When I was a kid I liked to "explore" the creeks behind my house. I found all kinds of adventures and learned many lessons. Sometimes I would get a little lost and come home late. Sometimes I would fall in the creek and get wet. All of this seemed like a big adventure at the time. Obviously it wouldn't seem so amazing today.
| Powder Magazine has put together a 68-page flip book about Brody Leven's and Adam Clark's road trip through Chile and Argentina. I was guiding and exploring at the time, so I didn't get to join them; but it is interesting to see the story come to the Internet. | |
I have to say, this feature in Powder Magazine bothers me a little. And I will be perfectly upfront about that I am a little jealous of the exposure, and a little irritated that I am not given any credit for the information I shared with the authors. But beyond this, I am amazed that these two were able to create an "epic adventure" out of something that hundreds of people do each year.
An inch of snow rarely becomes the backdrop for an epic; but if you have rented a van with crappy tires and don't know how to use chains, well... I guess it's an adventure. Not being able to ask locals questions or understand the answer doesn't mean a road is unnamed. A good tour plan will help you prepare for a 9000-foot ascent and not be surprised when it takes all day. Yes, concrete structures without heat are cold in the winter.
Why the hell would you get up at 5AM to ski on Villarrica? It's a five-hour ascent for the average skier and the skiing gets good around 3PM. One of my favorite days each year is when I get up have a leisurely breakfast in Pucón, get to the mountain around nine or ten, ski two or three laps off the summit and am home in time to hit the hot springs at sunset. 5AM!? This is ridiculous.
Skiing in Chile doesn't have to be like this. Each year, hundreds of people embark on this trip and find beautiful places, great snow and challenging peaks without being flustered by the basics. Many people do this by bicycle! Chile is a wonderful place to find adventure, but it shouldn't come from a lack of experience or preparedness. Check out this Powder Magazine piece. Adam's photos are beautiful as usual. If you want to experience these places without the headache and hassle, give me a shout – this is what I do everyday for a couple months each year. And yes, even though I don't freeze my ass off in crappy concrete huts, I feel I still find plenty of adventure.
I can help you do it right.
An inch of snow rarely becomes the backdrop for an epic; but if you have rented a van with crappy tires and don't know how to use chains, well... I guess it's an adventure. Not being able to ask locals questions or understand the answer doesn't mean a road is unnamed. A good tour plan will help you prepare for a 9000-foot ascent and not be surprised when it takes all day. Yes, concrete structures without heat are cold in the winter.
Why the hell would you get up at 5AM to ski on Villarrica? It's a five-hour ascent for the average skier and the skiing gets good around 3PM. One of my favorite days each year is when I get up have a leisurely breakfast in Pucón, get to the mountain around nine or ten, ski two or three laps off the summit and am home in time to hit the hot springs at sunset. 5AM!? This is ridiculous.
Skiing in Chile doesn't have to be like this. Each year, hundreds of people embark on this trip and find beautiful places, great snow and challenging peaks without being flustered by the basics. Many people do this by bicycle! Chile is a wonderful place to find adventure, but it shouldn't come from a lack of experience or preparedness. Check out this Powder Magazine piece. Adam's photos are beautiful as usual. If you want to experience these places without the headache and hassle, give me a shout – this is what I do everyday for a couple months each year. And yes, even though I don't freeze my ass off in crappy concrete huts, I feel I still find plenty of adventure.
I can help you do it right.
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