Backcountry
Conditions Report
Report from October 14, 2024
I woke up exhausted yesterday to cloudy, cold skies and decided to take the day off knowing just how firm the snow had been 2 days previous on a cloudy day.
Then, around 11 a.m,. the sun erupted throughout the heavens.
I rounded up my gear, called a cab, and zipped up to the Martial Glacier.
There is a west facing chute off Mt. Godoy here in town that is always melted out and I’ve wanted to ski it since the day I first saw it back in 2014.
It needs afternoon sun and you wanna drop in around 3 p.m.
My timing was perfect for it and it definitely had snow top to bottom for the first time in my experience.
I got the base of the chute after about 1 hour of hiking.
The apron was soft and slushy.
I put my crampons on and started up.
The snow was simply rotten…
It would fully hold me and feel bulletproof one step, then I’d sink to my hips on the next step.
It was truly bizarre…
Maybe because this is a cold place and there was still “drier” snow in the snowpack?
Maybe because it’s still early in the spring and the corn hasn’t had time to consolidate?
Regardless, it wasn’t the 5-star spring corn that we know and love in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California…
I struggled up.
It took me about 1.5 hours to boot up the 1,500-vertical-foot chute and it was desperate at times.
Of course, the blazing sun slinked away behind puffy nimbus and high cirrus clouds before I reached the summit.
The last bit of the chute curls into a south aspect (shady side) and delivers firm, breakable crust snow, which vanquished my last bit of valor.
Honestly, I was cursing and feeling sorry for myself…
After reaching the top I remembered the challenges others are going through and how fortunate I am to be in this place doing this thing in this moment.
I got my mind right and my groove back.
Stats To The Top:
- 2 hrs & 51 mins
- 2,674-vertical-feet
- 1.83- miles
The top section was heinous to ski.
After the chute curved back to the west, the snow softened but continued to prove challenging with manky spots and large death cookies.
I navigated the rocks, old avalanche debris, and smooth snow as best I could.
Towards the bottom, the snow became more consistent and I was able to develop a rhythm.
Blasting onto the apron felt good and I was spent.
The chute felt twice as long as it actually was.
Fortunately, you can ski back to the parking lot right now (most years we have to walk for 30 minutes down dirt) and gliding through the happy tourists felt like cheating.
I took today off to rest and resupply and avoid today’s fierce windstorm.
I have four more days left to ski here in Ushuaia before I sail south to ski guide Antarctica with Ice Axe Expeditions.
Hopefully, I get to ski in the sunshine at least one day before I leave 🙂
Thanks, Argentina!
