South America: Super Bueno Season..What you missed out on and what you didn't.
Spring has sprung in South America and it’s time for North America to take over its winter duties. For those of you that couldn’t make it down to Argentina or Chile here’s the lowdown on what happened during the season with some photos to check out as well.
The small but very touristy town of San Martin de los Andes sits in the Neuquen Province of Argentina and is the home of the CHAPELCO ski resort. One of the most modern and classically styled ski resorts in Argentina or Chile. It’s complete with a gondola, high speed quad chairs and great food and amenities. This resort has high alpine bowls littered with cornices and long fall line. Let’s not forget some of the best inbounds cliffs in Argentina. This all lead to the trees which are one of a kind in South America. The kind of tree riding that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who visits them. If you get treated to a proper powder day shredding in and out of there mystical lenga covered trunks, you are stoooooked!!
It seems that not too many gringo (foreign riders) have made it this far north to visit Chapelco compared to the southern resorts of Argentina (Bariloche) or north (Las Lenas). This makes for more of a local feel and a real other worldly experience. There’s definitely a strong local shred community as you can hit the streets of San Martin de los Andes on any night in the winter and see crowds of local shreds crowding the local bars. Most importantly the MORADA. A semi dicey kinda of hang out complete with cheap beer and ping pong where heavy matches go non-stop. I’m calling this place…. The spot to hang in San Martin de los Andes. Local shreds and cheap beer…..Done.
The 2007 season brought some really deep days and I’m calling it an awesome season in San Martin de los Andes and Chapelco. The most alluring thing about Chapelco is the backcountry which can be accessed from the top and over into the backside or far lookers right of the ski resort where you can traverse back to the resort. This terrain though is definitely NOT patrolled and you must be well versed with self rescue and have all the proper equipment to ride it (beacon, probe and shovel) to say the least. Stay tuned for part 2…..Bariloche and its surrounding areas.
|
Jobs | Subscribe | Give a Gift | Subscriber Services | Advertise | Privacy Statement | Site Map | Terms of Use | Retail Sign Up | 
|
Surfer | Surfing | Snow | Skate | Bike | Powder | Fantasy Surfer | Canoe & Kayak | WaveWatch
No comments have been added to this entry.
Add Comment