Here in fernie, summers can feel like pure heaven. With temps reaching into the high 30’s, most skiers are having dreams, or nightmares, about the lack of bluebird powder days and re-crystallized snow.
Unwillingly, some have replaced riding ski lifts with riding lawnmowers. And instead of skiing hard, they are just sweating hard. Few skiers have been able to break this tortuous cycle, mainly because of the unfeasibility of changing the summer season.
But there is a alternative land. A land that gets 3 foot dumps in July. A land that offers 6,000 vertical foot heli runs in August. A mountain range, second in size only to the Himalayas, that gets pounded with snow June though October.
This paradise is called Valle Nevado. (The Valley of Snow Covered Mountains)
Only 37 miles east of Santiago, Chile lies the largest ski complex in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 22,000 acres are accessed by 44 chair lifts between Valle Nevado, El Colorado, and La Parva Resorts.
Of these winter recreational options Valle Nevado is the premiere, world class ski resort of the Tres Valleys ski area in Chile.
With the 2007 season starting off with a record snowfall of 6 feet, the mountain opened 100 percent of its terrain on the opening day. With a start like that, it is guaranteed the resorts will be open until the beginning of October.
Since the start of the season, the Andes Mountains, outside of Santiago, have received over 14 feet of snow. With the first snow fall in the city of Santiago in 40 years, this season is lined up to go down in the record books. Many local Chilean skiers and riders have been claiming it as the best season in 10 years. Some have even gone as far as to say “muy bueno,” and one native ripper even declared “muy, muy bueno.”
Gringos worldwide are canceling the Disneyland packages and flying nonstop to Santiago. Since most flights from the US are red eyes, many are on the edge of heat stroke one day and skiing pow the next.
And if after a few days of ripping down endless bowls of the white gold gets a little tedious, the heli operation at Valle is there to help. Since it is one of the most economical heliskiing options on the planet (10,000 vertical feet for $623), it is a no-brainer to get the credit card and file the expense under the “once in a lifetime” category.
The Chilean spring skiing season officially starts mid September, and with over a 100 inch base in areas the resorts will have plenty of snow until the end of the season. In celebration of this snow event, Valle Nevado is currently offering all inclusive packages throughout September. They are even running a week long (5 nights) 2 for 1 package starting at $420 each, that includes lift tickets, lodging, breakfast, dinner, and a lot of other perks.
So if the summer heat is getting too hot, and the thought of waiting until December to ski is unbearable, there is a cure. Experience a Chile summer.
FOMO: www.vallenevado.com
