[this article is sponsored by Powder South Heliski Guides]

The Andes Mountain Range in South America is the longest mountain range on Earth.  It holds the highest mountains in world outside the Himalayas along with some of the best skiing and riding found anywhere.  Sky-scraping 23,000-foot peaks, lava-spewing volcanoes, trenching fjords, calving glaciers, llamas, penguins, and powder during our summer.  Lots and lots of powder.

The true magic of skiing/riding in the Andes is the unique combination of stable snowpack, high elevation, dry snow, and good weather.  This snowpack, combined with the Andes lofty and rugged terrain makes this range a paradise for heli-skiing.  Enter Powder South Heliski Guides and their 1-million-acre tenure in the Andes mountains.  Powder South’s tenure is so vast, they’re still logging first descents after 12 years of operation.

Powder South’s terrain speaks for itself.  High, rugged, stunning, laden with snow.  Clients choose from mellow to rowdy terrain at elevations of 8,000 to 15,000-feet with views of 22,000-foot peaks looming in the background.  It’s a high alpine mountain experience like no other.

They’ll pick you up from the luxurious helipad at the top of the W Hotel in downtown Santiago de Chile or you can stay in their more realistic Lodge Andino and enjoy the warm and scenic Maipo Valley, Chile (only a 90-minute drive from Santiago).  The Lodge Andino is recommended for those who want to maximize skiing and riding.

Powder South operates out of both Chile & Argentina with the Argentine operation accessing massive, more remote, less explored terrain.

If you haven’t skied or ridden the legendary Andes mountains yet, it’s high time.  Powder South can bring you that experience in the most spectacular way imaginable.

POWDER SOUTH DETAILS:

• 990,000 acre tenure in Chile, more in Argentina
• Pilots:  Air Zermatt & professional Chilean heli-pilots trained by Swiss heliski pilots
• Guides:  Experienced internationally certified heliski guides & UIAGM/ IFMGA Guides
• Up to 14 runs a day
• Average 9-10 runs a day
• Average 3000 – 4000 vertical ft/per run (1000 -1300 meters)
• Ski 5,000 – 8,000 vertical meters a day (record was 11,000 mts in one day – 40,000’)
• Ski elevations ranging from 8,000’ to 14,000’ feet (4,000 meters)
• Down days: about 6 a season (1 per week average)

Powder South Terrain:

• Chilean Central Andes, primarily between latitudes 32 degrees and 35 degrees South.
• Based outside of Santiago, Chile.
• Terrain includes the Aconcagua, Juncal, and Rio Colorado Valleys to the North; the Olivares, Parraguirre, and Tupungato Valleys located centrally, and the Aparejo, Marmolejo, Pangal, Rengo to Tinguiririca Valleys to the South.
• Elevations ranging from 2,500 meters (8,250 feet) to 4,500 meters (14,850 feet).  Vistas of 6,700-meter (22,000-foot) peaks.

FOUNDED by IFMGA GUIDE & OLYMPIC SKIER:

This vision was first captured by fully certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide, Rodridgo Mujica and Olympic skier Joaquin Oyarzun back in 2002.

Rodrigo knows what he’s doing in the mountains.  He’s been guiding, climbing, and skiing in Earth’s high mountains for over 30 years.

Rodrigo’s helicopter guiding experience in Alaska opened his eyes to the potential of heli sking in the High Andes of Chile & Argentina.  In 2004, Powder South was born.

Rodrigo’s mountain accomplishments are impressive:

• 24 Denali expeditions
• 28 Aconcagua expeditions
• First ever to do the east-west traverse of the northern Patagonian Icecap
• Senior guide at Exum Mountain Guides in Jackson, WY
• 20 winters in Valdez, Alaska
• much more…

POWDER SOUTH DETAILS:

• Fly out of Santiago Chile, Maipu Valley Chile, or Mendoza Argentina.

• 3-day packages are popular but you can book as long as you like including private trips.

• Their heli-assisted touring package is sick.

• Contact:  www.HeliSkiGuides.com

• Offices in Chile, Argentina, USA, UK.

• Phone Numbers:  888-203-9354 (toll free), 303-447-2858 (US), 0800 404 9183 (UK)

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