the guy on the right has a board that says "Wild Duck" on the base......sick!!!

gaper

gaper

Tobin Seagel — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 16:59:57 -0400

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Argentina: dios mio (you can practice on bottles)!

Tobin Seagel — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:55:09 -0400

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Well, almost a week with no fresh snow, trips to the park, and trips to Mendoza culminated with 40+cm of perfect pow. Once the mountain reopened, it was bluebird and green light. We skied over 24000 feet of near trackless snow in a day. Day 2 meant boot packing to Entre_Rios and Cerro Martine.....Alaska on the cheap.

The photos by no means do this place justice. epic snow, big terrain, and only a handfull of gringos to ski it.

Missing Argentina

matosan — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 17:00:20 -0400

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Having spent the month of august ski touring in Chile in Argentina, it's a bit painful to think of how long I have to wait before the ski season gets going again here on the coast. The terrain around Refugio Frey just outside Bariloche is among the best spots I've evered ski toured. Here are a few shots from that magical place.

View Photographic Trip Reports

Info for Planning a Backcountry Skiing trip to Bariloche

View complete bariloche trip blog

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The Promised Land

Les Manley — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 20:28:19 -0400

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Argentina - one week and still going strong

Holly — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:59:11 -0400

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So I have been in Las Lenas for over a week now. After 3 days straight travel to Las Lenas, the recovery of Re's bag (www.powermag.com), 3 asados, many reunions with old friends, 8 days skiing and some epic pow days, I have finally taken a day off to rest my poor calf musles (I knew highheels were good for something!).

The Gringo Ghetto is in full affect again this season, but Jackson/Whistler crew has been lacking and the Colorado Crew is taking over. The Noweigen's are taller than ever and setting the boot packs for us short legged, altitude challenged North Americans.

Lyra #1 is rocking and the green monster lerks closed at hand. Bjorn and I have survived the first week sickness free, but soon the weak will be devoured and bed ridden.

I have one week left with the Corbus #3 Official House Photographer and need to make use of the upcoming bluebird days while managing to avoid the wind crust that torn my leg appart last season.

Santa Rosa has yet to pay us a visit but is soon to get in a bitch slapping fight with Marte, who has been thus far patient with us minus some ridiculously windy days. For some eye candy from Torrecillas check out www.powdermag.com.

Corbus #3 has not been without scandals. Tobin is the official house guard, keeping the desparate husband hunting Argentinian women out and protecting Bjorn and Jamie. He did find himself a colour by number girl in the meantime.

Last night was night 2 of Yaya's Birthday week, and a pig was sacrificed. Torkle rocked the pig hoof hand all night and Gabe mowed down on pig brains. Weird.

Until next week: same time and same Piscis crappy wireless connection.

Atleast the booze is flowing...

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J Dogg — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:16:14 -0400

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J Dogg — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:15:31 -0400

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h3

J Dogg — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:14:54 -0400

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J Dogg — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:14:14 -0400

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J Dogg — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:13:29 -0400

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Full Factor 10: Argentina

Tobin Seagel — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 18:47:48 -0400

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The factor I had heard so much about before coming here has not failed to disappoint. Having bags stolen by gringos at the Santiago airport, clutches breaking on our truck high in the andes, and bribing argentinian border guards to let us and all our gear into the country were just the tip of the iceberg. Fourty-eight hours and no deodorant later Bjorn Ballien, Suzanne Graham, Re Wikstrom, Holly Walker and I rolled into to town greeted by freshies and bluebird skies. We wasted no time in passing out for a few hours before grabbing the skis and hitting the office. The next few days were filled with steep lines and big smiles. This place is huge. Cabin fever is now setting in as its been days of storming, but its supposed to be bluebird tomorrow. Vodka con speeds are going to have to wait, as it'll be early to bed in Corbus 3 tonight.

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powder 1

Les Manley — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:58:55 -0400

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