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- 2024 Dates:
- August Custom; Bariloche-Frey and Lopez
- August Custom; Andean(Maipo) Couloirs and Portillo Offpiste Adventures
- August 12-20 Classic Volcanoes(Villarrica, Osorno, Lonquimay, Llaima….)
- Coyhaique–
- Duration: 8-14 Days
- Level: Advanced
- Client Ratio: 5:1
- Cost:
- 8 Days – $3,150 (Min 2 People)
- 13 Days – $5,695
- Included: Ground transportation, airport transfers, all meals while on the mountain, tents, stoves, cook kits, group climbing equipment, guide services, accommodations and breakfast
- Not Included: Airfare, gratuities for guides, hot springs fees, Lift Tickets, Ski touring gear, extra drinks, meals in cities, personal insurance and Individual transfers.
- 2024 Dates:
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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Climb and ski four Andean volcanoes over the course of one trip, options include: Lonquimay, Llaima, Villarrica, Lanin, Mocho and Osorno.
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Build your ski mountaineering experience with instruction and practice on fun and challenging terrain.
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Travel and experience the beautiful landscapes and culture of Southern Chile and Northern Patagonia.
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Some afternoons we visit and soak in the spectacular and relaxing volcanic mineral hot springs
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Fantastic dinners and red wine as well as trekking, horseback riding, spas, etc. if we encounter poor weather days
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The second region we go to ride; the Three Valleys and One Canyon of the Santiago region, home to big open runs from world class ski areas. From Santiago, we drive to Valle Nevado to acclimatize and tour up Volcan Plomo before we travel to Canyon Maipo to hike and ride these fantastic, long couloirs.
We explore the slopes of the southern Chilean volcanoes by ski touring. We start in Pucon, or “Entrance to the Mountain” is that and more. This tourist based mountain town borders 2 national parks, a national reserve, and sits on the black sand beach of Lake Villarrica. Our focus for the remainder of the trip is to ski the 3-4 nearby volcanoes with a flexible itinerary based around weather and snow conditions. We have options to ski Volcano Lanin (12,293 ft.), Volcano Villarrica (9,317 ft.), Volcano Llaima (10,252 ft.), and Volcano Quetrupillan (7,743 ft). Each of them has a very different shape. It will therefore make for unique descents. Moreover, the landscapes and views of the region are stunning. We finish the day with a soak in the nearby thermal hot springs along side the cold waters of the Liucura River. In this amazing trip you will discover the Araucania-the Monkey Puzzle Trees, rivers and lakes district of Chile. The idea is to discover the region by skiing down the volcanos, eating good food and resting in beautiful places every day.
Day 1: Depart from the U.S expect a 22-27 hour flight
Day 2: Corralco Ski & Tour
We get an early start with a little help from an excellent breakfast. Based in a large Araucaria (Monkey Puzzle Tree) Forest, Corralco Ski Resort at the base of Volcano Lonquimay offers us easy access to begin our day, getting our legs going with some warm up runs off the ski lifts and some short touring on the southern face of Volcano Villarrica. The evening we have options to soaking our legs in the nearby hot springs followed by a well deserved homemade dinner, Southern Chile style.
Overnight: Las Araucarias
Accommodation: Hotel/Rufigio
Meal: Breakfast
Day 3: Corralco Ski & Lonquimay Summit Day- 9,400 ft/2,865m
We drive up early morning start to our ski tour on the Lonquimay volcano with a mid-morning chair ride. Weather permitting, a rewarding climb to the volcanic crater takes approximately 1-2 hours. At the top the view is truly stunning. You can see 7 nearby volcanoes, and a distant view into neighboring Argentina. The descent off the top offers a constant pitch of 35-40 degrees which we can do 2 or 3 times!
The evenings we have options to soaking our legs in the nearby hot springs followed by a well deserved homemade dinner, Southern Chile style. Next up: Volcan Llaima.
Overnight: Las Araucarias
Accommodation: Hotel/Rufigio
Meal: Breakfast
Day 4: Llaima Summit Day -10,253 ft /3,125m
We use an early start for our climb on Llaima. Looking up at this mountain from the base, the summit looks close, but it’s an optical illusion. It doesn’t seem to get any closer but the reward is a long descent with views for miles.
Overnight: Las Araucarias
Accommodation: Hotel/Refugio
Meal: Breakfast
Day 5: Villarrica Ski & Tour
We get an early start with a little help from an excellent breakfast. Based in a large Araucaria (Monkey Puzzle Tree) Forest, Corralco Ski Resort at the base of Volcano Lonquimay offers us easy access to begin our day, getting our legs going with some warm up runs off the ski lifts and some short touring on the southern face of Volcano Villarrica. The evening we have options to soaking our legs in the nearby hot springs followed by a well deserved homemade dinner, Southern Chile style.
