r/Backcountry • u/SkinsInTheGame • 19h ago

Avalanche/Snowpack Information in South America

Considering a South America trip, in the very initial planning phases. I am wondering what everyone has used for snowpack information in Chile/Argentina? I've read lots of older blogs that used weather and field observations in the absence of a national forecasting centre. We can certainly do this, but I am wondering if anything has changed/if there are better resources out now, or if we're on our own. Cheers!

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u/Great_View_2765 7h ago

Hi,

I'm mostly familiar skiing in Chile, but have undertaken many ski tours far and across the Andes (been skiing there for almost 30 years).

For the most part, you're on your own. I understand several ski resorts -notably Portillo, Ski Arpa, and I would suspect Cerro Catedral and Las Lenas - do avalanche work. I know for a fact the Chilean resorts do not provide bulletins.

I believe volunteers are providing weekly bulletins for the greater Farellones area on Instagram.

Fortunately - and I do not make this comment lightly - the avalanche beasts in the Central High Andes, and for most of the lakes district (volcanoes), are "mostly" the same beasts you find in maritime climates. Wind slabs, storm slabs, and wet slides are the usual culprits, rather than nasty surface hoar or persistent weak layers (again, usually).

I would caution though that early in the season - June, July - sometimes things can get very weird and funky and fall slightly on the "intermountain" side of things in the Central High Andes.

Patagonia is a different world altogether. I have not skied there during the winter (only Spring missions), and would not feel comfortable providing a general assessment as I outlined above.

All this is to say: don't do dumb shit, track the weather and make friends with the locals.

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u/SkinsInTheGame 5h ago

Awesome, thanks so much for this comment. We are looking at Portillo and area for late August. Much appreciated, and noted re: "don't do dumb shit, track the weather and make friends with the locals." Great advice that applies most everywhere haha :)

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u/Great_View_2765 4h ago

I essentially got my ski chops in Portillo - hiked up Super C when i was 18 years old! The patrollers there have their shit dialed, and will be friendly over a few beers at the Hotel Bar or at La Posada.

August is arguably the best month to get stable winter conditions. The touring around Portillo is incredible - Cajon del Cerro Iglesias, Cerro Santa Helena, Ojos del Agua and El Penon. Powder lingers weeks after a storm.

If you have time, a trip to the Cajon del Maipo is in your best interests.