Aimee in a powder patch on Sunday. image: snowbrains

SnowBrains has been on a whirlwind tour of South America the past few days. On Friday we surfed Ecuador, on Saturday we surfed Lima Peru (unplanned 24hrs in Lima due to canceled flight), on Sunday we skied Valle Nevado, Chile.

From 0′ to 12,000′ was noticeable!

Sunset from our hotel last night. image: snowbrains

We’ve skied Valle Nevado two days while staying in the very luxurious Puerta del Sol hotel and we’re loving it.

It hasn’t snowed here in a bit, but the groomers are plentiful and very well kept. Off piste is variable with pockets of recrystallized powder but mostly crunchy sastrugi.

Miles milking it last night. image: snowbrains

3,100-vertical-foot runs off the Andes Express chair from 11,400′ to 9,300′ feet are crazy fun. Sustained, rolling pitch and absolutely wide open runs.

The highlight of the trip so far was getting to ski with Chilean freeskiing legend, Chopo Diaz. Chopo was obnoxiously cool and showed us all over the resort and gave us all the juicy inside details. Thanks, Chopo!

Chopo Diaz at 12,000′ yesterday. image: snowbrains

No lift lines, no one on the runs during the week here.

Off the backside, you can take badass rope-tows straight up to 12,000′. Runs from up there are long, too at 1,500-vertical-feet.

Mini pow stash on Sunday. image: snowbrains

The snow on the groomers have been fast and supple. Sun has mostly been blocked by clouds the past three days and we think that’s a good thing. It’s keeping the snow good and fast and the temperatures down.

Staying right up here on the mountain has been a dream. The restaurants are very impressive. We highly recommend La Forchette – French Cuisine. The onion soup is insane….