CHILE POWDER ADVENTURES
  • Exploration
  • Information

info about skiing in chile

Best Time of Year to Ski in Chile

12/16/2013

2 Comments

 
The single most common question I am asked about skiing in Chile: "When is the best time to go for skiing?"  It depends on what you'd like to do and where you'd like to go...
The first snow comes in May or sometimes June.  This is like the snow that falls in North America in September or October.  It is pretty and gets everyone excited; but it's not really functional.  

In June the winter sets in for real.  In the south, there is precipitation nearly everyday, but this comes as rain in the valleys and storms with zero visibility in the alpine.  It's not the place to be.  July and August are great for skiing in the more northern areas.  Portillo and Las Leñas are busy and will get their biggest storms of the year.  I focus my attention on the mountains around the Río Maule – about three-hours south of Santiago.

Over the past several years, the storms seem to be tracking a little farther south.  Precipitation in South America is directly correlated with currents and temperature in the Pacific.  It's been awhile since the sub-surface ocean temperatures were below average, which is what is required for the more northern areas in get pounded.  (So the next time an El Niño period is called for, book your tickets to Chile!)  For this reason, I am investing more time to the bigger mountains south of Santiago.  It seems to snow more there.  

Come September it's time to move farther south.  For about five or six weeks of September and October, the skiing on the volcanoes is primetime.  From Lonquimay to Osorno there is so much to explore.  This is the time of year when the seasonal snowfall is the deepest, the access is the best and the weather stabilizes with more days of high pressure.  

October is pretty late in the season.  Spring has come to the areas in the north.  The very high peaks – those above 4000-meters – can be excellent this time of year.  Around the volcanoes the snowline has moved up and the approaches become long and the ski descents short.  It's possible to head south again and explore Patagonia.  This is pretty wild, rugged territory and there's plenty of skiing adventure to be had.   

By November the season is pretty much cooked.  Unless of course you want to cross to Antarctica.  Hmmm...

The best time of year to ski in Chile depends on what you'd like to do and where you'd like to ski.  As a general rule you can think that skiing in the north gets good sometime in July and as the season goes on, it is better to travel south until you hit the end of the southern cone in November.
2 Comments
Calvin link
4/23/2019 02:32:22 pm

Love skiing on fresh powder!

Reply
Arkansas Missed Connection link
10/22/2022 07:49:20 am

Hello mate niice post

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Chile 
    Powder Adventures Blog

    Stories from, and thoughts about, ski experiences in Chile.  Sharing the culture, the adventure and, of course, the skiing in a wild place.  This is the info you want to make your trip to Chile that much better!

    PHotos!

    Picture
    Click on the photo above to open a gallery of moments throughout the years

    Archives

    December 2016
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    December 2012


    Categories

    All
    Avalanches
    Culture
    Faqs
    Invernada
    Language
    Skiing
    Travel
    Volcanoes
    Weather


    RSS Feed

Exploration

Invernada
Classic Volcanoes
Southern Volcanoes
Antarctica
Inspiration

Photos
Reviews
Information

​Guide / Owner
FAQ's
Pricing, Payment and Cancellation Policy


Donny Roth
donny@chile-powder-adventures.com
+1-970-497-4132

Ski Mentor Services dba:
Chile Powder Adventures
83 Rocky River Lane
Gunnison, CO 81230