I told Tom L in
Bariloche that
Termas de Chillan was really going to have to deliver something special to keep its title as my favorite South American ski hill, Cerro
Catedral was just so great. Well, after seeing the sun rising on the way back to the Hotel early Sunday AM we got about 4 hours of sleep and then headed South for
Las Trancas. About an hour after getting to Cabanas Los Andes there was a knock on our door and it was Sarah from
Casa tours, just arriving with her group that was going to be there for the same 5 nights as us.
All I can say is
Termas de Chillan delivered big time. A few warm up runs on Monday as all the upper lifts were closed due to wind. Then it started raining and rained hard down in
Las Trancas all night. Tuesday was amazing, not super deep but super consistent and creamy, amazing skiing. Not a lot of lifts open but great steep lines down the
Elephante, ran into the
Cinncinati ski club again and showed them some fun lines, and hiked up from the Don Otto mid-station for a few
Piragallo runs. Sarah said it was the best day of the season.
The next day Tom G and I climbed the volcano, his first effort at something like that. Great ski run down, ~5700
vf ski. Our final day we did some runs out past the
Tres Maria, good snow on the lee sides of the gullies. I ended up with one last
Piragallo run.
We had dinner a couple nights with the
Casa crew, joined them for an adventure out to the MI Lodge for a friend of a couple client's birthday. Met a bunch of other nice folks,
Las Trancas and
Termas de Chillan is just such a great place, mellow scene, fantastic skiing, what more could you ask for?
![](http://www.rickwinfield.com/uploaded_images/DSC01948-762772.JPG)
Tom skiing the steeps on the
Elephante
Short hike up from the Don Otto mid-station to the Piragallo, volcano in the background
![](http://www.rickwinfield.com/uploaded_images/DSC01958-759263.JPG)
Self portrait at the top of the volcano
![](http://www.rickwinfield.com/uploaded_images/DSC01967-759987.JPG)
Here comes Tom, I think I can hear him cursing me at this point, but the run down will more then make up for it!!
![](http://www.rickwinfield.com/uploaded_images/DSC01969-705371.JPG)
Where else but
Termas de Chillan would you run into two
cutties with
Dynafits on fat skis skinning up as you ski off the top of a volcano?
![](http://www.rickwinfield.com/uploaded_images/DSC01971-706133.JPG)
Lindsy on the way up. This woman rips it up!
![](http://www.rickwinfield.com/uploaded_images/DSC01981-768656.JPG)
Birthday party at the MI Lodge
![](http://www.rickwinfield.com/uploaded_images/DSC01982-769343.JPG)
Old friends, two folks very responsible for my
Termas de Chillan addiction (Sarah and our driver from last year, Angelo)