Aug. 29-Sept. 8, 2005 Chile Trip
I recently returned from snowboarding and sight-seeing in Chile. We spent 6 days of snowboarding in Portillo and Valle Nivado Chile along with a few days of sight-seeing in Santiago. The snow in Portillo was incredible. Upon our arrival, a snowstorm dumped 9 feet of snow burying the Andies and all resorts. Two days later, the roads were cleared enoughf or us to reach Portillo, an all-inclusive resort about 90 miles northeast of Santiago. During the week, it snowed another foot of powder, which was like icing on the cake.
Our last day in Portillo was definitely the best. Although the light was flat that day, I did what is known as the Lake Run in Portillo. Riding offpiste of certain lifts, you can ride down steep open powder runs right to the frozen Lake of the Incas. It was steep and the powder was knee deep. When you can't see, the flat frozen lake comes up very quickly. I have one pic which appears as if I've fallen, but in reality, I just landed on the lake. That's the fun part. The work comes after the fun in the hike across the lake and back up to the lifts.
After returning to Santiago for some sight-seeing, my guide and I went up to Valle Nivado for a day of riding. By that time, spring had arrived in Chile and bright sunshine, warm temps, and Andean cement made for a good but disappointing day after the great powder of Portillo.
I went to Portillo with a group from Challenge Aspen, who ran a camp for disabled kids from all over Chile. It was exciting to see their excitement about learning to ski or their return back on skis again.
My guide for the trip was Owen Edwards, a friend I had ridden with a couple of years ago. He volunteered to be my snowboarding guide for the week. Owen had been to Chile and Portillo once before. It was a great week!
I definitely would like to go back next year.
Thanks to Amanda at Challenge Aspen for her persistence in making this trip possible. Thanks also to Owen for volunteering to be my guide and travel buddy for the two weeks.
Check here for some pics from the trip