Overnight: Pucon
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Day 6: Villarrica Summit Day-9341 ft / 2847m
We drive up to and start climbing from Ski Pucon Resort. We are warmed up from our previous tours and skin half to two-thirds of the way to the summit before transitioning to boot crampons. We gain 5,000’ vertical feet to the summit of Villarrica over 5 hours. In good conditions, the descent back to the parking lot takes 25 minutes! (B) We can hit the Hot Springs again or try to ski to the most famous Termas, Geometricas and pay to arrange a pick on the other side of the mountain, Chilean style! If conditions permit we go to Llaima to get high or get laps on Lonquimay.
Overnight: Malalcahuello
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast, Boxed-lunch
Day 7-11: Mocho, Puyehue, Chillan and Osorno.
We follow the weather to make the most out of road time. Head North to Chillan for big days on the big peaks of Nevado de Chillan or head South to trek in on horseback to Puyehue and ski into the massive crater from the movie, All.I.Can. Next choose a trip far south to Osorno to rip fast turns off the region’s iconic summit looming over the Lakes District.
Day 11: EXTRA WEATHER DAY
Overnight: Pucon or Osorno
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Day 12: Transfer back to Temuco for flight home
Overnight:
Accommodation:
Meal: Breakfast
Day 13: Depart back to US
Objective
Ride the best backcountry terrain at one of South America’s oldest and largest ski areas, El Catedral and the Frey Valley. Our travel schedule will remain fully flexible to allow us to make the very most of snow and weather conditions.
What to expect
Travel down the Andes takes up to 2 days so we try to maximize the next 5+ days of skiing with a balance of lift access and hut based ski tours.
Starting in the city of Bariloche, we ride the lifts at El Catedral and move onto the amazing terrain of the Refugio Frey and Cerro Lopez as we our touring legs under us. In a typical day, we will gain around 2,500-4,000′ of ascent – which means we also get to enjoy a lot of riding! The snow conditions are variable, however it’s usually spring snow or fresh powder on a firm base. On occasion, strong winds can affect the snow, making it a more challenging ski descent.
If the weather is poor we can always be flexible with the schedule to so you can get the most out of your visit.
Day 1: Depart from the U.S expect a 22-27 hour flight
Day 2: Bariloche
Arrive late afternoon in Bariloche, we are picked up at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Check in to our the rooms and explore the city or to relax. We will meet in the evening for introductions and a brief orientation.
Overnight: Bariloche
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal:
Day 3: Bariloche-El Catedral Ski & Tour
We get an early start with a little help from an excellent breakfast. We ride the chairs in the morning to warm up and after lunch explore the bowls around the boundary.
Overnight: Bariloche
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Day 4:
Bariloche-Refugio Frey Ski tour
Early morning start to our ski tour weather permitting through the Van Titter Valley from the El Catedral Ski Area. The descent into the Van Titter offers numerous classic descents up to 1500′ of open bowls to tight couloirs. We skin up to the Refugio Frey and settle in for the next 3 evenings where we enjoy the amazing world class hospitality and terrain of followed by a well deserved homemade dinner, Southern Chile style.
Overnight: Refugio Frey
Accommodation: Refugio
Meal: Breakfast
Day 5: Refugio Frey Select from many great tours choosing the best conditions we go to the following:
- Torre Principal Bowl
- Lago Schmoll Bowl
- Frey Couloirs/Chuting Gallery
- Van Titter/Schmoll Tour
Overnight: Refugio Frey Accommodation: Refugio Meal: Breakfast
Day 6:Refugio Frey Optional extra night if conditions are good or return to Bariloche and tour Cerro Lopez the following day.
Overnight: Refugio Frey or Bariloche Accommodation: Refugio Meal: Breakfast
Day 7: Back to Bariloche or Cerro Lopez
Enjoy a tour back to town or explore a locals favorite up to Cerro Lopez and experience Dulfer, the legendary #alpinekitty!
Overnight: Bariloche Accommodation: Hotel Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8-9: Return to the US
Take in Bariloche one last time and catch a afternoon flight home arriving mid-morning on Sunday in time to reflect and work on your humblebrag at work the next day!
Objective
Ski the high peaks and amazing ski areas that surround Santiago. Ski the famous Tres Valles, mixing offpiste and lift served riding in the expansive alpine playground! If touring is the goal, ski the areas to acclimatize then head to the legendary couloirs of Canyon de Maipo and boot up 2,000-4,000′ lines that make this place one of the world’s great touring destinations!
Day 1: Depart from the U.S expect a 22-27 hour flight
Day 2: Santiago
Day 3: Transfer to Tres Valles-1/2 Day ski
Day 4: Offpiste
Day 5: Offpiste or Maipo
Day 6: Offpiste or Maipo
Day 7: Offpiste or Maipo
Day 8-9:Depart back home
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