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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9 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,

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