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La Parva, Chile Conditions Report: 300 Earthquakes & Powder

On the Sept 16 earthquake, it was 8.4 Richter, lasted over 2 minutes, and shook the hell out of La Parva. The epicenter was about 250km north of Santiago, in a relatively sparsely populated area near Illapel. There have been over 300 aftershocks, including 15 above 6.0, but most have not been perceived in Santiago. 13 dead, hundreds of homes seriously damaged, and the coastal infrastructure was trashed in particular in Tongoy, Coquimbo, and La Serena. Tsunami flowed up to 500m inland. This map shows those replicas above 4, stars are […]

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Guest Author | September 21, 2015
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Treble Cone, NZ Season Review: One of the Best Seasons in 10 Yrs

This year has been one of the best in the last 10 years with the snow being good and mostly stable through out the winter. It’s provided some great opportunities for some to get out into the backcountry and I’m sure the ski touring will continue all through out spring. The growing number of those prepared to work for the solitude and untracked lines of the backcounrty is awesome. I’m not bagging the ski field experience, especially that of Treble Cone, just stoked for those riders pushing the boundaries and showing that adventurous spirit.

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Guest Author | September 18, 2015
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Valle Nevado, Chile Conditions Report: Champagne Powder!

Valle Nevado, Chile powder

After seeing a storm up north we knew we had to bite the bullet and take busses all the way from El Bolson, Argentina to Nevados de Chillan, Chile. Although the new snow didn’t quite justify the 24 hours of bus travel, we were lucky enough to see another big storm coming into the Santiago region and hopped on another few busses to catch some epic conditions in Valle Nevado. The storm this week blew in a foot to a few feet of cold snow, depending on the wind. Friday was cold and cloudless. It brought a day of sunshine and dry powder.

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Guest Author | September 12, 2015
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La Parva, Chile Conditions Report: The Return of Powder

What 25 cm of fluffy stuff can do! The base was rock hard and chocolate chips were sprouting after all the heat last week, but mondays snowfall was just enough to put things right. One of the more-skied-out runs, Las Flores: Light stuff! Clouded over later, but riding was still nice: What 25 cm of fluffy stuff can do! The base was […]

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Guest Author | September 10, 2015
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Temple Basin, NZ Conditions Report: Powder & Backflips

Temple Basin has always been a place I have wanted to ski. Tales of long hikes and a rickety goods lift always left my mind sceptical about the idea venturing into the unknown. But news came Wednesday of a possible 80cm snowfall to the Craigieburn range and excitement led me to instantly book flights down to Christchurch […]

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Guest Author | September 2, 2015
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Detailed Las Lenas, Argentina Report: The Corn Machine is On!

With rain to the top Friday night I was not eager for first chair. However, with a new week underway there was a ticket line that took about 10 minutes. Heading toward Marte on the Venus chair was another 10-minute line because the parallel poma lift broke down sometime last week (A-factor). Marte itself was not all that busy when I first boarded it a little before 10AM. The upper part of Marte shows evidence that the rain reached the top.

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Guest Author | September 2, 2015
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La Parva, Chile Conditions Report: Metamorphosis… No New Snow in 18 Days

No new snow in 18 days, but I made the best of the metamorphosing snow in La Parva last weekend, after a couple of days of blasting winds and clouds. On Saturday, the low light was partly compensated by the dirty snow off piste, so you could see something while picking out the windpack lines amidst fields of hacked and tortured snow. Sunday the sun came out and everything looked so much better!

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Guest Author | September 2, 2015
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Portillo, Chile Conditions Report: Wind Buff is Good Stuff

It’s been another great week here in Portillo, the weather has been unsettled with a few cloudy days and a little snow. Off piste it’s been pretty firm low down, so the smart skiers have been hiking to the higher shadier aspects to find soft snow. The classic chute ‘Super C’ has been skiing really well recently with powder at the start of the week, and smooth wind buff today. On the groomed runs the coverage is still fantastic with good snow all the way down to the base of Juncallilo, the conditions are getting springlike, so the runs are hard and fast in the mornings then soften as the days progress.

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Guest Author | September 1, 2015
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Trip Report: It’s Not Over Until It’s Over in Sweden

When the weather gods set their minds to flush the early summer climbing season down the drain, living in Sweden can be harsh. Though if you’re in luck that can change. In late June it did for me, as I got the news that Åre ski resort would start opening up the lifts for skiers above treeline, and simultaneously getting an invitation from a friend to come stay at his place in Åre and do some summer skiing. An offer like that you simply do not refuse, especially not while the Stockholm sport climbing is being pinned down by a virtual genesis.

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Guest Author | August 31, 2015
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Sierra Nevada Alpine Conditions Report: Smoke & Rainbows

As the kids go back to school and we enter into late summer we wanted to offer some updates on conditions in the Sierra high country. Those of you who have been keeping up with any news in the last few weeks, or have been in the Sierra, will know that fire season is in full effect in California and the rest of the arid mountain west. The three fires that have impacted us here the most are the […]

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Guest Author | August 31, 2015
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Valle Nevado, Chile Snow Update: No New Snow in 2 Weeks

Valle Nevado, Chile snow report 2015

This means either you ski the most recently groomed run possible, or go looking for bits of off piste like lower slopes that aren’t too hacked up and get warm enough to soften, or those snaking drift lines at higher altitudes where the wind packs the snow smooth and chalky. I skied Valle Nevado from La Parva yesterday and had a fun day in spite of a lack of grooming (which makes a big difference). While I try to avoid bashing ski areas, some constructive criticism is needed. VN has […]

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Guest Author | August 28, 2015
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Trip Report: 16 Days Chasing Patagonian Powder by Van

Patagonia by van.

