Ski Mountaineering in Chile
We've divided this page into the following areas listed in geographical order from North to South .
The southern Andes have some great ski touring and mountaineering terrain, with everything from accessible day trips near some fine downhill resorts to committing expedition skiing on the Patagonian ice-caps. In between are some very quiet and scenic mountain areas with excellent ski-mountaineering and ski-touring terrain. For some brief details of ski-mountaineering ascents see the guidebook written by John Biggar - The Andes, A Guide for Climbers.
The North & Puna de Atacama
In general there is insufficient snow on the peaks of the Puna de Atacama in the north of Chile and Argentina to give good skiing, although the larger glacier on the third highest Andean summit - Pissis might be worthwhile.
A very snowy view of Ojos del Salado, 6893m, taken in January 2008 by Arjan and Mirjam. This is the most snow I have ever seen on this peak and makes it just about skiable at least on the upper sections. However looking at the rocks I would take an old pair of skis.! This picture does show that with the right conditions the Puna peaks could be an excellent high altitude ski destination.
Santiago & Mendoza area
There is some great ski-touring just outside of the Chilean capital Santiago, at heights of 2500-4000m. Good areas include the area around the Tres Valles resorts and the Cajon del Maipo. The following two pictures were taken in the area above Santiago in September 2001, when we had brilliant snow conditions and unbelievably good weather.
The high peaks in this area, including Aconcagua, the highest summit in the Andes, do not usually make good ski ascents. Basically through the winter high winds above about 4500-5000m strip most snow from the mountains so in general the lower peaks are much more entertaining to ski.
Ski mountaineering on Catedral above Santiago, 2003
Ski mountaineering on Cerro Catedral above Santiago, 2001
Maule & Araucania Area
Further south the Maule valley has some good touring, though the peaks are less spectacular.
Ski Mountaineering above the Laguna del Maule in August 1999.
Descending Volcan Antuco in Chile at sunset
Andean Lake District
One of the best places to go are the volcanoes of the Andean Lake district in central-southern Chile and Argentina. We have skied to the summits of Lonquimay, Villarrica, Sierra Nevada, Llaima and Choshuenco and all are recommended and interesting ascents. Several other peaks, notably Lanin and Tronador will also make good ascents. Further south Osorno is a bit more serious a it is quite heavily crevassed. All these ascents are featured in the guidebook written by John Biggar - The Andes, A Guide for Climbers.
The summit of Volcan Lonquimay, surely one of the first Russian ascents.
......and below coming back down on snowboards a year later! Sierra Nevada and Llaima are the peaks in the background.
....and snowboarding on a much warmer day on the the east face of the nearby Volcan Llaima in Chile.
Skiing on the north side of Volcan Villarrica..
Middle Patagonia
Skiing the peak of Glaciar Alto, San Lorenzo group, near Cochrane in Patagonia.
Another part of Chile with some good ski-mountaineering is the area around Coihaique and Cochrane in the middle part of Patagonia. This remote area is sometimes known s the Aisen region. It's a beautiful land of lochs, snow capped peaks that fringes the northern Patagonian ice-cap. Access to the skiing can be a bit tricky, with acres of virgin forest al around and some very wet conditions at times, but if you get the basic decisions right and a are a bit lucky with the weather you can have a great time.
San Lorenzo, the highest peak in this area which lies on the Chile-Argentina border, can make a good ski ascent too.
Patagonian ice-caps
The Patagonian ice-caps provide some superb skiing terrain, though the weather is not always great. I have been on three trips to this area including partial crossings of both the north and south Patagonian ice-caps. Twice with stunning good weather, once with atrocious weather.... The picture above was taken on a ski ascent of Volcan Lautaro 3580m, a remote volcano in the centre of the southern ice-cap.
Two shots of icebergs in Laguna San Rafael, This is one of the main starting points for access to the North Patagonian icecap.
Pictured below dragging sledges towards San Valentin, the highest mountain in Patagonia, located on the eastern fringes of the Hielo Patagoina Norte.
A beautiful and tranquil sunset at the Paso Marconi camp, South Patagonian ice-cap........... ........and digging out the tents in a blizzard 36 hours later
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