Unofficial Andes

Skiing South America

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About

UnofficialAndes.com is run by Timothy Konrad. Tim spends the winters in Squaw Valley, CA where he runs UnofficialSquaw.com.

My journey started the first week on June, 2007 when I bought a ticket from LA toSantiago, Chile. Within hours of buying my plan ticket I was informed that the Andes had received no snow and the weather experts were predicting a very dry season for South America. South America’s Andes mountain range is very similar to my home mountains, the Sierra Nevada’s, in that they are both coastal ranges and because of this they receive much heaver, saturated snow then continental ranges like the Rockies or the Wasatch. They also will fluctuate tremendously in snow volume from year to year.

The thought of a drought season only added to my already mounting fears of traveling to the bottom of the world for three and a half months on my own to countries unknown where I don’t speak the native language, wail back at home credit card bills piled up and missed loved ones enjoyed long summer days under the warmth of the sun. As I boarded the plan in Los Angeles I could not help but think, What am I getting myself into?

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14 Comments

14 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Anders Larsen // Jul 4, 2007 at 1:31 pm

    Hi Tim,

    I hope you are having a great time in LL.

    Let me know what happens on your project. I am still happy about the deal I did.

    I am in contact with the guy I know in Santiago (Chile). He know someone who knows a laywer in Mendoza, which is the biggest city in the LL region. I think this guy can help us out.

    Regards
    Anders

  • 2 Anders Larsen // Jul 4, 2007 at 1:32 pm

    I did not mean to post this on here. Please considder the above as a mail to Tim.

  • 3 Devon // Jul 12, 2007 at 4:51 pm

    You’re living the dream dude!

  • 4 albertpachino // Jul 12, 2007 at 4:52 pm

    This guy’s got balls… I like it!

  • 5 katie // Aug 8, 2007 at 3:50 pm

    looks like an amazing trip you are having! it seems you know the area well…do you happen to know if the bus from mendoza to las lenas is easy to get- does it run everyday or just saturdays? thanks for the help! maybe we’ll run into ya on the slopes!
    -katie

  • 6 alfred // Aug 23, 2007 at 1:19 am

    good work Tim , try to put more pictures from las lenas , I know you have good ones .

  • 7 George // Dec 19, 2007 at 12:42 am

    Tim,

    Nice work on the site. I’m planning on spending the summer months in Las Lenas, and want to get a jumpstart on apartments. Any suggestions? Cheers

  • 8 Jack Mark // Jan 12, 2008 at 9:28 am

    Hi,

    I am interested in purchasing text link advertising on several pages of your website http://unofficialandes.com/ski/blog/ . Let me know if you are interested and we can discuss further details.

    I can make a good offer.

    Thanks,

    Jack.

  • 9 jessica // Jun 17, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    Just quit my job, have always had a yearning for south america - thinking of heading out for a couple fo months . Have jsut started researching but rom reading websites/blogs getting the feeling it’s impossible to get a job if you’re not a local - is this the case - any tips appreciated? thanks,

  • 10 Chris D. // Aug 23, 2008 at 6:57 am

    Can anyone give me an update on current conditions at Las Lenas. I am scheduled to be there from Aug. 30 through Sept. 6th. Looks like temps are going to be 60 Degrees F or higher! Any comments on current conditions would be appreciated.

  • 11 miles clark // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:10 am

    Hey Tim, this is Miles from Squaw. I´ve ridden the chair with you a few times and harrassed you a lot about Las Lenas. Well, Im down here in Mendoza right now. Im looking for work and for a plan for the winter. If you have any suggestions id be appreciative. Im a ski and mountaineering guide as well as a pro skier back home at squaw. that sorta completes my skill set for down here. but im hoping itll be enough. if you have any contacts i could get a hold of or any suggestions id be very grateful. thanks, miles

  • 12 George and Fipu // Jul 17, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    Hey there, we´re a couple of skibums just out of uni from scotland and switzerland. We´re coming up from bariloche to las lenas in a week or so. Can´t wait but really worried about finding cheap accomadation. If the snows good we may stay for up to a month. Any advice on accomadation, cheapy passes or anything!?

    Thanks!

  • 13 Mckenzie Keith // Sep 1, 2009 at 11:54 am

    whats up Tim, its Mckenzie from last year in Las Lenas from Jackson. did you hear any unofficial info on Tyler the guy who passed in lenas last week. Met him right before he left.

    Hope you all are shreding it this summer.

    Later Mckenzie

  • 14 Bryant Abel // Feb 3, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    Hi my name is Bryant Abel, I am a student in Seattle WA, i recently started a travel insurance blog. Would you be interested in partnering with our site? We would love to be a resource for your readers on where to find travel insurance information and resources. I love your site.

    We would also love to do a guest post on staying safe when you travel abroad. Please let me know if your interested.
    Thank you,
    Bryant

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