What a difference a 4 hour bus ride north makes. This morning at the bus stop, they were more Americans at that stop than all of the ski area I was skiing the previous 4 days. The fact that Bariloche has been having a good winter and the other major areas in the Andes haven’t might be a factor.
Meet up with a Frenchman that lives in Whistler, he was looking for someone to go exploring. Walking passed the ticket lineup meet up with two Americans that were on my flight to Santiago. Waiting for the gondola for our first ride up, we meet up with one of the Americans that I saw at the Osorno bus stop. Zach was showing some hot Pro skier names Ingrid around. The Whistler Frenchmen knew him…we all hiked up Laguna and then across. At the top of a peak, meet the owner of the Hostel and he couldn’t believe how many people where there. A SASS group it would seem were bringing clients here. We followed the ride and decided again skiing toward Refugio Frey (which we could see). We ended up skiing beautiful untouched snow, the texture was changing. Finished in a bamboo jungle where we eventually tagged up with a trail out.
Skied Nubbes a few twice after that, but it was pretty tracked up. 15 minutes wait at the quad. Today was the warmest in a long time here. I went seperate ways with my French ski partner as he was heading back into Laguna and I had no legs left for a hike. Spring snow started kicking in at the bottom. This is a busy place. There is some awesome terrain, but it’s a bit too busy for my liking. I’m back tomorrow before the weekend, not sure where I’ll be tomorrow night or if I’ll ski for Saturday or take a day off. Weather is uncertain like my itinerary.
Dropping and heading in the jungle
About to get tight with the bamboos
Del Bosque chair in the background
Looking towards the other side of the resort
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Posted on : Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:52 pm
Skied Catedral the last two days, the weekend coming, so I leaving town for Villa La Angostura and skiing Cerro Bayo Saturday. Planing to cross the border back into Chile on Sunday. MadPat’s 2010 SA Trip is almost over…6 days of skiing in a row and today was the only subpar day in my book.
It was warm today, visibility in Laguna was nil, Nubbs lift was closed…and it was real windy. My legs were toast to start off the morning. I ended skinning toward Laguna, meet up a few Canadians, the Frenchmen from yesterday and his Swiss friend. We decided to come back toward the resorts as snow was not great and we couldn’t see [censored]. We all parted ways. Frenchman went off with the Canucks to skis the trees with their reverse camber skis, the Swiss and I went to take laps on the groomers on Condor III. Snow started sticking at 1-ish. We got a few drops of rain/snow…but really insignificant.
I’m in Villa now, so I need to go to sleep if I want to be able to wake up for ski day 7 at Cerro Bayo. Domingo is a day off and I’m traveling back across the border which is just a few kilometers west of here.
Part of Cerro Catedral liftserved terrain
It can get busy on groomed marked runs
MadPat’s Galleries
September 2 – Bariloche- Catedral (Dia 1)
September 3 – Bariloche- Catedral (Dia 2)
Monday Mad Addict’s Attic :
Monday Mad Addict’s Attic : Catedral Alta Patagonia
Small video from some of the people that we’re also waiting for the bus with me in Osorno. Check Zack Giffin and Molly Baker living the dream at Refugio Frey.
Friday Night Video :
Patagonia and Refugio Frey
Text originally started on Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:39 pm on firsttracksonline
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