Report from October 13, 2024

Awoke to blazing sunshine here in Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina, yesterday morning.

Sunshine is a rarity in these latitudes…

I ate, threw my gear together, and ran out the door.

The previous day I’d skied corrugated ice snow that humbled me to my bones.

Yesterday, I decided to give it a little time to soften up and started hiking around 10:30am.

I chose a north facing (sunny side) run just to be extra safe.

I was suffering from PTSD from the bulletproof snow the day before and was taking all precautions to avoid the same fate.

The skin up to the chute was windy but uneventful.

As I started booting up the chute clouds rolled in.

The snow was deep, wet, and sloppy.

By the time I reached the ridge line at the top of the chute it was dumping snow.

The weather just changes so fast here and the forecasts are useless…

I vainly waited atop for sunshine before quickly giving up and dropping in.

The snow in the chute was weird and the falling snow had turned to rain.

I had a blast scooting down the chute’s rolling slopes and slashing turns where they made sense.

After the chute I enjoyed the long, albeit sticky, run down to the flats.

1,500-vertical-feet in total.

From there I skied down the old ski resort’s main run back to the parking lot, grabbed my shoes, and called an Uber.

Yes, there’s Uber here now, which is incredibly helpful.

It’s always nice to get up high and gape at the Beagle Channel here in Ushuaia, no matter how the snow is.

In 7 days, I sail south to Antarctica to ski guide my 9th trip there with Ice Axe Expeditions and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity.

Thanks, Argentina!

Photos