Chile Conditions Report & Photo Tour via CASA Tours | August 18th – 24th, 2013

Words and photos by Gomez & CASA Tours

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CASA Tours

August 18, 2013 – Bluebird day at Portillo, Chile.  No wind, deep blue skies and super fun spring snow with a mixture of south facing chalk and north facing corn.  We worked the Roca Jack and Cara-Cara slingshot lifts in the am and after a mandatory stop at Tio Bob’s moved over to the Condor slingshot for a couple of lake runs in the afternoon.  Portillo is definitely one of the most spectacularly located ski resorts in the Andes.

Portillo Ladies at Tio Bob’s 8-18-13

August 19, 2013 – Bluebird day at Ski Arpa.  Today we headed back up into the Valley of the Harp and Ski Arpa.  The guides were kind enough to save our CASA group freshies in Avalanchas and El Cirque to end our day.  Ratoneras and Tony’s Bowl were variable but if you found the right variableness the snow was soft and spongy.  Once again the CASA group celebrated the day with an epic Arpa après session!!!

CASA Guide Alex Taran chalkin’ it at Ski Arpa 8-19-13

CASA guide Theresa ‘Tree’ Clinton finding the right variableness at Ski Arpa 8-19-13

The most interesting man at Arpa – Kevin O’Connell in his glory – Keep Skiing My Friends!!!

August 21, 2013 – Storming at Nevados de Chillan.  Most of the mountain operations were shut down today, so our group went for a walk up the mountain and some untracked in the Chuecos bowls. This rogue full moon storm was the perfect refresher as the slopes here were getting pretty firm and icy the last couple of days.  Fortunately the storm came in without substantial wind and started warm and finished cold leaving the mountain draped in a velvety snow blanket.

Stoked!!! CASA guest Lindsay Cooper

August 22, 2013 – Bluebird at Nevados de Chillan. Today our group reaped the benefits of the past day’s rogue storm.  About 6 inches of velvety Andean pow covered the mountain and while there were the occasional scratchy turns particularly on north facing slopes most of the mountain skied powtastically!!!!  We spent the day lapping the Pirigallo Valley and finished with a final lap in the playful and lunaresque Tres Marias.

Paul Farley laying it down – Pirigallo Valley – Nevados de Chillan – 8-22-13

August 23, 2013 – Bluebird at Nevados de Chillan.  We spent the morning gobbling up powder pitches in Tres Marias while allowing the ridges to warm up for our afternoon adventure in the Nevados backcountry.  Our group laid the only tracks down Valle Hermoso and this west facing valley softened perfectly for our late afternoon descent.  One of my favorite valleys to ski in the Andes!!!!

Lindsay Cooper making it look pretty – Tres Marias – 8-23-13 

Blair Banker having some fun in Tres Marias 8-23-13

Blair Banker charging the Nevados de Chillan Backcountry 8-23-13 

August 24, 2013 – Bluebird at Nevados de Chillan.  Our normally scheduled departure day got delayed in order to attend to more powder business.  This time we headed direct for the Nevados backcountry and one of my favorite circuits; Aquas Calientes & Valle Hermoso.  Our drop into Aquas Calientes was the best snow of the week, even days after the full moon storm.  This south facing gem was velvety smooth.  We toured back up to Valle Hermoso for our final descent of the trip and skied another untracked face and exited with a final ski past the steaming fume roles.

Blair Banker sending it in Nevados de Chillan Backcountry 8-24-13