Chilean Patagonia Report: Tyler Forced Us Into A Zone I Didn’t Wanna Ski – It Was Sick…

Report from August 30, 2026

For our 3rd day down here we linked up with our Tahoe friends, Tyler and Ally.

They’d been tail guiding some clients down here and had just finished their guiding stint.

Tyler kept talking about this steep, rocky zone he’d visited recently, but I was skeptical as he said conditions were horrid and I didn’t envision things being much better this day…

We rolled up the valley and chased a big open east face that appeared to have some promise.

As we ascended, the snow seemed to be that weird Patagonian wind-blown, icy, old snow mix that I’ve come to know so well.

We dug a snow pit at 5,223′ on an east aspect:

• ECTN
• HS 140cm
• First fracture at 11, then stepping down about an inch per tap through 15, nothing propagating more than a few inches

On top, the wind was relatively gentle and we transitioned easy.

The light was in and out and I opted for the wide open face while the other 3 chose to climb up a touch higher and ski some mini chutes off a castle rock with a north face.

My run was nice.

Kinda scratchy up top, then smooth and easy carving in the middle and down low.

I was content.

The light came out for me and Skip nailed the drone shot.

I filmed the rest of the crew as they plopped down from their perch and we regrouped for a chat.

Tyler was still pushing for his rocky zone and I wasn’t into it.

He got me to agree to skin to the ridgeline and have a look.

When we got there he convinced me to go a little higher to a rock outcrop and have a look.

The light was improving and my mind was opening.

At the rock outcrop I could see the zone he wanted, and he talked me into finishing the hike at the summit.

The zone looked epic.

Spines, dongers, wind-flutes, everything you can ask for as a skier.

It was just the snow – was the snow gonna be any good?

My bet was no.

Tyler persisted and was kind enough to let me drop first.

The snow up high was creamy and good.

As I made the aspect change from south to southwest, the snow stayed good and I sunk my teeth in.

A few turns in I knew the snow was soft enough to try and air – so I did.

Boom, soft landing, speed up, big speedcheck turn, then right into a sharp funnel with a tight, dark exit.

The speedcheck below the chute was in old refrozen roller balls with a touch of snow on top and it worked.

A few more turns and it was all over, though – the snow turned to dust on crust and I shut it down and gave out a hoot.

This was clearly a special zone with a mountain’s worth of potential.

Grateful words flowed to Tyler’s ears.

Contentment washed over me and every one of us.

A truly excellent day in some very novel mountains.

Gracias, Chile!

Photos in Chronological Order