Chillan at 0905 hrs Today (20th June 2012)

Photos from this morning (20th June) at Chillan Ski Resort, Chile..

Chile Ski Season Opening Dates 2012

There have been new snowfalls this last weekend in the Chilean Andes with 50cm reported in the mountains around Santiago.

• Portillo had put back their opening date, however after the new snow they will now open this Saturday 23rd June.
• Valle Nevado will open this Friday 22nd June although the lifts in the back bowl may remain closed for another week.
• El Colorado will open tomorrow Thursday 21st June.
• Chillan are getting snow as we speak. The hotels are already due to be open this weekend and with the new snow they are hoping to open the lifts, although we are awaiting further confirmation of this.

Portillo Lifts Opening 23rd June 2012

Portillo will open on Saturday 23rd June with many of the lifts open. These are due to open: -

• Escuela III  (Corralito)
• El Puma
• Cumbre
• Princesa
• Laguna
• Plateau
• Las Lomas
• Cóndor

The conditions on the runs are as follows:

• Average base depth is 16 inches of groomed snow.
• Conditions for beginner skiers are good.
• Conditions for intermediate skiers are normal.
• Conditions for expert skiers are limited.
• No off-piste runs are currently open.
• No Heli-ski tours are currently running.

Snowing at Chillan Ski Resort

Start getting your skis or snowboard ready, it's nearly time to head to South America! Snow is falling in the Andes. Here's a picture from the Hotel Nevados de Chillan..

Snow at Portillo Ski Resort, Chile

Snow has fallen in the last week at Portillo Ski Resort in Chile. Here are some photos to whet your appetite.

South American Ski Resorts - More Snow

A number of the South American ski resorts are still getting snow even though the 2009 season is long since finished. Please stop snowing and get in with the summer. The sooner the summer starts and subsequently finishes ... it'll be winter time again and the start of the 2010 ski season in South America!

Snow Falls In South America

There have been several snow storms in the last couple of weeks in the Andes. Most ski resorts have great snow conditions. All the main resorts in Chile & Argentina have sufficiently good snow conditions and good snow bases.
Termas de Chillán got half a metre of fresh powder this last weekend.
Valle Nevado with it's higher altitude slopes is the main resort for skiing or snowboarding near to Santiago making up the 3 Valleys of Chile with La Parva & El Colorado. Portillo has also benefited from the recent snow storms and Snoventures still have a few spaces available.
Argentina and particularly Catedral Bariloche has had significant snow falls and is now fully stocked for the next few weeks.

Powder in the Andes

August could turn out to be the best month of the ski season yet again! Recent heavy snowfalls have left a good accumulation of powder in several of the ski resorts in Chile & Argentina including Bariloche and Termas de Chillán

Bariloche Snow 2nd September - Photos

Bariloche has been one of several resorts to be gifted by the annual annual Andean snow storm the Santa Rosa.
Here are some photos the snow conditions at Catedral Bariloche Ski Resort earlier today.

The Santa Rosa Hits the Andes

Numerous resorts in the Andes of South America have benefited from the Santa Rosa who has delivered fresh powder to ski resorts in both the Chilean & Argentinean Andes.
It has been snowing all weekend in Bariloche and is still snowing today.
Termas de Chillán has had fresh powder with lots of fresh tracks to be had.

If the temperatures stay low it looks like the season could be more certain to continue into October.

Snow Forecast for Bariloche Argentina

Over the next 5 days regular snowfalls are forecast for Cerro Catedral Ski Resort Bariloche. There is no major snow storm forecast however snow is forecast on most days between now and next Tuesday (2nd September).
Follow this link for a more detailed breakdown

Portillo and Valle Nevado Roads Now Open

The road between Santiago and Portillo Ski resort is again open to traffic heading for the resort. The road however remains shut at the border with Argentina meaning there is no road access to Mendoza.
The road between Santiago and Valle Nevado & the Three Valleys if now fully open.

Massive Storm Hits the Andes

Over the last few days the Andes of Chile & Argentina have been pounded by a huge snow storm. The roads to Portillo and Valle Nevado near to Santiago have both been closed preventing access to these key Chilean ski resorts.
The road to Portillo was shut at the normal holding point near to Los Andes where as Valle Nevado was shut a few miles short of the resort where the road forks from the main Farellones road. Access to La Parva & El Colorado has been possible.
With clearer weather forecast until at least the weekend all access are expected to be open again today.
Portillo are currently reporting on their website the road being closed.
Valle Nevado report the access road as being open.
(at 4.50 am Santiago time)

27cm New Snow Portillo

Portillo has just received a top up of 27cm (10.6 inches) of new snow in the last 24 hours.
New base depth at low level = 221cm (87 inches)
New base depth on the Plateau = 260cm (120 inches)

Chile Powder

Portillo, Valle Nevado and Termas de Chillan all got new snow this weekend with up to 70cm (27 inches) reported.
The road to Portillo was closed temporarily to wait for the snow to be cleared. Termas de Chillan had to shut the top lifts on Sunday.

Chapelco 25cm in 24 Hours

25cm (10 inches of snow has fallen at Chapelco in the last 24 hours according to their official website. They now have 67cm (26 inches) at the top, although snow is still scarce on the lower slopes.
Snoventures Weather Links

Snowing in Valle Nevado Now

It is snowing in Valle Nevado right now. Over 40cm (approx 16 inches) has been forcast for today.