The freedom to chase storms from behind the wheel of your very own van. To live life on the fringe, rigged and outfitted for sleeping through the coldest nights in the most unusual locations all the while going weeks on end without showering. Van Life. The ability to unbound yourself from those societal rules that say you’re suppose to have a […]

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Guest Author | August 27, 2015
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Portillo, Chile Conditions Report: Big, Nasty Terrain

Although the powder was skied off all the nooks and crannies for our day trip on Monday, Portillo certainly has a nice base, and the weather was unbeatable. Sunny and warmish, it was great cruising the groomers and the Va et Vient lifts were fun as always. Tio Bob’s still serves up great burgers, camarones al pilpil and the beer is cold. Perfect day! The sun was hitting hard and some powdery avalanches were bringing down the prior weeks snowfalls. Here the Roca Jack with a couple of snow waterfalls on the slopes beyond:

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Guest Author | August 21, 2015
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Las Lenas, Argentina Report: Marte Open All Week & Going Off

“Well marte has been open for almost week. And the back country has been going off!! If you didn’t know marte access miles of soft boundary train that is simply off the hook. Although with warm temps the past two days lower elevation has been experiencing spring conditions. But not for long with more snow in the forecast to keep it fresh !!! ” “Well marte has been open for almost week. And the back country has been going off!! If you didn’t know marte access miles of soft boundary train that is simply off the hook. Although with warm temps the past two days lower elevation has been experiencing spring conditions. But not […]

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Guest Author | August 21, 2015
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El Colorado, Chile Conditions Report: It Just Keeps Snowing…

Our day in El Colorado last thursday was a windless bright sunny day with cumulus clouds billowing below. 5-10 cm had fallen at the end of Wednesday, not really covering the prior days tracks, but providing an icing to the cake, and making the whole mountain skiable. From the top of Cono Este (which could be the best biggest bang for your buck lift if it weren’t an ancient t-bar), the […]

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Guest Author | August 17, 2015
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Las Lenas, Argentina Conditions Report: Marte Open, Couloirs for Days

The past two days at Las Leñas have been pretty magical, after upwards of 5 feet of new snow. Finally after almost a week of waiting for stable snow conditions and Avalanche control. Yesterday the clouds burned off of the glorious ts Marte and left all who were there with the most EPIC bluebird POW day!!! With more snow in the forecast we are awaiting our next excursion on one of the best chairlifts in the world!! It’s not to late to buy a plane ticket to South America!!! The past two days at Las Leñas have been pretty magical, after upwards of 5 feet of new snow. Finally after almost

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Guest Author | August 14, 2015
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14,162′ Mt. Shasta, CA Late Summer Report:

Mt. Shasta on August 10th, 2015. photo: robb gaffney

Only a few weeks remaining in our 2015 climbing season. There are still good conditions to be found on the north side glaciers. And for those looking for a non-technical ascent, the Clear Creek route is always an option. Mt. Shasta is known for it’s alpine beauty and unusual cloud formations that appear. Lenticular clouds in particular often make stunning vistas and are frequent in the fall and winter. We’ve seen plenty of photos of a shrouded Mt. Shasta; here’s Mike Whitman’s view from a summit climb that pushed through the clouds. As we move later into the year, the snow from the previous winter is primarily melted. The glacier surface […]

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Guest Author | August 11, 2015
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La Parva, Chile Conditions Report: After 51″ of New Snow

No new snow since the light snowfall yesterday, but the high clouds broke early, the sun finally came out, and the low clouds hovered menacingly at about the altitude of Farellones. All lifts opened except Nevada (broke motor), with Las Aguilas being the last to open due to avalanche control. The packed base is between 70cm and 120cm, and is fairly evenly distributed. Seems there were high winds and a couple of warm spells during the last couple days. The runs are now being […]

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Guest Author | August 9, 2015
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Las Lenas, Argentina Update: Sun & Powder

Here is a quick update from Las Lenas ski resort in Argentina on Sunday, August 2nd, 2015 from our friend Victor Canciones. “Las lenas esta buenisimo!!!! Hoy abrio Marte! Un dia epico de sol y polvo! Estuvo habilitado desde Eduardo hasta Mercurio, los pisteros trabajaron hasta pasado el.mediodia con explosivos controlando las placas generadas.por el fuerte viento q soplo toda la noche de ayer. Estamos esperando q esta tormenta gigante q se acerca nos deje tapados bajo 2 metros de nieve…

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Guest Author | August 5, 2015
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Remarkables, NZ Conditions Report: Corn, Chalk, & Big Terrain

The Remarkables is one of two ski resorts in the Queenstown area of New Zealand’s South Island. They’ve opened with a great base after several large early season storms. The storms have eased now and milder temperatures and sunny days have resulted in some great spring-like conditions on sunnier slopes but chalky snow remains in shaded areas such as the Alta Chutes. The Remarkables will host the Big Mountain portion of the NZ […]

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Guest Author | July 27, 2015
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