I have talked to plenty of people who have spent thousands of dollars and week’s of their lives sitting in Alaskan cabins waiting for skies to clear so that they could enjoy their first taste of Heil-skiing. Well, after eight days of sitting in a Santiago hostel waiting for my first taste of South American skiing, I feel I kind of know what they were going through.
A few days after my arrival in South America a massive storm rolled in from the Pacific. The storm left feet on snow in the Andes but also brought with it road closers and delays of all kinds. As the days ticked by I began getting more and more anxious for my fist South American turns. One thing you must know about South America is that everything, and I mean everything, takes three times longer then it does in the States.
Over a week into my trip and the day finally arrived. I departed from the hostel at six a.m. look forward to being one of the first skiers to enjoy the fresh snow. Not the case. Five hours later and I’m sitting in a bus as it slowly makes it way up to the resort of Valle Nevado. A two hour journey + South American time = 5 ½ hours. At 11:30 The bus pulls up to the resort and I’m out the door and straight to the lifts.
My fist day of South American skiing was a humbling one. The storm had not fully broken, which left the light incredibly flat. The snow was deep but also super heavy. This mixed with my excitement and a month off the slopes made for some truly heroic crashes, but I had done it. That night I proudly checked Ski South America off my list of things to do in my life.
1 response so far ↓
1 Holly Hackett // Aug 19, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I know exactly what you mean. When it comes to Chile, everything happens slow. I skied Valle Nevado once….it might have even been on the same day that you are talking about. Late start, heavy snow, flat light…. however, still super exciting to be skiing the last week of June in South America…Viva Chile!
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