the best terrain. The biggest adventure.
This is an opportunity to ski big first descents from a pre-established base camp in a pristine region of the Andes. For 2024, we will use at least one (maybe two) base camp locations and we will also use a refugio for shorter trips with smaller groups. This will give us access to about 150 square kilometers of terrain that has never been touched by skiers. This is a big adventure for expert skiers with plenty of ski touring experience. Are you looking for the trip of a lifetime? We've got something for you.
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"Invernada" is Spanish for "wintered," although it is a bit of a play on words. Chileans call the areas where the cattle spend the summer "vernada." One of my most successful expeditions in the Andes left from a lake called Laguna Invernada, so the title has stuck with me. Invernada is where passionate skiers can spend the winter in Chile.
I have spent many years poking around and exploring the untracked areas of the Andes. I am now very confident that I have found the area I have dreamt about for fifteen-years. I now want to share this with other passionate skiers! I couldn't be more thrilled about this. This trip is by its very nature, exploratory. The goal of each day will be to go to some place new––never touched before during the winter. The terrain surrounding camp is steep and the weather can be severe. The efforts can be huge; but the rewards are as awesome as the landscape. If you've skied in classic destinations all over the world and are looking for a place still undiscovered and unspoiled, this could be for you. Here are some of the basics of the trip: We meet in the town of Los Queñes the evening before your trip begins. (We can pick you up in the town of Curicó at no additional cost. We can also start and end the trip in Santiago, but this will come with an extra cost.) The group will use wonderful cabañas as a base, where we will prepare for our adventure and share a traditional Chilean dinner. For 2023, we will use either a small refugio in the mountains or a pre-established base camp, deeper in the mountains. Essentially, depending on trip length, group size, goals of the group and availability, I will select one of three bases to go to. The refugio will be used only for shorter trips with small groups. It has beds, a wood stove for heat and indoor bathrooms, including showers. There will be at least one base camp location, and potentially a second, much deeper in the mountains. These base camps will consist of a large, dome, group shelter and smaller tents for sleeping. Guests will only have to carry their own personal gear to the camp. The goal of every trip will be to explore new terrain and ski as much as possible. The last day of the trip we will return to Los Queñes in the afternoon. We'll have a traditional Chilean asado to celebrate and the comfort of the cabañas will be great after a big trip in the mountains. These will be trip-of-a-lifetime type experiences for experienced, passionate backcountry skiers who are looking for something never done before. Each trip will be unique. There's nothing like this anywhere else in South America. Are you ready for a big adventure? This is an amazing trip, deep into the Andes. I do everything I can to set up the group for success; but I cannot make this trip "easy." Before inquiring about this trip, please consider the "prerequisites" listed below.
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INVERNADA 2023
Dates available: Late July through October Group sizes of one to eight people Maximum guest to guide ratio of 5:1 Prices per person per day: 1-person: US$900 2 or 3 people: US$500 4 or 5 people: US$400 6 or more people: US$350 *These prices include guiding, lodging, all food and transportation from Curicó. If you are interested in what I believe will be a trip of a lifetime, send me an email. I want to be flexible in order to meet the needs of each group. But availability is still limited, so booking ahead of time is essential. |