Skier Triggered Avalanche at Catedral Ski Resort in Bariloche, Argentina Today:

Miles Clark | | Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Avalanche and skiers at Catedral ski resort today.
Avalanche and skiers at Catedral ski resort today.

A 20-minute hike from the Del Bosque chair at Catedral ski resort in Bariloche, Argentina brings you to La Laguna.  La Laguna is the backcountry.  No avalanche control, no ski patrollers, no medical equipment, no nothing.

Small skier triggered avalanche today that occurred at about noon.
Small skier triggered avalanche today that occurred at about noon.

Today, there was a skier triggered avalanche at the top of La Laguna.  A skier skied into this line and triggered the avalanche.  He fortunately didn’t get caught in the slide.  He was lucky.  Granted, it wasn’t a big avalanche, but if there was exposure here, it was certainly a big enough slide to throw you off a cliff and cause serious injury or death.

Small skier triggered avalanche today that occurred at about noon.
Small skier triggered avalanche today that occurred at about noon.

About 90% of the humans who hike into La Laguna have no backpacks, no avalanche transceivers, no probes, no shovels.  On days like today, people can falsely feel secure about avalanche conditions.  There weren’t any yesterday, so why would there be any today?

There were avalanches today because of wind transport.  Lets all keep wind transport in the front of our brains.  It doesn’t have to physically snow for snow to move and create dangerous, unstable slabs.  That’s what happened today in La Laguna.

Don’t forget about wind transport.

Cerro Negro from Catedral ski resort.  Bariloche, Argentina.
Cerro Negro from Catedral ski resort. Bariloche, Argentina.

Catedral Conditions Report:

The wind blew hard last night and buffed out Nubes.  I skied many Nubes laps today in fun, dense wind buff until 1:30pm.  Then I went over to the crap show in La Laguna.  The skiing in there was good, but people were everywhere doing everything.  About 5 people skiing on top of each other at any given time.

Lake Nahuel Huapi today
Lake Nahuel Huapi today

Gorgeous day today.  The vistas were spectacular.  Tomorrow will be another great day before a storm rolls in tomorrow night.

PHOTO TOUR:

Bella Vista.
Bella Vista.  Today.
Cerro Inviares from Catedral ski resort.  Bariloche, Argentina.
Cerro Inviares from Catedral ski resort. Bariloche, Argentina.  Today.
Lake Nahuel Huapi y Bella Vista peak today.
Lake Nahuel Huapi y Bella Vista peak today.
Catedral ski resort today.
Catedral ski resort today.
Cerro Negro from Catedral ski resort.  Bariloche, Argentina.
Cerro Negro from Catedral ski resort. Bariloche, Argentina.

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4 thoughts on “Skier Triggered Avalanche at Catedral Ski Resort in Bariloche, Argentina Today:

  1. Thanks for the reporting. Out of curiosity since I’ve only been down there in the summer does Cerro Lopez get skied often? Didn’t seem like the best ski but the views from the refugio were/are spectacular. Thanks.

    1. Hey Andre,

      Yes, Cerro Lopez is very popular for backcountry skiing. It is actually a great ski as well.

  2. Wow, this is the first time i see an avalanche on laguna.. You are totally right about people going in there with no backcountry gear! Lucky the skier is all right! Hope people realize that la laguna is backcountry and serious terrain despite its a 15 min short and easy hike off del bosque lift!

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