Pure Patagonia – Ski touring far away in Chile

An 11-day ski touring trip from Coyhaique takes you far from the touristic areas into the "pure" wilderness of Patagonia with Juho, IFMGA certified guide.

11 Days

Sep

Description

I invite you to join me in this ski touring trip in the heart of the wildest Patagonia. This 11-day trip from Coyhaique takes you with far away from the touristic areas into the “pure” Patagonian wilderness.

In the far south of South America, in particular in Chile, we find this remote land of extremes. In fact, it’s one of the few regions in the world where there is still untouched nature.

When in Patagonia, we can always feel the nature elements close to us. From jungle to wild glaciers, passing by turquoise rivers and deep blue lakes. And we are not alone. Indeed, you will see condors flying, Puma tracks in the snow…

This is an occasion to get really away from what you know, to discover the pure Patagonia. You won’t see any crowds, or even ski tracks. I will take you to genuinely unique places.

I divided the your in two parts. Firstly, we will ski in Cerro Castillo, a massif known for its rock towers. There are several chutes between the towers, making it a perfect destination for our ski days. Then, in the second part of the trip we drive to a different ski touring area. In fact, we were the ones to ski here for the first time, only in 2015.

As you will see, there is still plenty of territory to discover!

The weather in Patagonia is very unpredictable. Therefore I might have to change the daily program (see below). However, the region offers many great alternatives for bad weather days.

The next fixed departure date is from September 3rd to 13th 2017.

Did you find this trip to the remote and wild corners of Patagonia tempting? Then please get in touch with me for more information!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Permit and entrance fees
Porters
Mountain guide expenses
Luggage transfer

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Individual arrival in Balmaceda airport to the town of Coyhaique. We load our luggage in the car and drive to Villa Cerro Castillo (approximately 1:30hs). There we discuss the program for the upcoming days and eat dinner. Accommodation in cabins.

Day 2: The first tour

We make the first ski trip to Portozuelo Ibanez. Great ski runs directly on the roadside. There we can make a sort of warm up. Depending on the conditions, a tour of about 1000-1200m ascent and descent. After the tour back to our accommodation in Villa Cerro Castillo.

Day 3: To the camp in Cerro Catillo

After a short transfer we start the approximation to Campamento Neozelandeses, our Camp in Cerro Castillo. Approximately 4h of ascent and we build up our camp there.

Day 4: Cerro Castillo

The valley offers a huge selection of great ski runs. We pick up our day tour and enjoy. 1200-1700m ascent and about 6-8h ski touring time.

Day 5: Cerro Castillo

One more tour before we ski/walk back to Villa Cerro Castillo

Day 6: Drive to Puerto Guadal

Today we swap the area and go to the largest lake in South America, General Carrera. The road, Carrretera Ausral, traveses the changing Patagonian landscapes and is an attraction itself. We still make a stopover in Puerto Rio Tranquilo and go to see the famous marble caves. Accommodation in the village of Puerto Guadal.

Day 7: Santa Teresa camp

Today we go exploring. One hour in the car and then we climb the valley of Santa Teresa in a ski bowl and then we put up our camp (600m and 2h). If the conditions are good, we can even make the first tour.

Day 8: Touring in Santa Teresa

Perhaps unskied slopes, perhaps even an unclimbed peak, today we use the Skipotential this beautiful location with wild glaciated faces, mushroom ice covered cliffs… 1000-1800 ascent and up to 8h total time touring.

Day 9: Touring in Santa Teresa

One last tour in the valley and then back to the lake. We stay the night in a Lodge.

Day 10: Back to Coyhaique

The long drive back to Coyhaique where farewell BBQ is waiting for us.

Day 11: Departure

Transfer to Balmaceda Airport and it is time to say goodbye to Patagonia.

Details

More info

Requirements: The tour is addressed to back country skiers who already have some experience and good physical condition. Participants should be conditionally able to perform 6 hours climbs and about 9 hours total touring time during the day. Technically you should master descents off piste up to a slope of about 35 degrees. Mountaineering experience is advantageous but not mandatory.

Meeting point

Balmaceda Airport

About the guide

Juho

5.0

(3)

Mountain Leader

Hi, my name is Juho, a mountain guide originally from Finland. I started to guide when I came to Chile end of 2006. I was a living and working in Chile while I took UIAGM guiding cources in Argentina until 2011. Nowadays I am living on the shore of Lake of Constanz on Swiss-German border. ...and guiding from here in the Alps, Northern Scandinavia and in the Andes. I have also a small guiding company in Konstanz.

Languages

German | | English

Certificates

AAGM

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