Nov 4 to 7, 2005, , Tierra del Couloir, Argentina
11/15/05
South America
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November 4-7, 2005 Tierra del Couloir , Catedral Range, Argentina
Wanted for powder poaching and hearing rumors from Silas and Zap of the wealth to be had down south, The Bothell Kid (aka Paul Cornett) and I headed to Argentina (the land of silver). The first silver snow bank to be robbed was the cirque above Refugio Frey, which is 4 to 5 hours on ski or foot from the Villa Catedral ski area near Bariloche, latitude 41 degrees S. (equivalent to Mt Shasta) We approached via the ski area and ridge traverse, but needed to walk at times(with ice axe) due to rocky terrain or windblasted hardfrozen slopes.
We stayed 3 nights at Refugio Frey, which is open year round. Pedro, the guardian, makes great pizza & pasta dishes for a very reasonable price. The heated stone hut sleeps 40, and is at 5700' near Laguna Toncek. (flush toilets and free drinking water. very euro in amenities but less than 1/2 the cost !) It's the first of 4 huts on the Nahuel Huapi Traverse, which is similar in scenery and difficulty to the Ptarmigan Traverse.
We got very lucky as snow conditions were perfect corn with abundant firnspiegel for 2 full days. We skied 3 couloirs their entire 400 vertical meter length (red in photo) and shorter runs in 3 other couloirs(green), repeating the best runs. Most of our skiing was between 35 to 45 degrees. There were a lot more possibilities if you're willing to ski steeper and less optimal snow conditions. We ascended Pico Norte via the backside and had excellent 400vm runs in the bowl below Roca Inclinada.
There is another cirque nearby the same size with as many options altho they generally looked steeper, with more rocks and cliffs scattered about.
By the 4 th day it was starting to cloud up, and we were pretty trashed from grabbing all that loot. High tailed out in 4 hours on a good trail thru beech and false bamboo forest to ski area thus completing a loop.
"Butch" Catellani
Wanted for powder poaching and hearing rumors from Silas and Zap of the wealth to be had down south, The Bothell Kid (aka Paul Cornett) and I headed to Argentina (the land of silver). The first silver snow bank to be robbed was the cirque above Refugio Frey, which is 4 to 5 hours on ski or foot from the Villa Catedral ski area near Bariloche, latitude 41 degrees S. (equivalent to Mt Shasta) We approached via the ski area and ridge traverse, but needed to walk at times(with ice axe) due to rocky terrain or windblasted hardfrozen slopes.
We stayed 3 nights at Refugio Frey, which is open year round. Pedro, the guardian, makes great pizza & pasta dishes for a very reasonable price. The heated stone hut sleeps 40, and is at 5700' near Laguna Toncek. (flush toilets and free drinking water. very euro in amenities but less than 1/2 the cost !) It's the first of 4 huts on the Nahuel Huapi Traverse, which is similar in scenery and difficulty to the Ptarmigan Traverse.
We got very lucky as snow conditions were perfect corn with abundant firnspiegel for 2 full days. We skied 3 couloirs their entire 400 vertical meter length (red in photo) and shorter runs in 3 other couloirs(green), repeating the best runs. Most of our skiing was between 35 to 45 degrees. There were a lot more possibilities if you're willing to ski steeper and less optimal snow conditions. We ascended Pico Norte via the backside and had excellent 400vm runs in the bowl below Roca Inclinada.
There is another cirque nearby the same size with as many options altho they generally looked steeper, with more rocks and cliffs scattered about.
By the 4 th day it was starting to cloud up, and we were pretty trashed from grabbing all that loot. High tailed out in 4 hours on a good trail thru beech and false bamboo forest to ski area thus completing a loop.
"Butch" Catellani
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